Writers With Wrinkles

Whether you're an aspiring author, indie publisher, or career writer, Writers with Wrinkles is your essential guide to writing craft, book marketing, and the publishing industry. Hosted by authors Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid, we iron out the wrinkles of the business — from mastering novel writing and story structure to navigating literary agents, query letters, and KDP self-publishing. Each week, we bring you expert interviews with editors, publishers, and bestselling authors, plus practical advice on building your author platform and marketing your book. Whether you're drafting your first manuscript or preparing for a book launch, we have the guidance you need to thrive in today's competitive publishing landscape. Visit www.WritersWithWrinkles.net for resources. Follow us on TikTok: @writerswithwrinkles

Writers With Wrinkles is a arts podcast hosted by Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid, with 172 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid hosts Writers With Wrinkles, a arts show with 172 episodes published.

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  Episode #29

  Want to Write a Graphic Novel? A First Second Editor Explains

  Sep 28, 202648 minS5

  Your graphic novel isn't a novel. It's a screenplay, and editors can tell from page one whether you know the difference. First Second Books editor Ivan Taurisano explains how to write and submit a graphic novel script that gets read. Kids ages 8 to 12 head straight for the graphic novel shelf, and prose writers are trying to follow them there. But Ivan says a submission that misses the format doesn't just earn a "not for me." It can earn a "don't send me your next one." Here's what he wants you to know before you write a single panel. In this episode: Why writing a graphic novel is closer to writing a screenplay than a prose novel Revealing character through dialogue alone (no "she looked wistfully at the ocean") Why editors talk page count, not word count, and the "70,000-word graphic novel" red flag What to submit for a script-only project vs. an author and illustrator team: script, pitch, synopsis, and 20–30 sample pages How much art direction is too much, and the one question to ask before you leave an art note Why illustrators usually earn more than writers The biggest mistake Ivan sees: art that doesn't match the audience you're pitching Why kids who read "slightly above their level" become lifelong readers Adult graphic novels and First Second's sister imprint, 23rd Street Ivan's manuscript wishlist: Middle grade graphic novels about girl friendship that capture how big those fights and bonds feel at 10, 11, and 12 Dragons Early reader graphic novels for ages 4–7, 64–96 pages, any topic Stories with fresh magic systems A joyful, new take on the immigrant journey that shows the excitement, not only the hardship Ivan's inbox ( ivan.taurisano@firstsecondbooks.com) is open to agented and unagented creators, and he gives feedback when he passes. Books and resources mentioned: Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud (Ivan's must-read before you write a graphic novel) The Investigators by John Patrick Green Dog Man by Dav Pilkey Pizza and Taco Narwhal and Jelly Parachute Kids Tuck Everlasting (graphic novel adaptation) Clara and the Devil How to Catch Santa Claus (How to Catch series) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Hit play, then grab a graphic novel for the age group you want to write for. Follow Writers With Wrinkles so you don't miss our next Ask Beth and Lisa episode, and send us your questions! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit the Website Find Full Episodes on YouTube! Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

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  Episode #28

  150+ Episodes of Publishing Advice, Now in One Book

  Sep 21, 202626 minS5

  We just turned 150+ episodes of hard-won publishing wisdom into one book — and it's finally here. Write, Revise, Publish: Essential Lessons from the Writers With Wrinkles Podcast is up for pre-order now, and today Beth and Lisa are pulling back the curtain on why they wrote it, what's inside, and how it can save you from making the same missteps they did. If you've ever finished a podcast episode thinking "that's such a good tip" — and then completely forgotten it by the next day — this book is the fix. Beth and Lisa gathered the best insight from over five years and 150+ conversations with agents, editors, and authors, organized it by where you are in your process (first draft through published book), and added end-of-chapter worksheets so you can actually use it, not just read it. Plus: they're launching a brand-new segment called the Confetti Club , where debut and new-release authors get the mic to pitch their own books — no interview pressure, just celebration. In this episode: The cover reveal for their new book, Write, Revise, Publish: Essential Lessons from the Writers With Wrinkles Podcast Why they built the book around 150+ episodes of guest wisdom instead of just their own opinions How the book is organized so there's a spot for you whether you're drafting, revising, querying, or publishing The personal (and often embarrassing) asides from Beth and Lisa woven into every chapter End-of-chapter worksheets designed to turn the book into a practical writing tool, not just a read Introducing the Confetti Club — a new short-form segment spotlighting authors with books releasing within 30 days Who's lined up for the first three Confetti Club episodes A teaser for a third big announcement — coming next month Release date, pre-order details, and (of course) a Taylor Swift tangent Pre-order Write, Revise, Publish on Amazon now — it releases in ebook and paperback on October 6th . And if you've got a book coming out in the next 30 days, keep an eye out: the Confetti Club wants to celebrate you too. Hit play, and let's dive in. And if you love the show, a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts takes two minutes and helps us keep ironing out the wrinkles every week. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit the Website Find Full Episodes on YouTube! Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

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  Episode #27

  Why Middle Grade Books Got Too Long For Kids To Read

  Sep 14, 202643 minS5

  Harry Potter didn't just create a fantasy phenomenon — according to one Big Five editor, it quietly helped break middle grade publishing. Every book that tried to chase that success got longer, older, and harder for actual kids to read, and now imprints are shutting down because of it. In this encore episode, literary agent, bestselling children's author, and founder of At-Home Author Vicki Weber breaks down what's really happening in publishing right now — the layoffs, the imprint closures, and why "everybody's throwing spaghetti at the wall." Then she gets tactical: her #1 piece of advice for authors in the query trenches (hint: it's not "wait for The One agent"), how to read between the lines of an agent's wishlist, and why chasing a "dream agent" is quietly sabotaging your confidence. In this episode: The real story behind Vicki's viral Substack post on the state of middle grade The "Harry Potter theory" — how one runaway bestseller reshaped an entire category Why editors loving your book is only the beginning, not the end, of acquisitions Vicki's #1 tip for querying authors: write another book (and why the process isn't a straight line) How to research an agent's actual taste, not just their stated genres Why "my dream agent passed" is the wrong way to think about rejection Self-publishing vs. traditional: how to decide which is right for your book What to do about a "bad" sales track record (and how to reframe it) Simple, low-cost ways to build an email list and audience before you're published Vicki's current manuscript wishlist: horror-tinged, commercial, with social commentary We had a new guest lined up for this week, but a family emergency meant we had to reschedule — so we're bringing back one of our favorite conversations instead. Find Vicki's Substack and more show links in the notes at writerswithwrinkles.net. Hit play and let's get to it! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit the Website Find Full Episodes on YouTube! Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

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  Episode #26

  An Acquiring Editor Reveals What She's Buying Right Now

  Aug 31, 202629 minS5

  Most rejected picture book and middle grade manuscripts aren't turned down because they're bad — they're turned down because an editor has already seen five just like them. Susan Marston, the new editorial director of Albatros Books' US expansion (and former 25-year editorial director of the Junior Library Guild), joins us to lay out exactly what's landing on her acquisitions list right now — and what's already been done to death. We talk about why Albatros — the largest publisher in the Czech Republic — is betting big on the American market, what makes a manuscript feel "irresistible" to an editor who's read literally thousands of submissions, and why she thinks the industry needs way more funny books, shorter word counts, and readers who aren't just "a boy and a girl who are best friends." Susan also gets specific about the exact gaps she's trying to fill: mysteries that go beyond the Sherlock-and-sidekick formula, horror-lite for middle grade, memoir, magical realism, and chapter books that actually try something new. If you write for kids, this is the episode where an active acquiring editor tells you, out loud, what she wants to see land in her inbox. In this episode: Why Albatros Books chose now to expand into the US market What "fun nonfiction" means as an acquisitions strategy The gap in chapter books Susan is actively trying to fill Why humor is one of the hardest — and most underrated — things to acquire Her take on the "boy and girl best friends" trope in middle grade, and why it's fading Why she'd take a great 200-page book over another 400-page epic any day Where to send your submission (and what she's hoping lands in that inbox) Submissions: Albatros Books is actively acquiring picture books and chapter books from North American authors. Submission guidelines are on their website — send yours to submissions@albatrosbooks.com . Hit play, grab a pencil, and get ready to take notes — then head to writerswithwrinkles.net for the full breakdown and links mentioned in this episode. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit the Website Find Full Episodes on YouTube! Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

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  Writers With Wrinkles

  The 4 First-Page Mistakes That Get You Rejected Fast, with editor Joel Brigham

  Aug 17, 202654 min

  Your opening pages have about 30 seconds to keep a literary agent reading — and most manuscripts lose that fight before the first paragraph ends. Developmental editor Joel Brigham returns to unpack exactly what makes an agent stop reading (and what makes them keep going): the four ingredients — tension, suspense, mystery, and unfairness — that hook a reader in the first few pages. He breaks down why agents almost universally reject prologues, the two-highlighter trick for catching your own info-dumps before an agent does, and where your inciting incident actually needs to land depending on your genre — it's earlier than most writers think. If you've ever gotten a same-day rejection and wondered why, or you're prepping pages for a conference critique or your next query batch, this is the fix-it guide for those first ten pages. Hit play — then check the chapter markers below to jump straight to the section you need. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Visit the Website Find Full Episodes on YouTube! Writers with Wrinkles Link Tree for socials and more!

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