Literary agent and author Kate McKean shares how to pitch like a human, read rejection letters usefully, and protect your joy so you can build a durable writing life.
You'll learn:
- How to build a clear 1–2 line pitch others can repeat and sell.
- How to read rejection letters, spot strong notes, and decide when to revise.
- Query etiquette and timelines: when to follow up and how resubmissions work.
- Fixing weak nonfiction proposals with clearer scope, audience, and takeaway.
- Write for the reader: comp titles, positioning, and a useful synopsis.
- US vs UK agenting models and what that means for money and process.
- Why agents don’t steal ideas and why execution is what matters.
- Self-publishing realities: expectations, track records, and when it helps the book.
Resources and Links:
About Kate McKean
Kate McKean is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency, author of Write Through It, and the writer of the Agents & Books newsletter; she represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction and fields hundreds of queries each month.
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