Podcast Summary: "From Books with Hooks to Published Author - How Writing is Rewriting"

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing is a dedicated podcast for emerging writers aiming to enhance their craft and navigate the publishing landscape. In the episode titled "From Books with Hooks to Published Author - How Writing is Rewriting," hosts Bianca Marais, alongside literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, engage in an insightful conversation with debut author Melissa O'Connor about her journey from submitting a query letter to publishing her novel, Vivian Stone.

1. Introduction and Beta Reader Matchup Announcement (00:00 - 01:34)

Bianca Marais kicks off the episode by promoting the Beta Reader Matchup program, encouraging writers to connect with peers for mutual critiques. She highlights the benefits of becoming part of a supportive writing community, although she humorously notes that deeper friendships and meetups depend on individual choices.

2. Guest Introduction and Book Overview (01:34 - 07:04)

Bianca warmly welcomes Melissa O'Connor, providing a glimpse into Melissa's passion for stories rich in family secrets, betrayal, and forbidden love—genres inspired by her early exposure to V.C. Andrews novels. Melissa resides in Buffalo, New York, where she balances writing with supporting her children's hockey activities.

Bianca introduces Melissa's debut novel, Vivian Stone, describing it as a blend of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The novel revolves around Margot Dubois, a 30-something protagonist who discovers mysterious cassette tapes in her grandmother's attic, leading her to reconnect with her first love, Leo, and unravel hidden Hollywood secrets.

Notable Quote:

"It's one of our full circle moments... to see these works go from being submissions to suddenly having covers and being on bookshelves."
— Bianca Marais [01:36]

3. The Query Letter Process and Initial Feedback (07:04 - 09:40)

Melissa shares the original query letter she submitted to Carly Watters in 2023, which Bianca and the cohosts had previously critiqued on the show. The letter succinctly pitches Vivian Stone, highlighting its length (89,000 words), inspirations, and target audience comparisons. Melissa emphasizes her background as a freelance writer and her personal connection to the story through her love for I Love Lucy.

After reading her initial query, Melissa discusses the minimal feedback received, particularly focusing on a line Bianca read:

"She can continue to settle for slivers or she can risk them to pursue the love she deserves, knowing she might end up with nothing."
— Carly Watters [06:24]

Melissa notes that while the feedback was not extensive, it was pivotal in guiding her subsequent revisions.

4. Submission Journey and Securing an Agent (07:13 - 09:16)

Bianca inquires about the timeline between receiving feedback and submitting queries. Melissa recounts the pivotal moment when participation in a pitch contest, coupled with the exposure from the podcast episode aired on March 30, 2023, led to heightened interest from agents. Notably, one agent who had listened to the episode and critiqued her query reached out, resulting in multiple offers within weeks.

Notable Quote:

"Writers talk a lot about... luck and timing involved. And I feel like that was really seen in what I was querying this book."
— Melissa O'Connor [07:13]

5. Revising the Query Letter Post-Critique (09:40 - 11:26)

Bianca asks Melissa about revisions made to her query letter after the initial critique. Melissa explains that although Carly liked her original query, she chose to refine it further based on additional feedback and collaboration with critique partners. This led to the creation of a second, more "voicier" query letter, which Melissa shares on air, offering to provide Word documents for the podcast's newsletter.

Second Query Letter Highlights:

• Enhanced voice and narrative style
• Refined comparisons, including the addition of Lessons in Chemistry based on Carly's suggestion to limit comparisons to Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Greater emphasis on character dynamics and stakes

Notable Quote:

"I thought that it's always important to just try, try everything you can."
— Melissa O'Connor [06:24]

6. From Submission to Publication: Manuscript Evolution (11:26 - 24:34)

Melissa delves into the transformation of her manuscript from the initial submission to the published version. Originally written as a dual POV narrative with over 110,000 words, Melissa pared it down to a single timeline totaling 89,000 words to meet submission guidelines. However, feedback from her editor suggested reintroducing the second timeline to enrich the story.

In collaboration with her agent and editor, Melissa reinstated the dual timeline, balancing Margot's present-day storyline with Vivian's past. This revision process involved:

• Expanding Margot’s present timeline
• Reducing Vivian’s historical narrative
• Streamlining scenes to achieve a final word count of approximately 101,000 words

Notable Quote:

"Sometimes, it's better to listen to your guts, which you originally felt the story needed, rather than sticking to the rules."
— Bianca Marais [23:57]

7. Dual Timelines and Narrative Structure (24:34 - 29:02)

Bianca and Melissa discuss the intricacies of balancing dual timelines in a novel. Melissa explains her intentional structuring of Vivian Stone, where the mystery of the cassette tapes in Margot's timeline intertwines with Vivian's historical narrative. This design fosters curiosity and maintains reader engagement through:

• A ticking clock element with the missing cassette tape
• Multiple romantic interests that mirror each other across timelines
• Interweaving plot points that encourage readers to theorize and invest emotionally

Melissa highlights the coexistence of three love stories within the novel:

1. Vivian and Kit: A tumultuous on-screen and off-screen marriage plagued by addictions.
2. Vivian and Hugh: A repressed friendship yearning to become romance.
3. Margot and Leo: A second-chance romance rekindled through the shared quest of uncovering the tapes.

Notable Quote:

"The mystery element... gives readers a sense of urgency to the book and to her timeline."
— Melissa O'Connor [25:25]

8. Conclusion and Book Promotion (29:02 - End)

As the conversation wraps up, Bianca congratulates Melissa on her publication and encourages listeners to support Vivian Stone via their affiliate link to Bookshop.org, emphasizing the mutual benefit of supporting independent bookstores and the podcast.

Bianca reiterates the availability of the Beta Reader Matchup and encourages listeners to engage with the writing community.

Key Takeaways:

• Flexibility in Writing and Submission: Melissa’s journey underscores the importance of being open to feedback and willing to revise your work to meet both personal and industry standards.

• The Role of Timing and Exposure: Being featured on platforms like podcasts and participating in pitch contests can significantly increase visibility and lead to publishing opportunities.

• Balancing Narrative Elements: Effective use of dual timelines and multiple romantic arcs can enrich a story, provided they are well-integrated and serve the overarching mystery or theme.

• Persistence and Adaptability: Melissa's experience highlights the need for resilience in the face of initial setbacks and the value of adapting strategies based on constructive criticism.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Bianca Marais [01:36]: "It's one of our full circle moments... to see these works go from being submissions to suddenly having covers and being on bookshelves."

• Melissa O'Connor [07:13]: "Writers talk a lot about... luck and timing involved. And I feel like that was really seen in what I was querying this book."

• Bianca Marais [23:57]: "Sometimes, it's better to listen to your guts, which you originally felt the story needed, rather than sticking to the rules."

• Melissa O'Connor [25:25]: "The mystery element... gives readers a sense of urgency to the book and to her timeline."

Vivian Stone stands as a testament to Melissa O'Connor's dedication to her craft and her ability to navigate the complexities of the publishing world. Her story, detailed in this episode, serves as both inspiration and a practical guide for emerging writers striving to bring their narratives to life.