Here's something I see come up again and again in submissions: a great plot, but a protagonist who isn't ready for it. Here's how to diagnose and fix it. abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/why-your-p...
If you're experiencing the Sticky Middle of a novel draft, here are some tips for diagnosing and fixing the problem.
World-building is not just for fantasy authors – here's how to make your novel's world come to life, without info-dumping!
This week on Substack: how to weave in all the senses to make your writing as impactful as possible!
This week on Substack: quick tips to level up your novel draft, wherever you are in the writing process!
On narrators who aren’t quite telling the whole story… (Warning: watch out for the spoiler alerts at the top!)
What agents and editors mean when they say a book 'doesn't fit the market' – and how to make sure your book does:
My latest post – on plotting for pantsers (not for panthers, as my autocorrect kept insisting): abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/plotting-f...
If you're in the query trenches, here is the secret to a query letter that makes me desperate to read your pages – and what the letters of the authors I've signed so far had in common.
If your new year's resolution is to write a novel, I have a Substack series for you! Step by step I'll walk you through – whether you're yet to start or partway through and stuck, if you want to finish a novel this year then come and join us! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/write-your...
Ready to write a novel? This week on Substack I wrote about making the time for your writing. If 2026 is the year you want to write a novel, come and subscribe to get advice and help month by month to get you from your opening lines to writing ‘The End’!
Coming to the end of your draft and need to craft a satisfying ending? My latest Substack will help! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
Exactly what it says on the tin: why literary agents turn things down but can't give feedback (about which I will forever feel guilty) abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/why-i-turn...
This week on Substack I wrote about what to do when you get stuck. If you're staring at a blinking cursor and don't know what your characters should do next, these tips will help!
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
A new Substack series (of sorts!): What to Do When... This week it's What to Do When You Don't Know Where to Start, and are faced with an overwhelming blank page.
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
Multiple timelines can add layers of narrative complexity and depth to your novel – here's how to handle them without getting in a tangle abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
New Substack post! If your plots twists aren't hitting hard enough yet, here are some tips on making sure they have emotional heft behind them: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/great-plot...
If there's a reason a UK agent would be a good fit then I'm happy to consider US authors (and already have one on my list!). If it's a US-set book about US characters by a US author then it's likely a US agent would be best.
Want to know the difference between the manuscripts of unpublished novelists and published ones (which might help you finish your novel)? This week's Substack breaks it all down: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
Thinking about self-publishing? This week on Substack I dig into the things to consider before taking the leap: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-self-pu...
The million-dollar question: how do I get my book noticed? This week on Substack I wrote about getting attention for your book from agents, publishers and readers. abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-get...
Ready to start querying your novel? This week on Substack I run down everything you need to know to create the perfect submissions package: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-wri...
This week on Substack: how to balance action, dialogue and narrative summary for maximum impact! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/narrative-...
My latest Substack: how to plan your novel's structure, whether you're a plotter or a pantster (wall of Post-its optional): abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-str...
Literary Agent Abigail Fenton's manuscript wishlist
Genres I'm looking for: women's fiction, romance, crime and thriller, book-club reads, historical
I love crime with a clear hook or unique twist, women's fiction with sparky dialogue and a strong protagonist, campus novels or those set in boarding schools, stories of forgotten women from history or retellings of myths, epic multigenerational novels, book-club reads which ask big juicy questions.
I don't represent: science-fiction and fantasy, children's, graphic novels, short stories, non-fiction
Hi! 👋🏻 I’m a literary agent at The Ampersand Agency actively building my list 📚 Here is my manuscript wishlist 👀 #mswl
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
This week's Substack is on word count – what to aim for, how to know you're done, and what to do if you're vastly over or under the ideal...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-word-co...
Struggling to come up with an idea for a novel? This post will help! open.substack.com/pub/abigailf...
Making sure your plot is as strong as possible is key to crafting an impactful and compelling novel. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you test your plot and ensure it's watertight: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-wh...
