Between Drafts

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Nathan shares his experience hiring a developmental editor for his novel, a process that's often opaque to aspiring authors. He details how he found and evaluated potential editors, from scouring book acknowledgments to leveraging AI tools, and breaks down the surprising costs and timelines involved in working with top-tier editors from major publishing houses.

The conversation explores how the publishing landscape has evolved, with many experienced editors from the "Big Five" publishers now working independently and commanding fees between $3,000-$8,000 for a full manuscript review. Nathan and Nat discuss the changing dynamics of traditional publishing, where debut novels need to be more polished than ever before submission, and how hiring a developmental editor might be becoming an essential step in the journey to publication.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Hiring a developmental editor for novel
[00:49] Current writing projects updates
[05:34] Nathan's agent querying results
[09:19] Finding developmental editors
[15:47] Methods you can use to search for editors
[19:21] The Reedsy platform for book professionals
[21:23] Using book acknowledgments to find editors
[22:00] How to reach out to potential editors
[26:24] Narrowing down editor choices
[26:53] Pricing for developmental editing services
[28:22] Timeline expectations and booking challenges
[31:29] Surprising aspects of the hiring process
[35:28] How Nathan's perspective on querying has changed
[37:18] What to do while waiting for editor availability
[40:55] Final thoughts on cold emailing current publishers

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Nat & Nathan dive into their favorite reads from 2024, discussing everything from recent releases to timeless classics.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:34] Nathan's literary agent querying update
[02:02] Nat's manuscript progress and editing timeline
[03:18] The Will of the Many
[06:47] Lightbringer
[09:16] Ryan C. Cahill's indie fantasy novella
[12:38] Claire Keegan's Foster novella
[13:10] Colony One Mars
[18:26] East of Eden
[23:03] A Wizard of Earthsea
[25:34] Hyperion
[32:33] Armor
[36:22] Neil Gaiman's works
[38:25] Daemon by Daniel Suarez
[41:25] Logicomix and nonfiction recommendations
[43:32] A Swim in the Pond in the Rain
[45:19] Next week's editorial discussion

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Nat and Nathan dive deep into the intense process of writing a novel draft in just one month. Drawing from Nat's recent experience writing his novel "Husk" at a pace of 5,000 words per day, they explore the practical challenges, strategies, and trade-offs of rapid drafting. The conversation covers everything from daily routines and word count tracking to the importance of detailed outlining before starting a sprint.

They also discuss recent developments in their publishing journeys, including Nathan's promising connections with industry professionals and Nat's progress with cover design and editing deadlines. They tackle the controversy surrounding NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and debate the sustainability of different writing paces, from traditional approaches to the aggressive schedules of indie authors publishing monthly.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:26] NaNoWriMo controversy around AI writing tools
[01:51] Nathan's updates on connecting with agents
[04:18] Nat's progress on his book cover
[06:07] Feedback from Readwise editor Eleanor on manuscript
[09:10] How to draft a book in a month
[19:45] Creating a detailed outline before speed writing
[30:17] Managing editing vs. writing new material during sprints
[31:16] How to write 5,000 words per day
[33:32] Balancing the sprint strategy with a 9-5 job
[35:05] Publishing multiple books per year
[41:28] Benefits of separating the outlining and writing processes
[45:31] The problem with common writing advice like "show don't tell"

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Nat and Nathan dive into the latest developments in their respective publishing journeys. They discuss how Nat's crypto book is seeing renewed success during the current bull market, and Nathan shares promising early results from querying his fantasy novel to literary agents.

The heart of the episode focuses on Nat's decision to self-publish his upcoming sci-fi novel "Husk" through Scribe Media, breaking down the strategic and creative considerations that led him to choose this path over traditional publishing. He explains his vision for creating a professionally produced book while maintaining creative control and a faster timeline to market. And he compares how the experience is comparing with publishing his previous book through Penguin Random House.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:25] How the Crypto mania is driving book sales

[05:12] How book advance and earning out works

[10:32] Nathan's querying progress update for his fantasy novel

[23:27] Why Nat's self-publishing Husk

[29:42] Partnering with Scribe for professional self-publishing

[38:17] Marketing and distribution strategies for self-published book

[41:15] Cover design process and working with designers

[44:21] Manuscript revision timeline and feedback process

[48:01] Comparing Nat's traditional vs self-publishing experiences

[50:20] Final thoughts on manuscript editing approaches

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In this episode, Nathan and Nat share their processes for getting feedback and editing their drafts.

From outlining a "top-down" hierarchy that nails the high-level story before sweating the small stuff, to strategies for soliciting targeted feedback, this conversation is a masterclass on self-editing for any author working on their manuscript.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction to editing approaches and book updates
[00:47] Nathan's progress on "The Witch" and query letters
[01:36] Discussion of manuscript feedback and beta readers
[02:58] Exploring non-traditional publishing options
[03:17] Breakdown of Author's Equity publishing model
[05:09] Nat's update on "Husk" manuscript feedback
[07:11] Editing strategies and question-based feedback approach
[08:28] Common editing mistakes and inefficient processes
[10:05] Hierarchy of editing levels: story, act, scene, prose
[13:34] Strategies for avoiding over-editing while writing
[16:31] Effective questions for beta readers
[19:36] When to share drafts with others for feedback
[25:36] Using GitHub for manuscript version control
[37:06] Experience working with professional editors
[38:58] Impact of different reading mediums on editing
[42:34] Techniques for improving prose and writing style
[49:35] Finding honest feedback and handling criticism
[51:43] Current reading recommendations and discussions

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Nathan shares his journey querying agents for his debut novel, the brutality of getting rejected 90+ times, and the lessons learned along the way.

Most importantly, he shares what he's going to do differently with his new novel, and why he thinks he has a much higher chance of success now than he did before.

[0:00] Getting an Agent for a Novel
[1:37] How Long Should Your Book Be?
[4:27] When Are You Ready?
[7:32] Getting Feedback Before Querying
[9:40] Finding Beta Readers
[10:41] Searching for Agents
[12:43] What to Send Agents
[17:18] Writing An Exciting Query Letter
[19:14] Paid Query Critique Services
[22:37] The Book Synopsis
[25:30] Example Query Structure
[29:17] How Long Does a Response Take?
[31:07] Reasons Agents Aren't Interested
[34:41] Rejections Hurt
[37:06] What Nathan's Doing Differently This Time
[39:41] Getting Warm Intros
[42:23] Having an Author Platform
[44:28] Successful Query Letters to Copy

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Ever dreamed of landing a life-changing book deal?

Join Nathan and Nat as they discuss Nat's journey securing a $275,000 book deal with Penguin Random House for Crypto Confidential.

You'll learn the essential ingredients for a nonfiction book proposal that grabs publishers' attention, the art of building an audience as an author, and insider tips on navigating the traditional publishing world.

TIMESTAMPS

[0:00] Getting a $275,000 book deal from Penguin Random House
[2:35] Two things you need for a nonfiction book deal
[4:43] Traditional publishing versus self-publishing
[5:58] Building an audience as an author
[8:52] How big of an audience do you need for a book deal?
[13:03] Writing a nonfiction book proposal
[20:53] Getting a nonfiction agent
[31:47] Pitching your book to publishers
[37:22] Publisher interviews
[40:22] Getting a preemptive offer
[44:44] Potential downsides of receiving a large advance
[48:58] How to find agents without warm introductions

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Are you an aspiring author dreaming of writing full-time? Join Nathan and Nat, two online writers navigating the murky waters of the publishing world, as they pull back the curtain on their journeys to becoming professional authors. With refreshing honesty and hard-won insights, they'll share the ups and downs, rejections and victories, and everything they're learning along the way.

Whether you're hoping to publish fiction or nonfiction, traditionally or independently, this is a candid, unfiltered look at what it really takes. Nathan and Nat don't hold anything back as they workshop each other's drafts, swap tips for overcoming hurdles, and get real about their numbers, pitches, and publishing experiences. It's the inside scoop you won't find anywhere else—the ideal listening companion for any writer seeking to turn their dream into a career.

[0:00] Nat & Nathan's backgrounds as online writers navigating the publishing world
[0:23] Nathan's history writing a novel and querying 60+ agents
[4:07] Nat's experience publishing Crypto Confidential
[6:32] The power of building an audience as an author
[11:15] Major differences in getting a fiction vs. nonfiction book deal
[14:28] Navigating traditional vs. self-publishing paths
[18:06] Feedback from Nat's agent that led to scrapping his sci-fi novel
[21:47] The pitfalls of over-editing too early
[23:44] Getting comfortable deleting your work
[27:23] Writing tips for conflict and excitement
[35:11] Using familiar settings like schools to offset complex magic/tech systems
[36:40] Creating flawed, relatable protagonists
[39:05] Current reads & book recommendations

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In this very short intro episode, Nat and Nathan introduce the Between Drafts podcast which will be launching next week.

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