How to Write (and Edit) a Book
Abigail FentonWriting and editing advice from a literary agent and editor
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 57 | Founded | a year ago | Last Issue | 8 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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abigailfentoneditorial.substack.comLatest Issues
Secrets from My Submissions Inbox
The three most common reasons I turn down manuscripts – and how to fix the underlying problems
I’m going to tell you a secret, direct from my submissions inbox:
When to Keep Querying and When to Revise
You’re querying – hurray! You send your lovingly written and edited manuscript out into the world—
And you get crickets.
Or you get rejections.
Or you get the raised hopes of full requests – and then rejections.
If it’s early days in yo...
Write Your Novel in 2026 Part Five: Why Your Subplot Isn’t Working Yet
How to Make Sure Your Subplot Isn’t Just an Add-on
Welcome new subscribers – there are now almost ten thousand of you, which is brilliant and bizarre to me. I’m so pleased to have you all here! Thank you especially to those of you who are...
Editing Doesn’t Mean Your Novel is Wrong
Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash
If you have ever received an editorial letter, you will know that it can be a little… overwhelming. Several pages of notes covering every element of your novel – structure, plot, voice, characterisation. I...
Why Your Protagonist Isn’t Ready for Their Own Story Yet
The best plot in the world won’t work if your protagonist isn’t ready
There is a lot of writing advice about making your plot work – making sure the inciting incident is punchy, there are good twists and turns along the way, everything con...
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
Literary agent and former Big-Five editor and book coach with over a decade's experience at HarperCollins and Hachette. Here to help you get your manuscript finished, polished, and published.
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