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Lauren Kay Writes
United States
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 13 ก.ค. 2020
Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm a Young Adult author and guide to aspiring authors. I offer resources, courses, and editing services to make landing a literary agent and book deal accessible for all.
The Top 3 Ways to Find Beta Readers & Critique Partners in 2024
Beta readers and critique partners are critical for any writer - my critique partners are a big reason behind how I was able to get a 6-figure book deal.
These are my top 3 suggestions for how to find these elusive creatures.
And make sure to join the Critique Partner Database - it *just* launched and has 500+ active writers, eager to connect!
www.laurenkaywrites.com/critique-partner
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NICE TO MEET YOU!
I'm just getting started on TH-cam (so excited to be here!) - but if you're looking for more writing advice and insider tea, check out my videos on:
⟡ TikTok (38k): www.tiktok.com/@laurenkaywrites
⟡ Instagram (18k): laurenkaywrites
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WATCH MY FREE MASTERCLASS
The Insider's Guide to Literary Agents: The Top 3 Ways To Stand Out (+ The Top 3 Mistakes To Avoid!):
www.laurenkaywrites.com/insiders-guide-to-publishing
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FREE RESOURCES
Writer Toolkit: (Includes my favorite craft books and links to my Miro outlining template template and an amazing writer Discord community)
www.laurenkaywrites.com/writer-toolkit
Looking for Writing Friends & Critique Partners?:
www.laurenkaywrites.com/critique-partner
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HOW TO LAND AN AGENT
Want to learn the exact strategies I used to land 8 agent offers and a 6-figure 2-book deal? Join the waiting list for the second cohort of Query Bootcamp, launching in February 2024!
www.laurenkaywrites.com/query-bootcamp
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LOOKING TO HIRE A DEVELOPMENTAL EDITOR OR BOOK COACH?
Get paired with an industry expert who will help to transform your story and increase your odds of getting a traditional publishing deal. Our editors specialize in all age ranges and genres, from memoir to romance to epic fantasy!
www.laurenkaywrites.com/developmental-editing
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MORE WRITING TIPS!
⟡ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@laurenkaywrites
⟡ Instagram: laurenkaywrites
⟡ Website: www.laurenkaywrites.com
⟡ Email: lauren@laurenkaywrites.com
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free writing advice!
These are my top 3 suggestions for how to find these elusive creatures.
And make sure to join the Critique Partner Database - it *just* launched and has 500+ active writers, eager to connect!
www.laurenkaywrites.com/critique-partner
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
NICE TO MEET YOU!
I'm just getting started on TH-cam (so excited to be here!) - but if you're looking for more writing advice and insider tea, check out my videos on:
⟡ TikTok (38k): www.tiktok.com/@laurenkaywrites
⟡ Instagram (18k): laurenkaywrites
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
WATCH MY FREE MASTERCLASS
The Insider's Guide to Literary Agents: The Top 3 Ways To Stand Out (+ The Top 3 Mistakes To Avoid!):
www.laurenkaywrites.com/insiders-guide-to-publishing
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
FREE RESOURCES
Writer Toolkit: (Includes my favorite craft books and links to my Miro outlining template template and an amazing writer Discord community)
www.laurenkaywrites.com/writer-toolkit
Looking for Writing Friends & Critique Partners?:
www.laurenkaywrites.com/critique-partner
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
HOW TO LAND AN AGENT
Want to learn the exact strategies I used to land 8 agent offers and a 6-figure 2-book deal? Join the waiting list for the second cohort of Query Bootcamp, launching in February 2024!
www.laurenkaywrites.com/query-bootcamp
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
LOOKING TO HIRE A DEVELOPMENTAL EDITOR OR BOOK COACH?
Get paired with an industry expert who will help to transform your story and increase your odds of getting a traditional publishing deal. Our editors specialize in all age ranges and genres, from memoir to romance to epic fantasy!
www.laurenkaywrites.com/developmental-editing
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
MORE WRITING TIPS!
⟡ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@laurenkaywrites
⟡ Instagram: laurenkaywrites
⟡ Website: www.laurenkaywrites.com
⟡ Email: lauren@laurenkaywrites.com
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free writing advice!
มุมมอง: 2 145
วีดีโอ
Social Media for Authors - I Grew to 50k By Avoiding These 4 Mistakes!
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If you are a writer looking to grow your social media platforms on TikTok and Instagram, today I'm sharing the top 4 mistakes that prevent authors from growing on social media - and how I grew to 35k on TikTok and 20k on Instagram by fixing these! Make sure to grab a free copy of my Instagram TikTok growth cheat sheet: www.laurenkaywrites.com/tiktok-cheat-sheet ◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️ NICE TO MEET YOU! I'...
How to Build Your Author Website with Squarespace - in 5 Minutes!
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You can grab my free Squarespace author website template here: www.laurenkaywrites.com/squarespace-template and create the website I'm showing you in under 5 minutes! And if you want a slower print version, here's a full blog post with photos: medium.com/swlh/why-you-need-a-writer-website-and-how-to-build-one-in-15-minutes-865af54fa35d Many writers asked me how I created my website, so I create...
Exposing the Secret Tactic That Got Me 8 Literary Agent Offers
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If you are searching for a literary agent for your book, this is the tactic that helped me get 8 offers from literary agents in one month - and it goes *against* the conventional advice given to writers. ◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️ NICE TO MEET YOU! I'm just getting started on TH-cam (so excited to be here!) - but if you're looking for more writing advice and insider tea, check out my videos on: ⟡ TikTok (38k...
Is Developmental Editing Really Worth It? | Advice From a 6-Figure Author Who Hired One
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Does your book really need developmental editing? Do you need to pay an editor if your publisher will just give you one for free? How much does an editor cost? Where do you find a good developmental editor? What does an editor even do? I cover all of these and more-and share why I think my editor / book coach played such a crucial role in how I ended up with 8 offers from literary agents and a ...
If You Want a Literary Agent - Stop Doing These 5 Things in Your Query Letter!
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Landing a literary agent can seem like an impossible feat - but it doesn't have to be. Make sure you're not making one of these mistakes with your query letter! I have worked with so many writers with absolutely amazing books - who haven't had any luck with landing a literary agent. Literary agents have limited time, and any one of these mistakes could land your query letter in their trash bin....
The 4 Best Books on Writing Every Fiction Writer Must Read
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I read pretty much every writing book out there - these are the 4 best books that completely transformed my writing and landed me a 6-figure 2-book deal with HarperCollins! Grab a copy of my free Writer Toolkit, which has links to all of these writin craft books more of my favorite free resources (a critique partner database, Discord community, visual outlining template, and more!): www.laurenk...
Self vs Traditional Publishing: Which *Really* Leads to More Sales + Profit (from a 6-Figure Author)
มุมมอง 6Kปีที่แล้ว
If you are wondering whether to self-publish or traditionally publish your book - these are the top 5 factors you should consider. Want to read through some of the facts & figures I reviewed while creating this video?: * bookriot.com/how-much-do-authors-make-per-book/ * janefriedman.com/how-much-do-authors-earn/ * maryadkinswriter.com/blog/how-much-do-authors-make * www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/how-m...
How to Write a Query Letter | The Secret Sauce that Landed Me 8 Offers from Literary Agents
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I’m going to teach you exactly how to write a query letter - and I’ll break down the format of the query letter that landed me a 6-figure 2-book deal with a Big 5 publisher. We’ll go over the entire structure - from subject line down to sign-off - and the secret sauce I used in my hook to land 8 offers from literary agents. ◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️ NICE TO MEET YOU! I'm just getting started on TH-cam (so e...
How to Use Scrivener (2024) | *Simple* Tutorial for Overwhelmed Fiction Writers
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How I Got a Literary Agent: My Querying Journey from First Draft to 8 Agent Offers
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Thank you so much for your honesty! I’m planning on querying by the end of this week. It’s nice to be ready for the real thing.
Absolutely! And good luck!!!
Would like to know more about the e-commerce features, especially for selling eBooks
Wait, so how long should a query letter be!? D:
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It helps so much 😅
I'm so glad <3
I am so curious about how you pitch a second book when you actually have an agent? Do you just email them or is it like the first time with an official query and such?
I’ve been thinking about getting Scrivener for my first novel since Microsoft Word just isn’t cutting it for me anymore. I totally relate to losing track of things after hitting 10,000 words-it’s so frustrating! Thanks a ton for this awesome tutorial-it’s super helpful!
You're so welcome!!
Really sad she abandoned the channel 😢
Aw, I'm still around and working on more content :) I'm a lot more active on IG and TikTok and there's a TON of free resources on my website laurenkaywrites.com
Oh wow the rollback option is so cool! I have just been saving them as "chapter" and "chapter NEW" 😂
glad to help ;)
I'm completely lost with this. I have zero experience and writing my first novel. I feel like a few steps are left out and it is assumed that we know the lingo. It's just a bit overwhelming.
I am following everything your saying but. Why I don't have a Dropbox?
They should not have put you through all that. There is no legitimate reason to call you and say they are going to make a decision tomorrow. The guy could have waited until the next day to let you know.
The music/sound on this video is stupid.
For me confusing is correct. I have one year and a half and I can´t start my novel there yet.
I'm only beginning the video and I can't get out the fact your gorgeous!!! Praise the Lord for your life! I LOVE YOU! 1 PSALM
This goes beyond writing! Given the how deep ingrained denying failure is public live, setting example by talking about it openly, is about the most valuable contribution one can make in all walks of life! Given the important role social media play in the lives of young people, videos like yours are invaluable!
How can I make a website, where everyone can come and write their own stories and ideas, like websites like wattpad?
Um, I still don't get it.
Very helpful! Thank you 🙂
So glad to hear it!
Didn’t really get the answer to the question in the title here..although encouraging video
Subscribed 🎉🎉
<3
From some one that does software related tutorials, your tutorial was EXCELLENT. Thank you!
This is so kind, thank you!!
I am a physically disabled author that has self published a children's book on Amazon KDP that teaches kids about disability empowerment and adaptive play. I have plans to write many more books related to disability and would like to have a large traditional publisher pick them up but this seems to be a niche that big publishers are not interested and I'm not sure how to even find an agent who deals with these types of books which will range from picture books, motivational/faith based and memoirs. I began writing many years ago as a form of therapy, I started with poetry and short stories which I still love to write but it has grown beyond that. I find writing to be very meditative and my goal as a writer is to make people ask the right questions so they can get to the right answers. I also enjoy speaking, with my children's book I present to classes and teach them about disability etiquette. But my goal is to finish the book im currently writing and speak to crowds based on material from that book. How would all this play into getting a book deal?
Sounds like you've done some really amazing writing and work! I'm not able to dig into so many complex and important questions here, but make sure to check out all of our editing services! We have an amazing team of editors with all different specialties (including children's books) who can work with you :) laurenkaywrites.com/developmental-editing
Just started writing and had someone suggest using this tool. Def following you now in case I need to circle back later!
Awesome! Glad to have you here :)
I've been writing novels for five years and just switched to Scrivener, and I honestly feel like I just exited the stone age 🤣 convincing writers to download this software is now my new special interest!
hahaha, same! <3
Very helpful thank you :)
so glad!
3:32 (for those looking for the tutorial part)
"Learn Scrivener in 20 minutes" C'mon, the manual is a 711 page pdf file. Just opening a book in Scrivener takes about a minute. 😂
Oh yea, there's no way to learn it ALL in 20 minutes. This is more a quick and easy cheat sheet to the best features :)
Ok but the question remains... Is there a dark mode?
yes, there are dark mode themes online for free
I don't see the word count button what am I doing wrong lol
haha found it, had to add the icons silly me :) thank you for your helpful tips! :D
I've been using scrivener for a while, but I didn't write for a while so I wanted to remember how everything works and found this video, and OH MY GODS THE NAME GENERATOR!!!!!! I can't tell you how much time I spent going insane over finding surnames, this is gonna be such a lifesaver from now on. Thank you so much!!!!
YAY! So glad to help :)
I just finished my debut book and while I'm waiting to do the revision which another author recommended doing already working on the 2nd installment of the series. I love your amazing story of your journey, it inspires me. You're from NYC right? I'm from Long Island.
Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for this helpful video! You mentioned writers mentoring competitions/programs. Do you have any recommendations for programs to consider/apply to? Thank you so much!
Hi! You're welcome :) I'm actually working on a blog post and newsletter about this! Keep your eyes peeled. laurenkaywrites.com/blog
Thanks, Lauren. Just found you this morning. Super helpful info and you have such a kind way about you.❤ I came here for the writing, ended up with ideas for the IG I’m creating for my comfort dog. He visits hospitals and veterans and Hospice. (I’ll get around to setting up my author account soon enough!)😊
Awww thank you so much for this, Diane! It means the world. And I love that you and your dog do this!! <3
Can I send my book to agents outside my country?
Yep! Just be sure to read through their bios to make sure they don't have any specific parameters around this :)
I have learned enough to know I need to spend more time with it. I got the free trial and tried to read through the tutorial, but gee whiz is it time consuming and not that easy to visualize. I appreciate the information you have provided here; some feedback for the next Scrivener vid is maybe slow it down slightly for those of us who are truly brand spankin' new...I will need to go elsewhere to get even more basic information for how to get started, but I do appreciate the quick and engaging tour of many cool features.
thanks for the feedback, Taylor!
My debut novel is a series that ends on a cliffhanger! That's a bad and certain sign why I have been rejected by many agents? isn't it?
Where did you got an agent in the first place? Is impossible!!! 😢
Since the advent of internet and all of its adherants who have the attention span of a frozen pea; do you not think that this arbirary word count of over 60,000 words before it can be classed as a novel, and that a lesser submission, is categorised as a Novella,( which literary agentsare not too keen to accept) is bit out of date? I am thinking of many classic novels that were well below that count, and yet we think of them as novels because they were so good and told the story, imparted their message without the fluff of wading through interminable word building, but clever enough to build their worlds in a concise way........ "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll - Approximately 27,500 words "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson - Approximately 26,000 words "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck - Approximately 29,160 words "Animal Farm" by George Orwell - Approximately 29,966 words "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway - Approximately 27,000 words "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka - Approximately 22,000 words. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Approximately 47,094 words "Sula" by Toni Morrison - Approximately 46,582 words "The Crying of Lot 49" by Thomas Pynchon - Approximately 28,055 words "The Eye" by Vladimir Nabokov - Approximately 24,000 words "Antwerp" by Roberto Bolaño - Approximately 17,000 words "Child of God" by Cormac McCarthy - Approximately 52,000 words "Hotel du Lac" by Anita Brookner - Approximately 55,000 words "The Driver’s Seat" by Muriel Spark - Approximately 27,000 words "Offshore" by Penelope Fitzgerald - Approximately 50,000 words "A Month in the Country" by J.L. Carr - Approximately 22,000 words. I wonder how many young and talented writers are put off by this arbitrary word count imposed by literary agents.? In fact, the general advice of You Tube 'experts too 'kill your darlings' and do not bore the readers with excessive world building, and to move your story on to avoid boredon, seems to me.... is quite contrary.
When you mentioned Olivia and 7 years, (plus a guy called Sebastian!) I immediately thought of 12th Night. ;)
Yh, that's all fine and good, but as a writer myself, I'd say that the main two thing that a writer needs above all else, is passion and consistency. You got these two things, and you will get there eventually 👌
Hey. I've written a book called Murder's No Big Deal that discusses a fictional island that took drastic measures to have people forget about death and move on. Alex comes from America to attempt to right the wrong, but realize that he's getting persuaded by these people. The point of the book is that you only believe something is right or wrong so strongly because you've never heard ideas to the contrary. If anyone knows somebody that might be interested in representing a book like that, please tell me!
Thank you so much for doing this video! The video that comes with it isn't very good and is hard to follow.
Glad mine is helpful! :)
Sometimes I wonder how many great stories have just been tossed in the trash, because the query letter wasn’t up to snuff.
thank you, Lauren. Really appreciated hearing the real 'low down' :)
Absolutely! <3
It appears to me that they want fluff and not really good books. They want fluffy feel good books that are written by people who have degrees and connections. Amazon is destroying the very idea of literature. Just like with music - crap filling the air waves. Is literature dead?
Not inclusive or diverse? Something like 80% of fiction published today is from female authors.
This video is so encouraging! Thanks for sharing your tips and so many free resources. It was a breath of fresh air!
I'm so glad! And you're very welcome.
Your video is beautiful. This video I saw is great.(((5 Shocking Reasons Your Book Isn't Making Money))) How to profit from books by avoiding common mistakes of authors. It is explained so beautifully. Really great content! 👏"You can watch this video if you want. I hope everyone will benefit a lot.............
1. Why were you told not to share this? 2. Literally your second book, or the second book you submitted?