Why You Shouldn’t Make Every Change Your Beta Readers Suggest

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

How To, Books, Education, Fiction, Arts

4.8 • 733 Ratings

🗓️ 8 August 2024

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment.

After which, Bianca interviews MK Pagano, author of the YA thriller romance, Girls Who Burn. The two discuss MK's journey to publication; the importance of knowing when to part ways with an agent, even if s/he is a good agent; MK's experience with beta readers and following your heart when it comes to editing; how MK pitched her 'romantic thriller'; deciding on characters' ages when writing YA; why MK chose first person POV for her novel; writing with a cast of characters; and MK's advice for debut authors.

Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/

https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/

https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW

Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com

Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting

You can find out more information about MK on her website at https://mkpagano.com/

She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mk_pagano/

and Twitter at https://x.com/mk_pagano

For more information about the All About Fantasy Virtual Retreat, go to:

https://www.biancamarais.com/all-about-fantasy.html

Carly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15

Our Sponsors:
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Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hi there and welcome to our show, the shit no one tells you about writing. I'm Bianca
0:12.7	Moray and I'm joined by Carly Waters and Cici Lira from PS Literary Agency. We'll be kicking
0:20.1	off today's episode with our usual Books with Hook segment,
0:23.8	after which we'll go to today's guest.
0:26.6	We'll be taking a break from recording new Books with Hooks segments over the summer
0:31.0	so that we can recharge our batteries and return fully energized in the fall.
0:36.1	We'll still be critiquing two new Books with Hook submissions each week, though,
0:40.3	which are paid substack subscribers will get every Tuesday through our newsletter.
0:46.2	That's until we return with new segments to air in the fall.
0:50.2	So continue to submit your queries to us through our website.
0:54.6	In the meantime, we'll be kicking it back by playing Books with Hooks episodes from our
0:59.1	backlist while still airing brand new author interviews each week.
1:03.9	It's a new year and time to get fresh eyes on your work in progress.
1:08.4	Are you looking for beta readers, some of whom might potentially become
1:11.9	writing group members down the line? Are you wanting to be matched up with those writing in a similar
1:16.9	genre and or time zone so they can critique your work as you critique theirs at the same time? Your
1:23.3	manuscript doesn't have to be complete to sign up for this 3,000 word evaluation.
1:28.5	This matchup will be open to registrations from now until the 2nd of March with the
1:33.6	matchup emails going out on the 3rd of March. Always such an exciting day. For more information
1:40.0	and to register, go to Bianca Moray.com and go to the beta reader matchup tab.
1:45.2	And please spread the word, even if you aren't joining the matchup this time.
1:50.0	The more writers we have signed up, the better the matches will be.
	...

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