✨Query Critiques Inside! Plus, a Duo of Writing Duos Share Their Thoughts on Successful Partnerships, Imposter Syndrome, "Beginner Brains" and More!✨

Also in this issue: A Q&A with Heather McBreen; the Great Beta Reader Match-Up is on; and the clock is ticking on Deep Dive registration!

Happy Tuesday, writing friends!

Last week was 📕Books with Hooks 🪝week on the podcast, so you can find Carly and CeCe’s written query critiques below! But that’s not all…

There must be something in the air, because we’ve got not one but two writing twosomes sharing insights with you this week. First up, co-authors Greg Wands and Elizabeth McCullough Keenan (whose Trust Issues is out today!) interview each other in a video that is absolutely packed with insights for all writers, not just those interested in writing with a partner. In addition to talking about dealing with imposter syndrome and how to wrangle your inner critic, they also share something they think is just as important to your writing as your unique voice. Want to know what it is? Guess you’ll just have to keep reading… 😉

Our second writing twosome is comprised of Julie Buxbaum and Adele Griffin (aka Taylor Hutton), who’ve co-written an essay that will appeal to anyone who’s ever thought the act of writing alone feels like “listening to the sound of one hand clapping.” In addition to talking about the benefits of writing partnerships (and how to ensure yours is successful!) they share tips and insights that will serve solo writers equally well. Their idea of approaching writing with a “beginner’s brain” is a really interesting—and potentially very productive—one (it’s certainly served them well!), and it’s something that any writer can try. Want to know what “beginner’s brain” is and how it relates to 🍌🍌🍌? You know what to do…

Next, debut author of “books about kissing,” Heather McBreen (whose Wedding Dashers is out now!), is in our Q&A hotseat this week, sharing her go-to mantra for days when the writing feels hard and it’s one we would all do well to adopt as our own (Editor’s note: Seriously. I’ve been riding the writing struggle bus lately and have literally just printed out Heather’s words and stuck them on my monitor where I will see them every time I’m at my desk).

And last but not least, the Great Beta Reader Match-Up is still open for submissions and, and the countdown is on for the 2025 Deep Dive Virtual Retreat! With just more four sleeps to go, you’d better get a move on if you don’t want to miss out!

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading! ❤️

❤️ The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Team