Phoebe Morgan

'I wrote FOUR novels across TEN years that weren't published... now I'm a multi-million copy bestseller!' (You can do it too!) Author Teresa Driscoll candidly shares the highs and lows of her writing career, how it feels to write a book out of contract, and what success looks like after a decade of rejection...

Super inspiring interview with Teresa Driscoll today all about her writing career, including the highs and lows! Persistence is key! open.substack.com/pub/honested...

Transatlantic Agenting with Katie Greenstreet and Catherine Cho The Paper Literary team talk about signing authors in other countries, the differences in the UK/US markets, what happens when authors leave agents, and how it feels to set up a new literary agency!

Interview this week with two star literary agents at Paper Literary about the US/UK relationship, what happens when authors decide to leave agents, and their top tips for writers: open.substack.com/pub/honested...

I said: 'If we can't make One Day a success, we might as well quit' - an interview with Emma Knight, book publicist On what to expect from your PR campaign, founding her new agency, working with David Nicholls and Maggie O'Farrell, and getting to know your local bookshops... (spoiler: no one had to quit)

New post up on The Honest Editor - an interview with book publicist Emma Knight, who has worked with authors including David Nicholls and Maggie O’Farrell; she really knows her stuff. open.substack.com/pub/honested...

Welcoming Kimberley Atkins from WME to The Honest Editor today, where she talks about making the move from Editor to Agent. She’s actively building a new list so authors check it out! open.substack.com/pub/honestedit…

Happy new year...and a writing competition! Enter to win a critique of your synopsis and first 10k words!

Happy 2026! I am offering a critique of your first 10,000 words & a synopsis - find out how to enter here! Let’s make this year the one in which your writing dreams come true ✨ open.substack.com/pub/honested...

What do publishers do all week?! An insight into a working week - and why we might be slower getting back to you!

New post on The Honest Editor about what publishers really do all week and why it might take a little longer for us to get back to you sometimes… honesteditor.substack.com/p/what-do-pu...

Your writing reviewed by me… A competition for paid subscribers to have your synopsis and 10k words assessed…

I am offering one person the chance to win a critique of your synopsis and first 10k words- enter by Midnight on 18th Nov! honesteditor.substack.com/p/your-writi...

Thank you for having me!!

Simon & Schuster Executive Fiction Publisher @phoebeannmorgan.bsky.social joins us to talk about the decisions that go into acquiring and marketing books. Plus, what happens in auctions and why she started The Honest Editor Substack!

Watch now: youtu.be/SJXs6kut_EU
Or listen: linktr.ee/ukpageone

Let's talk about money... How do publishers control their finances, and how do authors get paid?

A post today all about money - how authors make money and how publishers control their finances: honesteditor.substack.com/p/lets-talk-... I hope it is useful!

The author perspective: an interview with C.L. Taylor The bestselling suspense novelist tells us her secrets of success, and shares her ups and downs, with some brilliant advice for authors...

An interview today with bestselling author C.L.Taylor @callytaylor.bsky.social about the highs and lows of her career, with top tips for writers: honesteditor.substack.com/p/the-author...

What really happens at Frankfurt Book Fair? An insight into a hectic week in Germany...

Ever wonder: What really happens at Frankfurt Book Fair? @phoebeannmorgan.bsky.social has the lowdown!
open.substack.com/pub/honested...

Writing a first draft The highs and lows of getting words on the page!

Writing a first draft - the highs and lows! honesteditor.substack.com/p/writing-a-... What are your tips?

Getting a job in publishing... An agent's assistant tells us how to stand out in the slush pile and gives tips on navigating the early years of the industry. Plus a subscriber discount!

New post about what @CatrionaPaget is looking for as a literary agent, how to get into the publishing industry, and a special offer for 10% off the newsletter honesteditor.substack.com/p/getting-a-... 📚💕

Final day to enter! I will read the first 10k & synopsis of your novel if you enter by midnight Weds 1 Oct, GMT. All you have to do is be a paid or free subscriber to the newsletter, share the post & comment “shared” so I can add you to the list. Winner chosen at random. 💚 honesteditor.substack.com

A screenshot from the substack The Honest Editor by Phoebe Morgan. Text reads: So, I’m offering one reader of The Honest Editor the chance to have your work reviewed by me, if you subscribe and comment on this post by midnight on Wednesday 1st October GMT. To enter, just make sure you’re subscribing (free or paid is fine) and that you share it wherever you’d like to, and comment on this post with ‘shared’ to let me know that you would like to enter the competition. I will then choose a winner at random on Thursday morning and get in touch with the winner then. I will review your first 10,000 words and synopsis, providing notes as I would for an author on my list. I do specialise in commercial fiction, so keep that in mind, but if you’ve written something else I am very happy to have a look too. I love working with writers and I have 12 years of experience in the publishing industry, working with multiple bestselling authors, so hopefully I can help you a little bit! Any questions, just comment below or DM me.

Writer friends, don't miss this amazing opportunity for editor feedback on your first 10,000 words and synopsis from the wonderful @phoebeannmorgan.bsky.social at The Honest Editor!

honesteditor.substack.com/p/a-chance-f...

A chance for me to read your writing... A competition, and a run-through of what you may have missed...

If you're working on a novel, this is an amazing opportunity to have feedback on your opening 10,000 words from the brilliant @phoebeannmorgan.bsky.social. Subscribe to her blog anyway - always an informative read!
#writers #WritingCommmunity #writingadvice

open.substack.com/pub/honested...

The Honest Editor | Phoebe Morgan | Substack Behind the books: how publishing works. Click to read The Honest Editor, by Phoebe Morgan, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

New post about ghosting in the publishing industry - would love to hear your thoughts! honesteditor.substack.com/p/on-ghosting 👻

When editors leave...and when agents don't like your books! And more honest answers in this Q+A based on your real questions about the publishing industry.

New post on The Honest Editor about what happens when your editor leaves, whether you can write in multiple genres, and more: honesteditor.substack.com/p/when-edito...

The Foreign Rights perspective - let's talk about translation! Hachette UK Foreign Rights Director Melis Dagoglu shares her insights into how US and translation rights work, why markets differ, and what's on-trend right now...

Today on The Honest Editor we spoke to Foreign Rights Director Melis Dagoglu of @HachetteUK about why translation rights matter, how her role works, and what’s on trend right now: honesteditor.substack.com/p/the-foreig...

The Literary Agent Perspective - two agents share their wisdom We speak to Nelle Andrew & Sue Armstrong about why they love their jobs, what they look for in new submissions, and why success isn't always overnight...

Special interview on The Honest Editor this week with two superstar literary agents, @nelleandrew.bsky.social and Sue Armstrong. Find out what being an agent is really like, why success doesn’t happen overnight, and how to make your submission stand out: honesteditor.substack.com/p/the-litera...

How book auctions really work - and why you don’t have to have one! honesteditor.substack.com/p/how-book-auc…

New post about finding your hook in commercial fiction, why it matters, and what a hook really is! honesteditor.substack.com/p/what-is-a-ho…

A new post on Substack all about how we as publishers decide on book titles - and why! honesteditor.substack.com/p/whats-in-a-n…

Thank you!

Building back from a disappointing publication... Why it can happen, and what you can do...

New post on The Honest Editor about how to build back up from a disappointing book publication - why it happens and what you can do about it as an author 💖 honesteditor.substack.com/p/building-b...

I look forward to reading these articles from Phoebe when they arrive in my mailbox. If you are a budding or an established writer and haven’t subscribed to her Substack, I recommend you do!

How to get a literary agent - why you need one, what a good author-agent relationship looks like, and some practical tips… Join The Honest Editor and read for free: honesteditor.substack.com/p/how-to-get-a…

Wrote a piece for @thebookseller about why we need more transparency in publishing 💚

To recontract or not to recontract... What really happens when the decision is made? How do you balance head vs heart?

A great post from @phoebeannmorgan.bsky.social on recontracting. Many factors influence decisions but some stuff (such as sticking to deadlines and being good to work with) seem to be within the writer’s control. Worth remembering when starting out with a publisher

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