Sisters Always Write

You asked, we answered! Author K. L. Cerra and editor Sara Schonfeld sit down to answer questions from our inbox: What's going on with paperback publishing? How do you know your book is ready to query? What's the biggest misconception authors have about the publishing process? All from the point of view of the author of SUCH PRETTY FLOWERS and an associate editor at one of the Big Five houses.

The last step (hopefully) before a book deal: Acquisitions! Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who have written together their whole lives, as they discuss the acquisitions process—from the point of view of the author who got a book deal and the editor who acquires books. Tune in to learn about acquisitions from both sides of the editor's desk.

Being on submission or "on sub" is another daunting part of the publishing process—but it doesn't have to be! Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who written together their whole lives, as they unpack what it's like to actually be on on sub—from the point of view of the author who got a book deal and the editor who evaluates manuscripts. Tune in to learn about the submission process from both sides of the editor's desk.

What's it like to get an offer of representation from an agent? What questions should you ask—and how do you know that they might be a great partner? Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who have written together their whole lives, as they discuss what it's like to sign with an agent—from the point of view of the author who signed with her dream agent by querying and the editor who works with authors and agents. Tune in to learn about that offer of rep and signing with an agent from both sides of the editor's desk.

What's a query? How do you write it? And what do you do after you click send? Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who have written together their whole lives, as they discuss querying—from the point of view of the author who secured an agent and the editor who edits queries. Tune in to learn about querying from both sides of the editor's desk.

How do you figure out which agents to query? Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who have written together their whole lives, as they discuss researching agents and building a querying list—from the point of view of the author who got an agent and the editor who receives submissions from agents. Tune in to learn tips and tricks for finding a great agent!

Do you have a novel that's done . . . or you think it's done? Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who have written together their whole lives, as they discuss what to do with a final draft—from the point of view of the author who has revised many novels and the editor who has sent many editorial letters. Tune in to learn about revising from both sides of the editor's desk.

So, you've finished a draft of your book. What next?? Join associate editor Sara Schonfeld and author K. L. Cerra, two sisters who had written together their whole lives, as they discuss feedback. How to give feedback, how to respond to feedback, and what to do next—from the point of view of the author who receives editorial letters and the editor who writes them. Tune in to learn about feedback from both sides of the editor's desk.

Last episode we talked all about ideas. But what do you do with your idea to turn it into a first draft? What does a first draft even look like? Sisters and publishing professionals Sara Schonfeld and K. L. Cerra are back to share what they've learned from combined decades of writing and publishing experience—from the point of view of the author who creates that first draft to the editor who reads those first drafts. Tune in to learn about drafting from both sides of the editor's desk.