Hi! I'm Karyn.
I am a children's book and YA literary agent at BookStop Literary Agency and an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. Before turning to agenting and coaching, I was a serial publishing intern, a bookseller and book buyer at an indie bookstore, and an agency assistant. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing, and write middle grade and young adult fiction. I started Story & Prose Book Coaching and Editorial Services in 2021 with the goal of helping more writers. By offering 10+ years of industry knowledge, tough love and honesty, and true passion, I help aspiring bestselling fiction writers hone their craft and write better books so they’re more likely to get published. Check out my weekly newsletter for writing motivation, craft tips, and publishing insight.
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Your roadmap for a page-turning scene
Hi Reader, Happy October! I hope you’ve been enjoying your fall so far. If you were with me for my last newsletter, remember we were talking all about how to write compelling scenes. I gave the key ingredients of any well-written scene (setting, motivation, conflict/tension, action, change/meaning, and the secret sauce of building each scene upon the next). If you didn’t get a chance to read it, you can read it here. As promised, today I’ll be continuing that conversation. If you’re a baker...
READ POSTBouquets of Sharpened Pencils… and Better Scenes
Hi Reader, Happy September! I’m not sure where you are, but here in Northern California it is slowly starting to feel more like fall. And when fall hits, I immediately feel a craving to watch You’ve Got Mail, one of those movies that just feels like fall to me. Bouquets of sharpened pencils and New York in the fall…sigh. I love it. So much so, that when I was devising a talk about scenes for my small-group coaching program, I decided to use one of the fabulous scenes from the movie to...
READ POSTWhen bookshelves (and stories) collapse: Finding structural integrity
Hi Reader, Happy almost-fall! If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Karyn Fischer, book coach, editor, and former literary agent bringing you craft and motivational tips, plus occasional publishing industry insight. This week I'm taking you on a quick trip back to the basics... [Want to listen instead? Here's my unedited raw recording of this newsletter.] Three and a half years ago we moved into our home and I had a vision: a perfect library/office with wall-to-wall bookshelves and cabinets and an...
READ POSTWhy your plot feels like a house of cards (and keeps falling down)
Good morning, Reader, Can I ask you something personal? How many times have you gotten 30,000 words into a story only to realize you have absolutely no idea where it's going? Or maybe you've outlined the heck out of your plot, but when you sit down to write, it feels stiff and lifeless—like you're just checking boxes instead of telling a compelling story? I see this all the time. Authors try to fix plot problems by: Reading more plotting books (but getting overwhelmed by contradictory advice)...
READ POSTThe Truth About Using AI to Write Your Novel
Good morning, Reader, I hope the last few days of summer are treating you well. I’m certainly celebrating the back-to-school season and trying to regain my groove heading into the busy fall season of school, soccer, and, as always…writing my book(s). This week, I’m writing to you about a summit I’m participating in September 2nd and 3rd, to officially open my developmental edit calendar, and to offer some wisdom about what I’ve learned recently about working with AI. So let’s get into it. Can...
READ POSTFrom Agent Rejections to Roller Coasters: A Writer’s Reality Check
Hi Reader, Greetings! It’s been awhile since I last wrote to you all. If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Karyn Fischer, book coach, editor, and former literary agent bringing you craft and motivational tips, plus occasional publishing industry insight. This summer, between being a snack-slinger, referee, coach and editor, I’ve been taking some time and distance to do some thinking. Thinking about what shape I want this newsletter to take, what kind of value I want to offer you, and where my...
READ POSTThe 3 Sources of Micro-Tension (and How to Layer Them Into a Scene)
Hi Reader, Last week I started our three-week series on micro-tension. We explored what it is and looked at the opening scene of Inglourious Basterds as a masterful example. Remember, micro-tension is the moment-by-moment friction that arises from conflicting emotions, desires, expectations, or subtext. So this week I want to take a deeper look at how we create micro-tension. What tools can we put in our arsenal that will help us actually craft these pulse-pounding scenes? How can we make...
READ POSTMastering micro-tension: The secret of unputdownable fiction
Hi Reader, Have you ever been watching a movie or reading a book and felt utterly glued to it, breathless because you absolutely cannot look away? Gah! It’s one of the best feelings when we are reading our writing. Usually, this feeling of being-on-the-edge-of-your-seat isn’t about action-packed physical sequences, like car chases or murderous rampages, or high-stakes danger (though those definitely have their place in fiction!). Equally, or more often, it’s all about micro-tension....
READ POST☀️Come write with me this summer
Hi Reader, It's feeling a lot like summer! And summer is my favorite season. In spite of the heat, I adore being outside by water (pool, lake, beach…you name it, I love it), and I constantly feel the siren’s call to come play. And yet...if I’m being honest, part of me is also feeling trepidatious about this summer. Starting Friday afternoon, my kids will be home, and underfoot. Which means I'll be living in the struggles of balancing writing and to-do list items with the constant...
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