Books of 2026: WRITE THROUGH IT by Kate McKean.
This one has actually been on my radar since its Goodreads Giveaway Days a couple years ago. When I did not win it there, I figured I would wait for it to come out in paperback, because I prefer craft-adjacent books (like many other books) in paperback.
Two years later, however, it looks like it's not getting a paperback release, so!: Pulled the trigger when Mary Robinette Kowal held it up during her Patreon class as a delight (also, Kate McKean is based out of Howard Morhaim's literary agency, which is where dream agent resides. I feel like it's just a cool agency all around).
Can now confirm: McKean is in fact a delight! Hilarious and relatable and super knowledgeable and extremely reassuring (about what's "normal" and the Feelings Side of the Process). I charged through most of a thing of flaggies marking practical references as well as parts about the Emotional Turmoil(tm) that made me go "uuuugh, fiiiiiine."
She walks you through the Whole Process of turning a manuscript into a published book, from editing to agents to proposals to querying to submissions and book deals and beyond. And! She has examples of query letters and a book proposal in the appendices. Her perspective as both long-time agent and author (of this book, naturally, but also a few fiction projects that didn't sell) was really insightful. Excellent insider look at the industry and how to navigate, hugely recommend!
