Write the Damn Book Already

Ep 79: Querying Literary Agents with Lauren Kay

Elizabeth Lyons

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Lauren Kay's young adult debut novel, We Ship It, was a dream come true, but it wasn't easy to get there. Now, she helps other writers achieve the same joy, minus the roadblocks. Having secured eight agent offers in a month,  she works with authors dreaming about a traditional publishing deal to help them write irresistible query letters.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

  • The 7-year path to her first novel, for which she received a 6-figure advance (best quote: "Lightning speed in this industry is 7 years.")
  • The importance of transparency in the book industry when it comes to timelines, sales figures, and overall expectations
  • The idea of an author “deserving” their lead author status (I hadn't heard this before, and loved the discussion around it!)
  • How changing our expectations as authors can lead to far better results 
  • The “before” and “after” of publishing
  • Top mistakes to avoid when writing query letters + how to navigate the world of querying without becoming (too) disappointed 


CONNECT WITH LAUREN:

Query letter masterclass: https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/insiders-guide-to-publishing

Lauren's YA Rom-Com Debut: We Ship It  

Instagram: @laurenkaywrites

Website: www.laurenkaywrites.com

TikTok: @laurenkaywrites


RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall 

Let's get you published!

PublishAProfitableBook.com/Publish (use code AUTHOR25 for 25% off!)

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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

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Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

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