Writers With Wrinkles

Send us a textIn this bonus season-finale episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid reflect on the end of the season, share a behind-the-scenes podcasting mishap, and dive into a First Pages critique of a cozy fantasy submission, The Village Mage. Along the way, they discuss why first pages are so hard to get right, how too much backstory can stall momentum, and what cozy fantasy readers expect from the very first paragraph.What We Cover in This EpisodeA Season Wrap-UpWhy this season felt especially long (emotionally and creatively)The surprising reach of the podcast, including international listenersWhy listener messages matter more than download numbersBehind the Scenes of PodcastingA funny (and harmless) upload glitchWhy multitasking and podcast production don’t always mixA reminder that mistakes happen—and they’re fixableFirst Pages Critique: The Village MageWhy the tea shop setting immediately signals “cozy”What works well in the opening voice and atmosphereWhere the opening leans too heavily on setting and backstoryWhy character emotion needs to come before worldbuildingHow early signals of magic shape reader expectationsThe importance of “showing” magic instead of naming it outrightFirst Page Takeaways for WritersLess is more on page oneAvoid stacking backstory and description in large blocksEstablish genre expectations immediatelyUse specific, character-centered details instead of generic atmosphereTrust the reader—don’t explain everything up frontConsider whether your story actually starts later than you thinkA Common Revision RealityWhy first chapters are often written as “thinking-through” pagesHow hard it is to cut beloved early materialWhy cutting doesn’t mean deleting—just relocatingKey Writing Advice from Beth & LisaYour first page should hook, not explainGenre cues matter—especially in fantasyPacing is created through balance: dialogue, action, and selective detailIf readers don’t know why they should care about the character yet, they won’t care about the worldWhat’s Coming NextA brand-new season with exciting guest interviewsMore First Pages bonus episodesKicking off the new season with literary agent Erin Casey WestinHave first pages you’d like feedback on? Visit the Writers With Wrinkles website and submit your opening pages for a chance to be featured in a future episode.Thank you for listening, sharing, and sticking with us this season. We’ll see you in the new year—until then, happy reading, writing, and listening. Support the show Visit the WebsiteWriters with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

Send us a textQuery letters make even experienced writers panic—and for good reason. In this special Ask Beth & Lisa episode, we’re joined by author and educator Deborah Crossland for a deep, practical conversation about how to write a strong, effective query letter as we head into the 2026 querying season. Deborah breaks down what query letters are actually for, what agents want to see (and don’t), and how writers can avoid the most common—and most damaging—mistakes.This episode is packed with actionable advice, mindset shifts, and real-world examples from the querying trenches.About Our GuestDeborah Crossland teaches English and mythology at a community college and writes myth-based contemporary YA novels with a feminist lens. Her novel The Quiet Part Out Loud was published in 2023, with the paperback released in 2024. She lives in Northern California and is passionate about making education accessible to all.Key Topics & TakeawaysWhat a Query Letter Is (and Isn’t)The sole purpose of a query letter is to get an agent to request pages—not to sell the book or explain the entire plot.Think invitation, not explanation.The Anatomy of a Strong QueryA compelling hook (often 1–2 sentences)A focused pitch centered on external stakesBrief book details (genre, word count, comps)A short, professional author bioExternal Stakes Matter More Than You ThinkWriters often lean too hard on internal stakes; agents need to see what’s happening.External conflict is what differentiates your book in a crowded field.If an agent can’t picture the story visually, the query isn’t doing its job.Pitch vs. SynopsisThe query pitch should not include spoilers or the ending.The synopsis is where you explain the full story, including how it ends.Mixing these up is one of the most common querying mistakes.How to Personalize Without Being CringeyReference an agent’s manuscript wish list, not their personal life.Keep personalization professional, brief, and relevant.Treat it like a business introduction—not a social interaction.Query Etiquette (and Red Flags)Always submit queries exactly how the agent requests.Never DM agents or email around Query Manager.Don’t announce querying rounds or submissions on social media.Avoid pitching your unpublished book publicly on Instagram, TikTok, or X.Author Bios for Debut WritersIt’s perfectly acceptable to say, “This is my first novel.”Writing credentials are optional; strong pages matter more.Publishing loves debuts—lack of experience is not a liability.Series Talk: Less Is MoreDon’t pitch a multi-book series as a debut.“Standalone with series potential” is sufficient.Length & ClarityQueries should be concise and tightly written.Every word must earn its place.If you can’t summarize your story clearly, you may not be ready to query.Hooks, Loglines, and Netflix ThinkingThink in terms of loglines or streaming-style descriptions.If you can’t explain your story in one sharp sentence, that’s a sign to step back. Support the show Visit the WebsiteWriters with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

Send us a textFor her encore episode, Lisa chose our interview with Brian Selznick—author and illustrator of some of the most innovative and emotionally powerful books in contemporary publishing. In this conversation, Brian reflects on creative process, patience, and trusting your reader. It was definitely a season four highlight!   Support the show Visit the WebsiteWriters with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

Send us a textLisa’s Encore Pick: Brian SelznickFor her encore episode, Lisa chose our interview with Brian Selznick—author and illustrator of some of the most innovative and emotionally powerful books in contemporary publishing. In this conversation, Brian reflects on creative process, patience, and trusting your reader. It was definitely a season four hightlight!  Support the show Visit the WebsiteWriters with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

Send us a textBeth’s Encore Pick: Adria GoetzFor her encore episode, Beth chose our interview with Adria Goetz, Senior Literary Agent at KT Literary. This conversation gets into the real mechanics of querying—what agents actually notice, where writers tend to go wrong, and how to communicate clearly and professionally in a crowded submission landscape. Adria is refreshingly direct about industry realities while remaining deeply encouraging, making this episode especially useful for writers who want practical guidance without false promises. If you’re querying now—or plan to in the future—this is one of those episodes worth bookmarking. Support the show Visit the WebsiteWriters with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!