WRITERS WITH WRINKLES • SEASON 5, EPISODE 16Stop Making Videos Nobody Watches — Here's How Authors Actually Sell Books If you've ever spent hours crafting the perfect Instagram reel, posted it to near-silence, a…
Joel Brigham runs Brigham Editorial (developmental edits, manuscript critiques, query help), teaches high school English in Illinois, and is an editor for RevPit — a community that gives away free developmental edits each spring.REVPIT…
If you’ve ever stared at a rejection email wondering what you did wrong, this one’s for you. Literary agent Nikki Carrero of The Rights Factory joined Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid on Writers With Wrinkles to pull back the curtain on wha…
We tackle a publishing debate, draw writing wisdom from Taylor Swift, and dig into one of the most common craft problems in fiction — weak stakes and missing tension. Plus a community book shout-out.THE HARDBACK DEBATEBeth shares a Guardia…
First Page Feedback: Charlotte's Hunt for GloryBeth and Lisa critique the opening page of a middle grade fantasy submission and pull out craft lessons for any writer working on those critical first pages.The SubmissionCharlotte's Hunt for…
Writers with Wrinkles — S5E11The One Where Nobody Ordered the Books | Beth McMullen & Lisa SchmidLisa Schmid shares a cautionary tale from the Sacramento Book Festival, where a series of logistical failures turned what shou…
Literary agent Vicki Weber on the state of publishing, querying smarter, and why you shouldn’t stop writingIf you’ve been paying attention to publishing news lately, you know it’s been rough. Roaring Brook shut down. Dial Books f…
In the world of publishing, we often celebrate the "big win": signing with that first literary agent. But there is a quieter, more daunting topic that many authors face but few discuss openly—what happens when you and your agent part ways?…
When an agent recently claimed on social media that indie authors aren't "real" authors, hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid had a lot to say about it — and the numbers back them up.The Business Case for Going IndieThe royalty gap between …
In our latest episode of Writers with Wrinkles, we were thrilled to welcome back author and literacy advocate Fleur Bradley. Fleur joined us to dive deep into the world of middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) mysteries, sharing her expert ins…
In our latest Season 5 bonus episode, we decided it was finally time to clear out our "insanely long" laundry list of burning topics. From the magic of local book swaps to the shifting landscape of digital hangouts, we’re diving into how to fi…
Mastering the Middle Grade Opening: Lessons from "Beyond the Moon"Capturing the attention of a middle-grade reader is a unique challenge. You aren’t just competing with other books; you’re competing with short attention spans, school s…
In the world of publishing, there are certain milestones we all expect: finishing that first draft, getting your first request for a full manuscript, and eventually seeing your book on a shelf. But according to our latest episode of Writers wit…
In the world of publishing, non-fiction is often treated like fiction’s mysterious cousin. Many writers assume the process is the same: write the book, find the agent, sell the manuscript. But as literary agent and author Alia Hanna Hab…
If you’re querying literary agents—or getting ready to—you already know how confusing the process can feel. What actually makes a query letter work? Why do some manuscripts move forward while others stall? And what is really happen…
Ending a season always feels strange. Equal parts relief, disbelief, and “wait, how did we get here already?” That mix of emotions shaped this Writers With Wrinkles bonus episode, where we wrapped up the season, shared a behind-the-scene…
Query letters make even experienced writers panic—and for good reason. A single page has to represent years of work, convince a literary agent to keep reading, and stand out in an inbox crowded with hundreds of submissions.In this Ask Beth &…
If you’ve ever wondered how book packagers really work, what editors look for beyond sales numbers, or which trends will shape publishing in 2026, this week’s Writers With Wrinkles delivers exactly the kind of insider clarity writers cra…
In this bonus episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Lisa and I dig into the first page of a brand-new upper middle grade fantasy, Kiki Won’t Be Goddess of the Underworld. If you're revising your opening chapters, trying to strengthen your characte…
Every once in a while a topic sweeps through the writing community with enough force that it stops us mid-scroll. Lately, that topic has been the growing concern about how the publishing industry treats debut and midlist authors—and whether th…
Middle grade readers are living in a complicated world. They’re navigating big feelings, uncertainty, and a landscape full of noise and screens. But if there’s one thing today’s kids want from their books—and Adam Rosenbaum s…
In this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa sit down with Alison Romig, Associate Editor at Delacorte Press, to talk about what editors really look for when reviewing submissions. From crafting irresistible first pages to choosing the ri…
Want to watch the video? Click here.In this Ask Beth & Lisa episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid offer honest, constructive feedback on two listener-submitted first pages—one a rom-com set in Prague, the o…
🎧 Episode SummaryIn this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, literary agent Leslie Zampetti returns to discuss what really makes a lasting, successful author-agent relationship. From how to spot red flags to tips on pivoting your writing car…
