Writers With Wrinkles
Whether you're an aspiring author, indie publisher, or career writer, Writers with Wrinkles is your essential guide to writing craft, book marketing, and the publishing industry. Hosted by authors Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid, we iron out the wrinkles of the business — from mastering novel writing and story structure to navigating literary agents, query letters, and KDP self-publishing.
Each week, we bring you expert interviews with editors, publishers, and bestselling authors, plus practical advice on building your author platform and marketing your book. Whether you're drafting your first manuscript or preparing for a book launch, we have the guidance you need to thrive in today's competitive publishing landscape.
Visit www.WritersWithWrinkles.net for resources. Follow us on TikTok: @writerswithwrinkles
Episodes
160 episodes
Stop Making Videos Nobody Watches — Here's a Way to Actually Sell Books
Hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid cut through the noise of book marketing advice to spotlight what genuinely moves books: word of mouth. Nearly half of readers (47–48%) choose books based on personal recommendations — outperforming social med...
Back by Popular Demand: Words on the Page with editor Joel Brigham
Joel Brigham runs Brigham Editorial (developmental edits, manuscript critiques, query help), teaches high school English in Illinois, and is an editor for RevPit — a community that gives away free developmental edits each spring.<...
Stop Querying Wrong: Agent Nikki Carrero Breaks It Down
Beth and Lisa talk with literary agent Nikki Carrero, from The Rights Factory, to break down the querying process from the agent’s side — what gets you noticed, what gets a pass, and how to make the most of The Call. Highlig...
How to Write Better Stakes & Tension in Your Novel (and some Taylor Swift!)
We tackle a publishing debate, draw writing wisdom from Taylor Swift, and dig into one of the most common craft problems in fiction — weak stakes and missing tension. Plus a community book shout-out.THE HARDBACK DEBATEBeth ...
We Read Your First Pages So You Don't Have To Guess
First Page Feedback: Charlotte's Hunt for GloryBeth and Lisa critique the opening page of a middle grade fantasy submission and pull out craft lessons for any writer working on those critical first pages....
Rolling With It (And Then Not)
The One Where Nobody Ordered the Books | Beth McMullen & Lisa SchmidLisa Schmid shares a cautionary tale from the Sacramento Book Festival, where a series of logistical failures turned what should have been an ex...
Publishing Is Changing Fast! Literary Agent Vicki Weber on What's Working Now
Imprint closures, layoffs, and reorganizations are rattling the publishing world. Literary agent and At-Home Author founder Vicki Weber joins Beth and Lisa for a candid conversation about what’s driving these changes—and what writers can do abo...
What The Heck Is Going On With Publishing?
Beth and Lisa discuss the 2026 publishing landscape. From the end of prestige imprints like Dial Books to the flood of AI content, they explore why the industry feels increasingly "disposable" and "noisy."Key Discussion Points...
Life After the Breakup: Navigating the Publishing World After Parting Ways with Your Agent, with Amy Trueblood
Hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid welcome award-winning author Amy Trueblood to discuss a transition many writers face but few discuss: life after parting ways with a literary agent. Amy shares her journey of being on her fourth agent, offeri...
Why Indie Authors Are Winning the Business Game (and new First Pages!)
In this episode, hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid talk about a recent publishing controversy sparked on Threads regarding the "legitimacy" of indie authors. They break down the evolving landscape of self-publishing, comparing the financial a...
The Nuts and Bolts of Writing MG & YA Mysteries, with Fleur Bradley
In this episode, hosts Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid welcome back author and literacy advocate Fleur Bradley. The discussion centers on the importance of mysteries in keeping kids reading, the structural "nuts and bolts" of writing for middle g...
Book People are the Best People! (and other truths)
Episode Summary In this Season 5 bonus episode, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid clear out their "insanely long" laundry list of burning topics. The duo discusses the restorative power of community, starting with Lisa’s wildly successful br...
First Pages!!! (yes we're excited)
In this session, Beth and Lisa critique the opening of "Beyond the Moon," a middle-grade contemporary manuscript. The discussion focuses on refining the "hook," establishing a consistent tone, and leveraging character relationships to engage re...
You’re Not a Real Author Until You Get Scam Emails
Is your inbox is bursting with slop from bots and scammers? In this "Ask Beth & Lisa" episode, we tackle the explosion of predatory emails—from fake "Silent Book Clubs" to fraudulent Amazon publishing offers—aimed at unsuspecting writers. W...
Navigating Non-Fiction Publishing with Literary Agent Alia Hanna Habib
Episode SummaryWhat does it actually take to get a non-fiction book published in today's market? In this episode, literary agent and author Alia Hanna Habib pulls back the curtain on the publishing industry. Alia shares ins...
What Literary Agents Look for in Kidlit Submissions, with Erin Casey Westin
Note: For the most up-to-date information on Erin’s submission status, interests, and availability, visit https://erincaseywestin.com.Episode SummaryIn this episode of W...
Season Finale Bonus: First Pages Cozy Fantasy
In this bonus season-finale episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid reflect on the end of the season, share a behind-the-scenes podcasting mishap, and dive into a First Pages critique of a cozy fantasy submissio...
Ask Beth & Lisa: Query Letters (with Deborah Crossland)
Query letters make even experienced writers panic—and for good reason. In this special Ask Beth & Lisa episode, we’re joined by author and educator Deborah Crossland for a deep, practical conversation about how to write a st...
ENCORE: Lisa's favorite Season 4 episode is Brian Selznick
For her encore episode, Lisa chose our interview with Brian Selznick—author and illustrator of some of the most innovative and emotionally powerful books in contemporary publishing. In this conversation, Brian reflects on creative process, pati...
ENCORE: Beth's favorite Season 4 episode is Adria Goetz
Beth’s Encore Pick: Adria GoetzFor her encore episode, Beth chose our interview with Adria Goetz, Senior Literary Agent at KT Literary. This conversation gets into the real mechanics of querying—what agents actually notice, where ...
Inside Publishing with Mari Kesselring: What Writers Really Need to Know
In this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa talk with Mari Kesselring about the realities of today’s publishing landscape—from the misunderstood world of book packagers to navigating an author career after a disappointing debut....
BONUS: First Pages: How to Hook Readers Fast in MG Fantasy
In this bonus episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa critique the first page of a new upper middle grade fantasy novel, Kiki Won’t Be Goddess of the Underworld. If you’re an MG author looking for feedback on opening p...
Inside Publishing’s High-Stakes Reality: What Writers Need to Know
In this Ask Beth & Lisa episode, Beth and Lisa discuss one of the most active conversations happening among writers: the growing concern about how the publishing industry treats debut and midlist authors. They share personal experiences, ha...
BONUS: How to Write Funny Books With Heart: Adam Rosenbaum on Middle Grade Craft
In this bonus episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa talk with Adam Rosenbaum about how he blends laugh-out-loud comedy with emotionally meaningful storytelling. Writers will learn how humor lowers a reader’s defenses, ...
What Editors Really Look For, with Alison Romig: First Pages, Comps, and Connecting with Readers
Episode Summary In this episode of Writers With Wrinkles, Beth and Lisa talk with Alison Romig, Associate Editor at Delacorte Press, about middle grade and YA fiction. Aspiring authors will gain insight into what edit...