The Write and Wrong Podcast | Writing Tips, Book Publishing and Literary Agents

Literary agent, Philippa Sitters is with Jamie this week to chat about her career in publishing from a high intensity start with a major talent agency all the way through to starting her own agency, PSA Literary. Philippa shares a candid look at the day-to-day reality of running an independent agency, what she is looking for in her inbox, and why online author platforms are becoming increasingly significant in the industry.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Philippa’s entry into the publishing industry.
07:28 – The leap to starting a solo agency (PSA Literary).
13:54 – What Philippa represents (and the genres she doesn't).
19:45 – What makes a standout crime thriller and the need for fresh perspectives.
22:45 – Which book would Philippa want if she was snowed in at a cosy woodland cabin.
27:06 – Fiction vs. Non-Fiction queries: Breaking down the submission guidelines.
39:37 – How to write the perfect query letter (and major red flags to avoid).
49:20 – Do you really need an author platform and a social media presence?
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Writer, editor and photographer, Amelia Kyazze is back on the podcast after first joining us back in 2021 with her debut novel. We chat about everything that she has written and published since then both with big publishers and independently. Amelia goes on to discuss her experiences with different publishing models, how she discovery writes in historical fiction, and why finding a community is so intertwined with creative success.
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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What does it take to find a literary agent and navigate today’s ever-shifting publishing world?
In this episode, Jamie sits down with publishing veteran and literary agent Kate Barker to pull back the curtain on the industry. Kate talks about the ways in which AI and social media are changing author discoverability, why she asks for the first 500 words of a manuscript in her queries but not a synopsis.
Whether you're fine-tuning a pitch or love bookish insider talk, this conversation is packed with goodies.
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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Middle grade fantasy author, Oliver Lendon joins Jamie to talk about his traditional debut. Oliver chats about writing for the love of the craft, the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing and practical insights on querying manuscripts, open submissions, and the amount of formatting and documentation that goes into self-publishing.
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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Contemporary fiction author, Elizabeth Richardson is here, chatting about serialising her debut novel Trad on Substack. We discuss the trad wife subculture, dealing with rejections, and balancing multiple projects with a busy family life. Tune in for insights on building an organic reader community and a publishing inspired locked-room mystery recommendation.
Support the show on Patreon! 💖 And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. 🙏
For audio listeners:
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Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! 📚
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Follow on socials! 🥳
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