Literary agent Ann Rose (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency) returns to Writers With Wrinkles for a candid, funny, and reassuring conversation with Beth and Lisa about the current state of publishing—and how writers can keep going anyway. Ann is also the author of The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean and A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love.
The episode opens with a frank look at an industry in flux. Ann and the hosts dig into why publishers have grown so risk-averse, why "branded" and name-recognition titles are crowding out fresh voices, and why debut authors and previously published writers alike are finding the trenches tougher than ever. They also tackle the hard truth that marketing has largely shifted onto authors' shoulders—and that, post-Twitter, no one has cracked the code on selling books online.
From there, the conversation turns practical and hopeful. Ann shares exactly what hooks her in a first chapter, what makes her stop reading, and how to push past the "messy middle" of a draft. If you're querying, pivoting genres, or rebuilding after a book that didn't sell, this one's for you.
In this episode:
- Why publishers are playing it safe—and what that means for debuts and option books
- How the marketing burden has shifted to authors, and why there's no magic bullet
- The two things Ann needs in a first chapter: voice and character agency
- Why "starting with action" can backfire if we don't yet care about the character
- The power of the unexpected: write down your first idea, then find your seventh
- Red flags that make Ann stop reading, and the "and then" trap that kills momentum
- Trusting the reader and leaving space on the page (a lesson from Brian Selznick)
- Advice for authors dropped after a disappointing option—and how to shake off imposter syndrome
- Pivoting genres and riding the pendulum: why what's "dead" always comes back
- Ann's midpoint challenge: move your ending to the middle and raise the stakes
- Her #1 piece of advice for writers: stay in your own lane and stop comparing
- What's at the top of her wish list: feminine rage, women doing bad things for good reasons, and gripping, feminist-leaning suspense
Whether you're a debut writer, a seasoned author starting over, or somewhere in the messy middle, Ann's message is one to hold onto: control what you can—your writing—and don't be afraid to get gritty.
Learn more about Ann and find the full blog at writerswithwrinkles.net. Next time: an Ask Beth and Lisa episode—send us your questions! Until then, happy reading, writing, and listening.
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