A Redux Redux

Hi Friends,

We're coming around to the end of the year, and I've been thinking about what I want to tackle for the next one, here and other parts of my life. Will I finish my novel? Will [redacted] be ready for me to pitch? Will I start running again? I am a BIG fan of getting things ready for a new phase, especially if it means buying new planners, and the organizing of it all is half the fun.

What do I want to write about more here? You don't need to answer that question, though I'll happily take suggestions. I personally remember all the times I've talked about agency agreements or pitching agents at conferences or what I think the NYT should do to make the best sellers list better, but you don't. There's almost 800 entries in this newsletter, plus a whole book. Haven't I covered everything?

Probably! But things have changed in the almost eight years since I started this newsletter, and some things bear repeating. For example, I have a theory about why memoirs are so hard to sell these days, so keep an eye on this space for that post. I think timelines (how long it takes to hear back from agents, how long it takes for books to get published) have really changed and I'll talk about that, too. Writers–you guys–are smarter about agents and queries and storytelling and writing than ever before and I think you're ready for some Publishing 201 type info. As I develop that stuff, I want to point you to some posts you've missed that I think you'll get something out of.

SOMETHING IS WRONG ABOUT MY BOOK ON THE INTERNET

This happens to everyone. It's ok.

Agents & BooksKate McKean

What's **really** a referral?

How to know if you have one or not

Agents & BooksKate McKean

All the Marketing You Cannot See

That doesn't mean it's not there

Agents & BooksKate McKean

A List of Things That Make Me Automatically Reject Your Work

For Real

Agents & BooksKate McKean

Being a Full-Time Writer is the Worst Job

Buckle Up for Some Tough Love

Agents & BooksKate McKean

What It's Like to Record Your Audiobook

tl:dr it's fun!

Agents & BooksKate McKean

You're Probably Going to Annoy an Agent at Some Point

And it absolutely does not matter

Agents & BooksKate McKean

The Hardest Thing to Do Is Nothing

When to Just Not

Agents & BooksKate McKean

You Don't Have to Monetize Your Trauma

You Can Write About Anything You Want

Agents & BooksKate McKean

When Should You Stop Querying a Book?

Hi friends, I've been doing a steady stream of events lately and that means I've had the opportunity to talk to a lot of authors, ones at all stages of their careers. In most of the things I do out in the world, as an author and an

Agents & BooksKate McKean

Why Do We Always Expect the Number to Go Up?

Which numbers? All of them.

Agents & BooksKate McKean

My Friend Glynnis Hates Book Proposals

and why she's wrong--Plus Maris Kreizman's debut book!

Agents & BooksKate McKean

I could go on, but I won't. You can search the archives yourself here. If you want to ask me a question for our Q&A Thursdays, see below.

I'm going to keep writing, friends. So should you.

OXOXOXO,

Kate

Who am I and what is this? This is Agents & Books, a twice-weekly newsletter about writing, publishing, and the creative life. I've been an agent for 20 years, most of it at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency, and I'm the author of two books: Write Through It: An Insider's Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life (Simon Element, 2025) and a picture book called Pay Attention to Me!, with illustrations by Rob Justus (Sourcebooks, 2026). If you haven't already, become a subscriber today. $5 a month or $50 a year. Same price since 2019! Need to unsubscribe? Look here.