This episode’s question comes from Mellany. Mellany is preparing to submit her novel to literary agents and she asks: How important is it to explain why I’ve chosen a particular agent in my submission letter? I spend hours researching and end up using a quote from their profile. How much time should you spend on it? Can you just let your writing speak for itself? And are there ways to be more creative about it?

At the heart of this is something I’m sure every querying author recognises. If the quality of the book – and the writing – is the most important thing, why do we have to spend so much time crafting perfect pitches and synopses, finding comparison titles and honing our author bio. Then tailoring every single submission too. Shouldn’t the writing speak for itself?

Listen for my answer.

Notes:

The post I mention about the query trenches is here: https://katherineclements.substack.com/p/the-query-trenches-an-honest-update

You can find an article about everything I did to prepare for submissions here: https://katherineclements.substack.com/p/everything-im-doing-to-find-a-new

Submit your question here: https://katherineclements.substack.com/survey/7183013

Explore The Inkwell: Coaching & Community for Ambitious Authors: https://katherineclements.substack.com/

Background artwork: Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay

I'm Katherine Clements. I'm an author, a writing coach, and the person behind The Inkwell writers’ community hosted on Substack. Each episode I answer a question from an Inkwell member about writing, publishing and creating a happy, sustainable writing life.

Today’s question comes from Claire Randall. Claire asks: Are writing groups helpful or a distraction from the real work?

Listen for pros and cons, what to consider when joining a writing group and how to find the right one for you.

Got a question for me?

Submit your question here: https://katherineclements.substack.com/survey/7183013

Explore The Inkwell: Coaching & Community for Ambitious Authors: https://katherineclements.substack.com/

Find out more about me, my books and my work as a writing coach: https://katherineclements.co.uk/

Background artwork: Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay

Welcome to the first episode of The Inkwell Podcast!

I'm Katherine Clements. I'm an author, a writing coach, and the person behind The Inkwell writers community hosted on Substack.

For some time now been looking for an easy way to answer your writing questions in a format that doesn’t require you showing up to a live session or posting in comments. The Inkwell Podcast is my solution.

So, here’s how this works. For now, you can listen to episodes for free, but paid members of The Inkwell can submit a question — about writing craft, creative blocks, the publishing world, or anything else that’s on your mind.

I’ll pick one and spend a few minutes talking through my response here. I’ll think it through with you, the way I would in a coaching session. You’ll get short, personalised coaching from me, delivered straight to your inbox. You’ll need to include your name, email address and the date so I can verify your membership, but you can stay anonymous in my answer if you prefer.

And soon you’ll be able to listen through your usual podcast app, too!

I hope you’ll enjoy this new experiment. Send me your questions. I’m all ears!

Submit your question here: https://katherineclements.substack.com/survey/7183013

Explore The Inkwell: Coaching & Community for Ambitious Authors: https://katherineclements.substack.com/

Background artwork: Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay