Fiction Writing Made Easy

#91: Student Spotlight: How She Went From First Draft to Landing Her Dream Agent with Jamie Varon

May 9, 2023

Guest Jamie Varon, an inspiring author, shares her journey from first draft to landing her dream agent. Topics include working with her agent, receiving tough feedback, seeking representation elsewhere, and eventually landing her dream agent. The podcast also delves into turning her book into a movie with a screenwriter, providing insights on writing and seeking representation in the industry.

01:09:06

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Episode guests

Jamie Varon

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Believe in your writing and trust your story to overcome self-doubt and seek validation from within.

Navigate critical feedback to refine your writing process and transition from hobbyist to serious writer.

Make empowered decisions aligned with your writing goals, prioritize creative growth, and seek supportive collaborations in the industry.

Deep dives

Building a Successful Book Coaching Business

The episode delves into the intricacies of establishing a successful book coaching business. It highlights the importance of believing in oneself and one's writing, emphasizing the need to push past self-doubt and trust in the value of personal stories. The narrative underscores the significance of celebrating milestones in one's writing journey, regardless of their magnitude. Through insights shared in conversations with industry professionals, including a literary agent and a screenwriter, the episode showcases the journey of overcoming challenges and achieving success in the writing realm.

Introduction

3min

Exploring Diverse Writing Projects and Personal Growth with the Guest

2min

Stepping Into Main Character Energy

24min

Navigating the Agent Search

24min

Navigating the Transformative Power of Feedback for Authors

5min

Navigating the Publishing and Adaptation Process

8min

Encouraging Self-Belief and Confidence for Writers

3min

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Jamie Varon to talk through her incredibly inspiring story of how she went from writing the first draft of her novel to landing her dream agent. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[04:15] A quick introduction to Jamie Varon (including a timeline of her writing, editing, and publishing journey) as well as a summary of her novel, Main Character Energy
[17:45] Jamie describes what it’s like working with her agent—including what it’s like receiving feedback and collaborating with her on changes to the manuscript
[30:00] Jamie talks about what it was like to hear some really tough feedback from her literary agent—and how this feedback led Jamie to seek representation elsewhere. Spoiler alert: she ended up landing her dream agent shortly after!
[59:30] What it’s like working with a screenwriter to turn her memoir/self-help book, Radically Content, into a movie (plus, our final thoughts on writing)

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