It's All Just Timing in Publishing | Literary Agent Erica Bauman (Aevitas Creative) YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

You got a glowing rejection. Again.

Erica Bauman (Aevitas Creative) has a name for that — and a reason to keep going.

youtu.be/k9foF2K_9yE

For sci-fi/fantasy queries, Erica Bauman (Aevitas Creative) says:

In your query, focus on protagonist + antagonist + stakes. Include only the world-building needed to understand the central conflict.

Everything you're worried about cutting? Put that in the synopsis.

#querytips #SFF #amwriting

Erica Bauman (Aevitas Creative) is actively looking for:

✦ MG friendship stories (nerdy kids welcome)
✦ MG + YA mysteries
✦ Spooky MG
✦ Adult horror with A24 vibes — creepy + a lens on everyday life

Open to queries the first week of each month. manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-memb...

#MSWL

We're so happy for Manuscript Academy alum Shanna Upchurch and The Honeybee Highway!

Thank you for the shout out. 🥰

We can't wait!!

I’m so excited to join this event! I still have spots available on Saturday!

You asked, we added! With just a few Saturday spots left, we've added weekday times so you have a little more flexibility.

Busy Saturday? Watch class replays, then meet the agent of your choice that week. 1:1 meetings first come, first served.📚

Learn more here:
pitch-practice.manuscriptacademy.com

It’s kind of a running joke (one of our authors gently trolls us with ✨SPECIFICITY✨ in the chats of our agent panels and we always giggle) that we love specificity.

It helps with imagery, emotional investment, and setting your work apart.

It helps us FEEL your story.

It makes it feel real.

We’re working on a new series of happiness-inspiring, good news content with authors who’ve made it.

We just met with Julia Alexandra, author of Midnight on the Celestial, Manuscript Academy alum—and someone with great things to say about R&R’s, specificity, and protecting your peace.

More soon!

I'm actually not sure, but well done to both her and her agent!

How to Flip Your Creativity “On” Like a Switch YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

We had a pretty uncanny experience yesterday at The Manuscript Academy.

Intuitive medium Melissa Boyd presented The Unseen Edit--and she knew about our writers' ideas, plotholes, and specific details, and more--without reading a page.

Here she is on creativity: youtube.com/shorts/e4vQ_...

415 Rejections, 4 Book Deals, and a Disney Debut: Shanna Upchurch's Road to Publication YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

415 rejections.

Lost her agent AND editor in the same 48 hours.

Fed her kids cereal two nights in a row.

Then her book went to auction. 🥳

Need a shot of good news? Here's Shanna's story:

📚Blog: manuscriptacademy.com/shanna-upchu...

📺YouTube: youtu.be/jlaSt5uuxgE

@kiananguyen.bsky.social Thank you for the share! So happy you can be part of the event! 😃

We're so looking forward to this!

What happens if writers DON'T have to be perfect during their pitches--but, instead, can talk through them with a supportive agent?

Perfection isn't the goal--nor is it needed for a request.

April 25, 2026 | Limited tickets: pitch-practice.manuscriptacademy.com

We love giving good news to middle grade authors. (You’ve dealt with an unfair amount of bad news for too long!)

Here’s an announcement from The Bookseller:

“Puffin wins seven-way auction for Kelly Smith’s middle-grade debut…The Shadow Six…secured in a seven-publisher auction.”

MG is valuable!

You could say "The tone of ____ with the plot/world/characters [or similar] of ___." If paired with a new book that's a perfect fit, it can work.

Are you part of our Facebook group? About 8,000 writers there who can be an excellent comp hive mind. manuscriptacademy.com/facebook

Every trend has a saturation point.

By the time you've written, revised, and queried a book you didn't really care about, the window has usually closed anyway.

The book that keeps pulling you back--the idea that just won't leave you alone--that's the one worth finishing. #AmWriting #WritingLife

The economy is rough right now! We can’t get over how much things are costing.

But querying, luckily, is free. Just in case they help, here are some free resources from us too.

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@manuscripta...

Podcast: manuscriptacademy.com/podcast

Blog: manuscriptacademy.com/blog

415 Rejections, 4 Book Deals, and a Disney Debut: Shanna Upchurch's Road to Publication YouTube video by The Manuscript Academy, LLC

415 rejections, 4 book deals, and a Disney debut.

Manuscript Academy alum Shanna Upchurch spent 10 years writing, querying, and counting rejections with a special jar of beads.

This week, her debut picture book The Honeybee Highway is out with Disney. 🐝

We're so happy! youtu.be/jlaSt5uuxgE

The event includes two masterclasses with agents Fiona Kenshole and John Cusick, a 1:1 pitch meeting, and recordings—plus, we hope, the confidence to walk into your next pitch feeling ready. 😊

How to Pitch Your Book If You're an Introvert | The Manuscript Academy Pitching your book doesn't have to be terrifying. Learn the exact formulas agents use — plus introvert-friendly ways to practice — so you can walk into any pitch feeling ready.

Our event is a safe, creative space.

Bring your ideas, your characters, your conflicts, and your "But then..." twists.

Read this post for inspiration: manuscriptacademy.com/how-to-pitch...

Then come as you are. April 25, noon-6 ET.

Learn more here:
pitch-practice.manuscriptacademy.com

We emailed out this example this morning and got a reply we loved: "What if we want to read the time-traveling cat book now? :)"

In our minds he's in love with another time-traveling cat, and they both embrace their bad fur days, find the timeline with the best tuna, & live happily ever after. 😺

The agents will ask you questions--could he use a special cream rinse in the time travel machine? Is there another cat he's trying to impress?--and every single question is information you needed anyway.

You'll know what agents will ask--and be polished and ready for your "real" sessions.

You don't need a polished pitch to come to our pitch practice event. 📚☕

You can show up with something like:

"My book is about a time-traveling cat who really hates the tuna in present reality. He has an amazing palate. Um. But the time travel machine is bad for his fur."

That's totally fine.

The Honeybee Highway Check out The Honeybee Highway - <b>WATERCRESS gets an ecological twist in this celebration of honeybees, agriculture, family, and&mdash;above all&mdash;kid power in the latest addition to Disney Plan...

🐝 HAPPY PUB DAY to Manuscript Academy alum Shanna Upchurch! 🎉

THE HONEYBEE HIGHWAY (Disney) is out TODAY--and she kept every one of her 415 rejections in a jar on the way here.
We are so proud!

Our interview on her amazing journey coming soon! www.shannaupchurch.com

bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

How to Pitch Your Book If You're an Introvert | The Manuscript Academy Pitching your book doesn't have to be terrifying. Learn the exact formulas agents use — plus introvert-friendly ways to practice — so you can walk into any pitch feeling ready.

Pitching is a skill, not a personality trait.

The best writers are often the worst at talking about their books--and agents know it.

Plus, for introverts, it's a scary thing to do!

Here's how to make it work for you:
manuscriptacademy.com/how-to-pitch-your-book-introverts

Thank you so much Liz!

We're so happy we were part of your journey. 📚

What Makes a Query Feel Like a "Big Book"? | The Manuscript Academy Agents don't just read for quality — they read for urgency. Here's how to make your query feel like a book they need to read right now.

Agents aren't just asking "Is this good?"

They're asking "Do I need this right now?"

There's a difference--and it shows up in your query.

Here's how to make an agent feel like they'll miss out if they don't read your book:
manuscriptacademy.com/what-makes-a-query-feel-like-a-big-book

Oh, thank you so much Kristine! Glad it was helpful! 🥰

Agents Want an A+ on the Pop Quiz of Your Book (2026) The "pop quiz test" changed how we think about query clarity. Learn what agents actually need to understand from your query letter.

"Something terrible happens at the event" is not enough.

"The characters explore important themes" is not enough.

"The protagonist learns what really matters" is not enough.

Specificity is your friend.

manuscriptacademy.com/query-letter-pop-quiz-test-clarity #AmQuerying #QueryTips