✨Holly Stars Shares the Writing Advice She Credits with Landing Her an Agent AND a Book Deal! ✨

Plus, debut thriller author Daniel Kenitz on optimizing your use of beta readers; finding community through the Deep Dive Virtual Retreat; and our hotline is once again open for your questions !

Happy Tuesday, writing friends!

Are you ready for some inspiration? On the lookout for some practical tips to add to your writing toolbox? Then you’re in luck, because we’ve got both for you today, offered up by two new novelists who’ve been where you are and know what it takes to jump the hurdle that takes you from aspiring to published author. 🤩

First up, we have a Q&A with playwright, comedian, and one of the UK's hottest drag talents, Holly Stars. If you’re feeling like it’s taking you too long to reach your writing finish line, Holly’s nearly 20-year-long journey to publication should give you hope (and the role Instagram played in it might have the anti-social media types among you reconsidering your position!😮). Equally inspiring, Holly’s upcoming debut, Murder in the Dressing Room, was born out of her early love of crime fiction, as well as one particularly famous piece of writing advice we suspect you’re all familiar with. Want to know which one? You’ll have to read her answers to our questions to find out! 😉

Also in this issue we’ve got an advice-packed essay from freelance writer and debut thriller author Daniel Kenitz, in which he shares his experience (the good, the bad and the ugly) with soliciting feedback from a “bevy of beta readers.” Daniel (whose The Perfect Home is out today) goes deep into what to look for in critique partners, how to find ones who will actually add value to your work, and how to deal with the often conflicting advice you’ll receive from them (an experience we’re sure anyone who’s ever sought feedback from multiple reviewers can relate to all too well!). 🙌🏽👌🏼

Finally, it’s hotline time again! If you’ve got a question for our hosts or need a comp title recommendation, you can submit it via a one minute voice message here. The deadline for this month’s questions is January 14th. For more information on the submission process, visit our site here. ☎️❓

That’s all for now! Have a great writing week!

❤️ The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Team