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Alyssa Matesic

@alyssamatesic.bsky.social

450 followers 13 following 880 posts

your book editor friend 💪📚 formerly at Penguin Random House and The Book Group 🎥 weekly tips on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic 💌 insider publishing tips: https://www.chapter-break.com ✏️work with me: https://www.alyssamatesic.com

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16h

It's never going to be fun to receive rejections, but try to get to that point where the rejections roll off your back because you understand that every "no" is one step closer to your "yes."

You've got this.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16h

And remember that if a literary agent or a publisher rejected you, then they ultimately weren't the best match to champion your book to begin with.

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16h

These writers know that it ultimately only takes one yes from a literary agent and one yes from a publisher to get their book on the shelf, and you never know when that yes might come — it could be the very next query that you send.

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16h

Many successful authors pride themselves on how many rejections they've received throughout their writing career because, to them, it is a testament to the resilience they've built.

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16h

It may feel like you're getting further from your goal of seeing your book on the shelf. But in the process of putting yourself out there and getting rejected, you're actually getting CLOSER to your dream of seeing your book published.

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 16h

If you're deep in the querying trenches and every rejection is sending you down a spiral, listen up:

Rejection isn't a step back, but a stepping stone FORWARD.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 1d

In today’s interview, author Jude Berman shares how she overcomes publishing stresses and the hard parts of being an author.

Link to subscribe in my bio!

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 1d

"I can’t honestly say writing feels hard. However, the marketing and publicity side of writing does feel hard, and there are days when I have to force myself to engage with that. What I tell myself is 'Writers write!'"

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 1d

For better or worse, there's so much more to being an author than just writing. And juggling it all can be hard.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 2d

I've been a book editor for 10 years. 1,000+ authors and countless manuscripts later, the biggest lessons I’ve learned might surprise you.

Here are the 3 biggest takeaways from the past decade that totally changed the way I approach editing.

They might help you take your story to the next level!

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

Now that you know the four writer types, which one do you fit into? Or are you a blend of them?

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

Their novels are the ones that you write essays on in school or endlessly debate in book clubs because there's an ethos beyond just entertainment. And their novels are some of the most powerful of all time.

Think of writers like George Orwell, Margaret Atwood, and Colson Whitehead

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

4️⃣ The Visionary - A theme-driven writer ☁️

These writers use their stories as vessels for big, thought-provoking ideas. For them, characters and plot are tools of delivering a message.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

I call this archetype the psychologist because these writers dive deep into their characters' psyches, exploring their complex emotional landscapes and thorny relationships. Their novels often feel like deep character studies.

Think of writers like Jane Austen, Donna Tartt, and Sally Rooney

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

3️⃣ The Psychologist - A character-driven writer 👯

These writers are obsessed with character above all else. They're driven by the question: who are these people and what makes them tick?

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

Think of writers like Agatha Christie, Stephen King, and James Patterson.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

These authors are obsessed with the story itself and are prolific in their output. They prioritize plot above all else and make their readers eagerly turn the pages all the way to the end and then beg for more. They find a story formula that works and then repeat it over and over again.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

2️⃣ The Plotter - A plot-driven writer ✒️

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

Their goal isn't necessarily to entertain the masses, but to push the bounds of what literature can be.

Think of writers like James Joyce, David Foster Wallace, and Ocean Vuong.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

1️⃣ The Artist - A craft-driven writer 🎨

These writers obsess over form, style, structure, and language. They're often experimental, taking major risks that redefine how we conceptualize a genre or the novel form at large.

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

You can discover your writer type based on your answer to one question:

What drives your writing, deep down?

Let's dig into it. ⬇️

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 3d

As a book editor, I have worked with hundreds of writers across almost every fiction genre. One of the most fascinating things I've learned?

Most writers fit into one of four writer types. And no, it's not about plotters or pantsers!

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 4d

An incredibly brave subscriber sent me their first chapter for a live critique.

Here's how I'd edit it, workshopping things like:
-internal conflict
-backstory
-physical description
-relationships

Maybe you'll pick up a tip or two for your WIP! youtu.be/s9gh4Cx4qsQ

Fixing This Author’s First Chapter in 20 Minutes

Your first chapter is your novel's prime real estate. But is yours drawing readers in or pushing them away? Today I'm doing a live workshop on a manuscript f...

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Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 7d

Writing is leaving pieces of yourself for others to find and connect with, whenever they need it most. ❤️

Alyssa Matesic @alyssamatesic.bsky.social · 7d

A reminder for all the writers:

The words you’re putting down today might find the person who needs them tomorrow, next month, or even years from now.

You’re not just writing for yourself (or your agent or your editor). You’re writing for THEM.

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