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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What Christmas Movies, Salon Glow-Ups & Home Renos Teach About Transformation
Hi Reader, Happy Holidays! I hope this note finds you well as you reflect on the year and the progress you’ve made on your writing goals. It’s been a long while since I wrote to you, mostly because I’ve been deep in the revision cave, trying to implement all the tools and strategies I teach. So I’ve been practicing what I preach. Or trying to anyway. As I’ve been toiling away on a revision that I hope to restart querying in early 2026, something dawned on me. It started as I felt myself...
READ POSTTropes: Not just for romance and fantasy
Hi Reader, A couple of weeks ago I was having a coaching session with my book coach (yes, even I need help, but more on that soon), and I had a big aha moment. Since about May of this year I have been working on a draft of a new book while I’ve been querying my adult romance. This new project is a departure for me. It’s women’s fiction, a little heavier themes, and quite a bit more complicated in terms of structure and scope. I was sliding off track and feeling myself stall out, especially...
READ POSTThe secret to an unforgettable novel? It's all in the voice
Hi Reader, I hope this finds you enjoying November. We are finally starting to see some beautiful fall foliage here in Northern California, which I love. It also reminds me that it's time for the quarterly free training I promised you all. If I've been quiet lately, it's because I've been busy putting together a new workshop (plus, you know...life). Anyway, as I've been working on my own new draft, and now as I head into a revision of the book I've been querying, I've been thinking a lot...
READ POSTYou were called to write for a reason
Hi Reader, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about words. Not in the linguistics sense, or even in the grammatical sense. But in how they are their own source of power. Whoever said sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me was dead wrong. Words can hurt. And yet, we also have The pen is mightier than the sword. Words are power. Our words have the power to create and destroy. To connect and uplift others. To build walls or tear down bridges. They can spur you to action,...
READ POSTYour 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...
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