Hi!

I started writing my first novel in 2007. Back then, I consumed all of the author, agent, and editor blogs I could find. And while the advice and tips were all helpful, what I really wanted was a peek into the daily life of a published author.

That’s my goal with this newsletter, along with my YouTube channel: to share the reality of writing fiction for a living. Which, to be honest, is often a lot more boring than #authorlife on social media would have us believe!

I’ve published over twenty novels, many of which have earned accolades including:

Starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist
Multiple Junior Library Guild selections
CBCC Best of 2019
ALA Rainbow List
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

And those are the books with my name on them. I’ve written another twenty or so as a ghostwriter for both private clients and major publishers.

In the fall of 2022, I joined the book packager Working Partners as a developmental editor. My job, in short: come up with high concept ideas, develop them, find, audition, and hire the perfect writers to execute those ideas, put together a fantastic proposal, and submit to publishers. Have you ever thought of a GREAT idea for a book, but you knew you weren’t the right person to write it? Yeah, me too. This is kind of a dream job for me.

It’s also put me on the other side of the “gate,” as we authors like to think of it. I’m not an acquiring editor at a house, but I do read submissions from authors who are interested in working on our projects (the vast majority of them have never been published before). I’ve read more queries and opening pages than I can count. Want me to read yours?

My “Ask an Editor” newsletters are for paid subscribers to submit their queries, synopses, opening pages, or any questions/concerns about their writing and publishing journey—always behind a paywall (because yes, it’s true, editors and agents absolutely will Google you). Think of it as a tradpub Dear Abby!

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Thoughts on the writing process and traditional publishing from an extremely mid-list author, ghostwriter, and editor.

People

Michelle Schusterman

@michelleschusterman

I'm the author of around twenty (mostly middle grade) novels, a ghostwriter, and a developmental editor for a major book packager. Also, I live in a van down by the river.