Cassie Mannes Murray
@cassmannes
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Writer. Director of book publicity @pinestatepub . MFA @uncwcrw . Mom to P & E.
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Joined March 2011
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Y’all I’m FREAKING OUT. The FIRST essay I ever submitted ever ever ever GOT A NOTABLE IN BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2020. I JUST JUMPED ON THE BED!!!
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I don’t see anyone on my timeline typing this so I just want to say I’m happy that Joe Biden didn’t skip over his son’s addiction and his pride in his son. I heard it, it’s important to me.
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I am not writing. I have not been writing for months. I haven’t had a submission in the queue for months. Still a writer. Just so we can ~normalize it~
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When I'm writing again, I'm going to write something on how lonely the first year of motherhood is (I hope it gets better).
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Maybe I’ll start a newsletter where I pick a big ol’ bestseller and do a “if you like this—you’ll LOVE these FIVE indie press titles” and we can all save our parents and siblings and book club bunko ladies from reading Crawdad’s.
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I’ve been working in book publicity for a bit now and from your friendly neighborhood literary agent: if you are unagented & get an offer from an editor / publisher, ask them for a sample publicity plan or a previous publicity campaign for their projects.
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Official announcement time: I have launched my own book publicity agency
@PineStatePub
in hopes to make publicity both affordable & available for a wider range of authors. Many thanks to
@rosswhite
for trusting me with
@BullCityPress
books first! <3
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I want a NY Times Book Review level outlet that ONLY covers independent books. That is my wee dream.
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FORTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE NOTABLE BOOKS FROM ONE PUBLISHER, ARE Y'ALL SERIOUS WITH THIS
@nytimesbooks
?
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Um, now that I've been working as a book publicist for a good bit on the side of agenting, I would tell every single writer to save some of that advance money and pay a publicist (particularly if their book is not the publisher's "big book" of the season). Regardless of genre.
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all of y'all need a reminder that not every agent on the planet is going to drop you when your first book out of the gate doesn't sell or there's some hiccup in the process. Some of us are playing a long game. we love you. stop it.
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Just saw what I think is an amazing publicity move. Someone on TikTok claimed a book was written by Stephanie Meyer under a pseudonym and suddenly a bunch of folks are reading it. START RUMORS ABOUT YOUR BOOKS! GOSSIP IS PUBLICITY!
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Hi y'all, I didn't plan on making this announcement today but I'm fielding a lot of questions (and I will have so much to say about this later including lots of REAL LOVE for the people I've worked with) but I am leaving agenting at the end of 2022.
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Happy 2022! 🎉 We’re bringing a whole human into the world this year, which I have told myself for the last seven months is a radical act of hope. Here’s to leaning into more coulds & wills & what ifs this year! ✨
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If I did a newsletter where I mapped a new essay every week that I found in a literary magazine, and then wrote through how I did the map (which is different every time)—is this of interest? I need to do it for me, but trying to figure out if I should share?
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I love bookmarking everything on Twitter and then never looking at it ever again.
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BEGGING writers to talk to people outside of NYC-snake-eating-its-tail literary circles about books & publishing and phenomenons. BEGGING.
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We’ve made it to the third trimester, i would like to thank my dear friend peanut butter.
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It is my favorite time of year, PLANNER SEASON. And because I’m maybe the only book person in the world with a family that doesn’t buy them notebooks / books / pens because I am THAT picky—I’m sharing favorites!
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I do not do not do not want advice. Just solidarity with folks who also have a child who just ... refuses to go to sleep. We keep saying maybe baby
#2
will be one of those magical sleeping babies?
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Question: what author's writing career do you really admire?
Like who is someone you've followed along the way & seeing their moves and meanderings has inspired you?
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I *beg* of y'all, if you are publishing with an indie publisher ask fervently and early about distribution. Ask about contacts and ordering and all of it. I promise you will want to know.
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So, I'm reading brilliant queries this morning. But one thing I wanted to note as I go through: sometimes you don't need an agent. THERE I said it. I would buy so many of these books IMMEDIATELY, but they are meant for a different part of publishing than most agents work within.
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Tomorrow my favorite person turns one. Hardest, bestest, wildest year, and we did it.
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I know everyone is looking forward to attending readings and talks and conferences again in person, but zoom / video / Skype gives SO MUCH ACCESS. The literary community needs and needed to open its doors to a range of access like this. Please do both, allow both ways in future.
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Hi. This week is for dreaming and one of my dreams is now true. I am representing one of my favorite writers on the planet
@JennyBoully
—I can’t wait for the world to see what she’s been working on.
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I turned in my thesis this morning. 54,110 words. All I wanted for this project was to be proud of whatever I turned in. And reader, I am.
(And now I know what you need to write a book length project is to be unhinged and persistent).
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As a pregnant person, it is an *ordeal* and I had NO idea.
I could see it was intense, or draining, or exhausting, but my BRAIN, my INNER PERSON, my WHOLE SOUL is fundamentally different now.
People MUST be able to make that choice for themselves regardless of circumstance.
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Blue Murray arrived Monday. 🩵 There is no better mess of the heart.
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I need all of you to collectively tell me that the sleep training *will* make everyone happier and rested soon. (We are not crying it out, but it is still HARD).
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I will, in 2022, figure out how to guard my writing life like a centaur and write new things OR ELSE. I will. I WILL.
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Your (semi?)annual reminder that any writing nomination, award, fellowship, whatever thing that has your name and congratulations next to it is something to celebrate! Do not talk yourself out of a good thing! 🎉✨Proud of you!
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Sometimes I think if I just switched over to being THE poet's agent, I could build a poetry enterprise and slash & burn the contest model one 👏 sale 👏 at 👏 a 👏 time. Anyway, you've caught me dreaming.
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my two year anniversary in publishing, it’s not to rush. Good work, great work, takes time, stewing, perspective. Ignore the lists. Ignore the buzzy fads. Ignore “the competition.” Write the work you need to write at a pace that honors it.
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Just got to call my parents & tell them I’m graduating my MFA with distinction. Takes a lot to make my dad proud, but he’s asked me every day since the exam if I’ve gotten results. I’ll be living in the extremely generous & kind things my thesis committee said in the meantime.
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I am BURSTING with exciting news that I've convinced myself not to share until the new year AND YET. All I'm saying is my word for 2022 is CELEBRATE.
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There is a longer explanation for my decision, but here's the three main reasons: I want to dedicate my time to
@PineStatePub
, corporate publishing is not my jam / I do not thrive, and I have made under 15k for four years of work in the industry. It's unsustainable.
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We *really* have to work on our lists at major book publicity places. If you don't have a single Indie book on your "best of" or "most anticipated" or "exciting new titles" lists. WOOF. We have to do better.
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We're naming our kid after a musician (last name-->first name) and BJ is blasting their music right now and singing along from his office. Vibes are immaculate, 11/10. And also their nursery is the coolest room in our house, feast your eyes.
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I have a call with an author in thirty minutes for a book project that I am NOT CHILL ABOUT AT ALL and I started to make my list of where I might send the book and wrote a whole submission list in ten minutes. So, this one is a hell yes. Send me luck!
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So, August was very hard. This morning I saw my first Fox in the wild 🦊 on our walk. Can someone tell me if this is a good omen? (I need a good omen).
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Listen my current publicity experience is that novellas are the most hated thing for places to cover and the most beloved thing by readers. WHAT is happening--are we in a novella crisis? LET US HAVE NOVELLA COVERAGE.
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YALL. I WAS AWARDED A FELLOWSHIP TO TRAVEL AND STUDY BALTHUS AND SHAME AND GIRLHOOF AND I FOUND OUT IN MY SCHOOL’S E-BILL TODAY! Like WHAT!!!!!!!!!!
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Being pregnant is like carrying an aquarium in your belly that you can’t peer into. 🐡
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Convinced my best friend to take a memoir class to work on a book he’s been talking about for years. He is not in any writing communities / Twitter / in the thick of *this* and he just texted me about the “guy who takes over class with his thoughts” and why am I proud?
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I just spent the morning working on an essay. IT HAS RETURNED BABY!
(I really thought I might never write again).
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One of the best things about being a pregnant person is that when I blast love songs (ahem, Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”) in the car and scream-sing it, I’m thinking about the belly goober.
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I am having a FREAK week & just found out
@StoryQuarterly
is publishing my essay “Super Smash” from their nonfiction contest. If you ever wanted to read about Super Smash brothers, sex, and performance in girlhood as a series of levels beating the bosses, THEN THIS ONES FOR YOU.
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Been attempting this thing where instead of believing all the anxious thoughts I say, “what if all of it works out?” And uhhh, it’s life-changing?
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I’m going to need some 🎉🎉🎉 because I just drove for the first time by myself (without the dog and everything!) since having Petty (hello, anxiety!) and I … did it. I got to a destination!
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I question myself ALL THE TIME (but also back myself completely? it's confusing to be me) about success and whether I'm good at the whole publishing game and TODAY is a day for validation! Things are HAPPENING. Books I love & worked on are getting & going! You love to see it!
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You know what I love about working in publishing? The fact that you just have to remove all your shame.
Yes, I am following up for the third time. Yes, I am sending you a poetry chapbook for review you scary glossy magazine. Yes, here I am PITCHING YOU ONCE AGAIN.
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No advance? No problem:
*follow publicists on social media & steal tips
*do a consult with a publicist
*look at the literature and the internet for book publicity and marketing tips
*practice writing pitches for each audience of your book
*make a reviewer list
*harness community
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Feeling lately like I’m not achieving much (not successful?) so solidarity if you’re feeling that way too.
(Don’t need advice or arguments on the other side, just stating feelings).
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Normalize letting nonfiction be as varied, innovative, fresh, and complicated in structure, voice, and point-of-view as fiction, please & thank you. 😘
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People who say structuring a book just comes to them. I have deep, mean feelings towards you. DEEP & MEAN.
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Today’s my dad’s funeral so I thought I’d share something weird.
Everyday in the shower, like clouds, I define the images my hair makes on the walls.
This is grief.
A woman, her mind, the handle of an umbrella attached, my dad’s cane attached to that, and the downpour.
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Will I ever be cured of my obsession with a run-on sentence? it’s powered me since third grade.
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You know what I would love. A book shopping site (ahem
@Bookshop_Org
) where you could search by date like "November 2022" and see all the books that are coming out that month, or year, or literal day!
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Some exciting news this morning.🔥So happy I get to work at an agency I love
@HowlandLit
with a boss I love
@ECarrieHowland
to help (and hopefully) expand and innovate publishing, and give access to emerging writers, voices, and big dreams! 💛 I am LUCKY.
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Every morning BJ “sets the vibes” downstairs for me and the animals. This involves: turning on a heating blanket, lighting a smell-good candle, and putting some sort of fire crackle from YouTube on the tv. This morning’s vibes: we’re in a cozy cabin in the mountains.
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#amquerying
writers: I am not open to fiction queries right now b/c "pregnancy brain" has made it wildly hard for me to focus when reading fiction. It's not b/c I don't love it. I can listen to it, but I cannot edit it at this time. I will open to fiction queries in July 2022.
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Okay, I promise I have been working on my new thesis like a mad woman, but I just saw I was nominated for an actual Pushcart by
@FugueJournal
which feels so silly b/c I used to buy old editions at the used bookstore in my early twenties to learn how to be a “worthy” writer. 😭
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I HAVE A NEW DRAFT OF THIS WILD, SLIPPERY, NIGHTMARE OF A BOOK AND I NEEDED TO TELL SOMEONE. THE DRAFT MAKES SENSE. BOTH LOGICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. IS THIS EUPHORIA?
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Here’s the essay which
@happiestwerther
edited into so much more clarity and beauty and
@The_Rumpus
published. I am FOREVER thankful. Also, shout out to my amazing partner who lets me write about our whole sweet life.
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HELLO, THIS BOOK DEAL JUST DROPPED! Congratulations
@anna_gazmarian
! I am so happy to be a part of a book about suffering, grace, and faith, that’s both intellectual and artful! 🎉🎉🎉 y’all don’t want to miss this memoir! 💛
I want to scream from my rooftop, “I GOT A BOOK DEAL!!!!” Unfortunately we live in the woods so that would be pretty anticlimactic.
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I am VERY UNCOOL about snow BUT also how can I work when THIS is out the window! ❄️ wonder & magic & glee!
[view from my closet office window in which SNOW IS FALLING]
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I'm AMAZED by folks who submitted over 100 times this year. (Even over 50, hell over 25!) AMAZED. How do y'all write so fast? Like what is your writing to submitting ratio? Am I just really gollum-ing my preciouses?
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Hi y’all! My first mission after birthing a human in 2022 will be teaching this class on publicity and marketing for writers & indie publishers with
@DallasWriters
—I am really excited about it. If you’d like to be notified of class dates, sign up. 💌
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Are there ... no southern writing podcasts? And also, what are we going to do about it?
I ask this after digging through southern podcasts all morning.🙃
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Good MORNING! I am IN THIS
@FugueJournal
. Because I think I can be Anne Carson, I wrote an ESSAY IN COUPLETS. It is the first thing I wrote about my best friend’s death and she deserved the form to immediately say LOVE. Endless thanks to
@clareshearer
who edited this to a dream.
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I am sorry my tweets have been so obnoxious, but the support of so many of you is WILD to me. <3
The first INDEPENDENT AGENTS newsletter has been sent. I hope you love it & you'll subscribe & you'll also submit your own curated list (or more!)
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Have experienced one whole hour of uninterrupted time on a porch by a lake this evening and now I know the writing was just lying in wait like a predator for the last several months.
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Y’all! It is my TWO YEAR anniversary at
@HowlandLit
! From an earnest cold email to
@ECarrieHowland
, to interning and assisting, and now being an associate agent, I am just so proud to work with this team of women, to bring up new interns & to fall in love with weird ass books.🦋
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The *sheer* amount of queries I get comped to Maggie Nelson, Eula Biss, and Sarah Manguso is AMAZING. I'm glad we're all out here writing our lyric essays and fragmenting our stories into bite size pieces so they can be handled with care one at a time.
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Y'all, because I love you, I'm going to tell you that publishing a book is VERY HARD. If you do it, and extra points if you do it with an agent who doesn't cry at her kitchen table during the submission process, you are like the equivalent to becoming a professional athlete.
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Finally deleted email from my phone so maybe I’ll start reading books for pleasure again (and writing them 😈)
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y'all I just want my own literary agent so I can text someone when I know what none of my writing shit means and they just ask me questions and poke at curiosities. Because I can do that for everyone EXCEPT ME.
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A sure fire way for writers to finish drafts is for their agent to set a maternity leave timeline. THAT, my friends, gets drafts done. 🤰
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Aw crap! Two more things. We are WRITING in 2023. I want to WRITE too. And if you were waiting to query me, might I introduce you to
@zoealinehoward
who is going to be a FORCE in publishing and shares my taste, but her editorial eye is better!
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I just want to say in a week that won't end I have the *best fucking clients in the entire universe* and no one can tell me different. Not only are they writing books I want to blast into outer space, they are great, great, great people. I am lucky.
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Anyway, I'm sure a longer newsletter is coming LOL and I'll still be talking about all things publishing and books (constantly and with too much energy). I'm looking forward to what happens in 2023 because it's all one big, fun guess!
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Just one of those days where I'm sad I'm not writing a book. 🙃 Which will only be written if I write it. Which I am not currently doing.
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Your fun neighborhood reminder that some of those anticipated lists are paid for &/or "sponsored content." love you. don't be sad, go get a tattoo of your book.
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Would read a whole book of prologues and a whole book of epigraphs. 12/10 they are my favorite. Like little appetizers. Tapas. A charcuterie of literature!
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It’s time for me to spend a few hours reading essays for next week’s essay atlas—if you recently published an essay (either as an editor or a writer) that you loved—drop a link. 💌
A note: I focus on writers who are not massively clouted already—fresh voices in the essay space!
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I will be teaching a class in the spring / summer on book publicity for writers and publishers, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I'll setup some lists on my website of publicists I recommend, and try to do plan some Instagram lives / Twitter q&a's in 2022!
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INTERVIEW YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
I cannot say this enough, but my dad is 84 and my favorite thing to do is call him up once a week and ask him one strange question and spend an hour listening to the tangents and taking notes.
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A weird little Friday reminder that the folks at
@AssayJournal
have a syllabi bank (among so much else) on the website. Whenever I'm stuck, I go in there and find things to read and lessons to do (I am a nerd).
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idk what's happening but
@PineStatePub
is having the best Friday in the history of Fridays. I can't keep up with everything that's happening today. So proud to work with such BRILLIANT writers.
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It has been 262 days since the baby was born and today, for the first time, I am leaving him long enough that he will get fed from the stores of freezer milk. And I don’t know which feeling is stronger, the “so excited” or “so terrified.”
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I just wrote this on a thread, but anytime anyone asks me how to get into publishing, here is my advice: Either get on LinkedIn or do a free trial of Publisher’s Marketplace and find all the people who have (currently have) the job you want. On LinkedIn start your search (1)
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In 2022, I need y'all to know that I love hearing folks read, but readings do not usually sell books (particularly zoom readings). If you want to move books, people are selfish, offer them something else + the reading, or try other tactics.
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My best training as a book publicist was being the friend in my girl group who could find every detail about a crush’s past or ex’s new life on the internet in 2003. Nothing prepared me more.
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For the first time in sixteen months I’m alone and my brain is like WRITEWRITEWRITEWRITEWRITE but it’s so overwhelming the jumble of what’s all in there that I’m just reading a library book aloud to the animals.
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I've been reading so many SO CLOSE fulls lately, and I'm a little bit dizzy from having to reject GOOD manuscripts, but what I've learned these last few years is that I can't spend two years editing a manuscript right now in my career. However, if I say resubmit, PLEASE.
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