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Classes you can actually use
Craft, career, and industry know-how — the kind of teaching you'd pay for, delivered episode by episode.
New season · September 15
The Manuscript Academy Podcast
Our podcast is BACK for a new season--with a twist. We're prioritizing agent craft classes, actionable querying strategy, and the information that can help you get a Yes.
(01) About the show
Conversations with agents, editors & authors on the craft, business + community of publishing
From live classes to candid agent interviews to an unfiltered look at publishing behind the scenes, this is the show that pulls back the curtain on the industry writers spend years trying to understand.
We’ve been called The Happiest Place In Publishing™. Let our good vibes encourage you on your querying journey.
(02) Episodes
Episode 4 · Latest
What Agents Mean by “Commercial,” “Literary,” and “Upmarket” with Kaitlyn Sanchez
Bradford Literary agent Kaitlyn Sanchez breaks down what “commercial,” “literary,” and “upmarket” really mean, demonstrates with real books from picture book to adult, and shares tips for making your manuscript shine in any category. Plus: what she’s looking for right now.
Episode timestamps
- 00:00Kaitlyn Sanchez introduces herself
- 00:08What Kaitlyn is looking for: mystery with heart
- 00:43Commercial, literary, and upmarket explained
- 00:50What makes a book commercial
- 01:14What makes a book literary
- 01:41What makes a book upmarket
- 08:42How to make commercial writing shine
- 09:00How to make literary writing shine
- 09:30Balancing both for upmarket
Guest bio & headshot
Kaitlyn Sanchez
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is a mom, wife, literary agent, middle school math teacher, and picture book author. She’s also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. In her free time, she loves to play soccer, binge-watch TV shows, and, of course, read, especially when she’s all cozied up with her husband and daughter reading together.
Visit her website kaitlynleannsanchez.com, follow her on Twitter @KaitlynLeann17, and find her on Facebook KaitlynLeann17.
Episode 3
What Actually Happens in an Acquisitions Meeting
How does a writer go from 1,000 rejections to a New York Times bestseller?
We sat down with Ruqayyah Daud, senior editor at LBYR and Requited (imprints of Hachette Book Group), and her author Jordan Stephanie Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Bitten and The Wicked Sea, to talk about what actually happens between “I love this manuscript” and “I get to PUBLISH this manuscript.” That includes what really goes on in an acquisitions meeting, why a “no” from an agent or editor is almost never about your writing, and the news that changed Jordan’s career — while she was at Disney World.
Episode timestamps
- 0:00Meet Ruqayyah and Jordan
- 1:58The call that changed everything
- 7:09Inside an acquisitions meeting
- 9:44The real reason most manuscripts get rejected
- 10:17“It’s a capitalist entity”
- 13:02Do editors still edit?
- 14:21How to handle reviews and get off Goodreads
- 16:32Advice for every writer still in the query trenches
Guest bios & headshots
Jordan Stephanie Gray
Jordan Stephanie Gray is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult paranormal romantasy Bitten and the adult mermaid romantasy The Wicked Sea. When she isn’t lounging by the pool and typing away at her computer, she is likely cuddling her pugs in sunny Florida. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @jordanstephaniegray, and visit her website jordanstephaniegray.com.
Ruqayyah Daud
Ruqayyah Daud is a senior editor at LBYR and Requited. She acquires everything from middle grade through New Adult. Some of her titles include the #1 New York Times bestseller Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, the critically acclaimed As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, and the buzzed-about romantasy Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray.
Episode 2
Also available on
The Comp Title Formula That Actually Works (with Hannah Robinson)
Comp titles can make or break a query — and most writers get them wrong. In this episode, Hannah Robinson shares her “Magic Madlib” formula for finding comps that actually work: warm-up exercises, real examples from published books, and the four basics every strong comp should hit.
Episode timestamps
- 00:00Introduction
- 00:20The Magic Madlib formula, previewed
- 01:00Warm-up: describing things with comps (Tortilla Pie, Backstreet Boys, Curling)
- 02:20Your turn: Mixtape, Platypus, The Pitt
- 04:10Why comp titles matter
- 04:40The Magic Madlib formula explained
- 05:00Real comp title examples from published books
- 05:40Triangulation: why comps are baselines, not exact matches
- 06:10The 4 basics every strong comp should hit
- 07:50Madlib formula recap
- 09:30Make it your own: advanced comp strategies
- 10:10More real comp examples
- 11:50Wrap-up & Q&A: What is a “category killer”?
Guest bio & headshot
Hannah Robinson
Hannah Robinson is a freelance collaborator and author coach with more than a decade of editorial experience. As an in-house Editor, she worked at HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette Book Group, where she published award-winning and best-selling nonfiction, including Stop Self-Sabotage, The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less, Quitting: A Life Strategy, Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go, Spiritual Anatomy, and Gender Magic.
She has a reputation for publishing radically practical titles for diverse readerships, and throughout her career she has championed thought leaders, academics, and experts who want to share their stories and help readers live their best possible life — whatever that looks like for them.
These days, she helps authors nail their proposals, hone their manuscripts, and elevate their platforms to share their ideas with the world. Her authors know her to be a compassionate, clear-eyed guide, pushing them to create the best version of their book.
Hannah is a graduate of the University of Portland, where she earned a BA in English and Spanish. She also holds a Gold Level Certification from NYU in Fundamentals of Copyediting and Proofreading Books. When she’s not editing, you’ll find her in the kitchen or out for a walk.
Let’s work together! Hannah specializes in narrative and practical nonfiction, including: self-help, psychology and social psychology, mental health, relationships, physical wellbeing, lifestyle, how-to, business and leadership, communication, personal finance, pop science, gift books, cookbooks, travel, parenting, and memoir.
Episode 1
Also available on
10 Years of Manuscript Academy: Jessica & Julie Kick Off Our Anniversary Season
It’s Manuscript Academy’s 10th anniversary season — and to kick it off, co-founders Jessica Sinsheimer (agent, Context Literary Agency, co-founder of #MSWL, Manuscript Wish List®, and The Manuscript Academy®) and Julie Kingsley (award-winning author, media professor + co-founder of The Manuscript Academy®) are here to catch you up on everything coming this year.
Ten years ago, The Manuscript Academy officially launched in September 2016, with their very first filming day on September 17th in a rented New York theater (jackhammers, unfortunately, included).
A decade later, we’re marking the milestone with a full slate of anniversary programming, including:
- A new 10-minute episode format — every episode this season, agent mini-classes, editor interviews, and author conversations on query letters, comp titles, pacing, platform, and more, all in a bite-sized format.
- Genre Celebration events, kicking off with science fiction, fantasy, speculative, and dystopian fiction — five mini classes from agents and editors, a live feedback panel, optional one-to-one pitch sessions, and dedicated query, page, and critique-partner forums. Learn more at genre.manuscriptacademy.com.
- A Founding Member Reunion Month for anyone who was part of Manuscript Academy back in 2016.
- A worldwide ambassador project, with more details coming soon. Hint: You’ll need a printer, a few sheets of paper, a bookstore, and a sense of mischief.
- A few things they’re not confirming or denying yet — including a possible in-person event later this year.
Interested in our free offerings? Check out our blog library, YouTube channel, and free event replays at ManuscriptAcademy.com/free.
Need help with your query letter? Check out our 1:1 agent consultations with literary agents and editors.
Learn more about our anniversary events at anniversary.manuscriptacademy.com and our programming at ManuscriptAcademy.com.
(03) What to expect
Three reasons to hit follow:
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Agent interviews that go beyond “just write a great book”
Hear directly from the people making the deals: what they're looking for, what makes them stop reading, and what they wish every writer knew.
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Publishing, behind the scenes
The industry is needlessly mysterious. Let us help.
(04) Get notified
Sign up before October 1
You'll be entered to win a 1:1 consultation with a literary agent — plus you'll be the first to know when each new episode goes live.
One winner will be chosen from all sign-ups before October 1.