💼 The Smartest 3-Minute Read You’ll Make for Your Writing Career This Week

New Agent Alerts, Remote Writing Gigs, & An Emerging YA-Adult Imprint

Lately, everyone we know (including ourselves) has been feeling stretched thinner—more tired, busy, trying to keep up with daily living. If you’re in that place too, we hope this newsletter feels like a little breath of support. Not hustle. Just help. That’s why we’re doing this—because it’s been a hard season for so many in the writing community, both creatively and financially.

We may not be able to fix everything, but we figured we can save you time, connect you with real opportunities, support your creativity, and ease the weight on your personal finances by doing some of the work for you. In other words, you’re not alone. And even when it feels slow, you’re still moving forward. We promise. ❤️ ~m & C.J.

P.S., If you find this issue helpful, please feel free to forward it! Word-of-mouth is how we grow. ❤️

At a Glance:👀

• 🔥 Need-to-Know Publishing News —> scroll to “Publishing Pulse”

• 💼 3 Remote Writing Gigs —> scroll to “Freelance Gigs”

• 📚Full-Time Publishing Job —> scroll to “Publishing Industry Job Openings”

• ✅ Lit Agents —> scroll to “Literary Agents Building Their Lists”

• 🔥Top Contest of the Year —> scroll to “Contests”

• ✍️ Looking for Events? —> scroll to “Upcoming Writer’s Sanctuary Events”

• 🎂 Cutest video on the internet? —> scroll to “Snacks for the Soul”

Psst… Every newsletter we send out features a fresh batch of handpicked leads. Enjoy!

🌍 Publishing Pulse

(Industry News & Insights)

• Berkley, Penguin Young Readers Team Up to Open a New Imprint (for YA and Adult!) “Berkley Bookswill join forces with Penguin Young Readers to launch Berkley XO, billed as an adult-YA crossover imprint.”

• #BookTok is still booming. So why is TikTok getting out of publishing? “The Bookseller argued that 8th Note Press…did not do enough to organically promote the literature it picked up.”

• Why the Bankruptcy Clause in Your Publishing Contract May Not Protect You - Writer Beware “It’s a good idea to have a general idea of what’s involved…”

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💼 Curated Freelance Gigs

• Freelance Writer - Bezzy

  • RVO Health Freelance Network, from $150 a day

• Writing Tutor

• BONUS: Freelance Newsletter Content Writer

  • Remote, Part-Time, $50-$70/hour

—> You can unlock 10 additional listings (including one from The Bookish Box!) with a paid subscription. But because we know budgets are tight, we’d love for you to enjoy them on us! Just use the 7-day free trial (commitment-free!).❤️

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✅ Publishing Industry Job Openings

• Production Editor, HarperCollins (Remote)

  • $55,000 - $62,000

  • “When you apply for a position, we want to know why you want to work here, and why you are interested in the job. That’s why cover letters are strongly preferred.”

—> There are 5 more listings this week you can access via the 7-day free trial.

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✅ Literary Agents Building Their Lists

• Eva Oakes, Transatlantic Agency

  • Building a list that includes a wide range of UPMARKET AND LITERARY FICTION, as well as NARRATIVE NONFICTION.

• Renee Runge, Spencerhill Associates Literary Agency

  • Actively building her list in all genres of middle grade and young adult fiction. Her taste can be summed up as “eclectic,” and she is drawn to high-concept commercial projects with a literary aura.

—> You can get an extra 5 agents building their lists with the 7-day free trial.

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🔥Contests

(Just a sneak peek before our next issue)

• The Novelry Offers $100,000 Prize to Break Publishing Barriers

  • Submission deadline July 31

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📝Writing Resources

• Blog: Top Mistakes Authors Make When Building a Brand (And How to Fix Them)

• Books:

  • ​The Storyteller’s Weekly Journal: The only book you’ll ever need to finish writing your novel.

  • Query: Everything You Need to Get Started, Get Noticed, & Get Signed

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🍕 Procrastination Snacks for the Soul

• 😏Encouragement You Didn’t Ask For: Just remember - no one has to know your villain is based on your HOA president. ;)

• 🎈The cutest, cheesiest thing we’ve seen this week. —> Woman's Bad Day Saved by a Truck Full of Baby Goats in Viral TikTok

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🎂Upcoming Writer’s Sanctuary Events

• Join us for a month of writing! August Story Sprint - virtual - August 2025

• Looking for a Writing Mentor?! Get 6-12 months coaching on your story, platform, pitch materials, and more.

• Lyrical Writing Retreat: October 13-17, Nashville, TN, —> daily training, writing, and connecting with industry pros (8 spots left)

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Share this newsletter with friends! For every 3 that subscribe, you get a FREE MONTH! Here’s the link!

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🗓️ In the Next Issue

• 📣 Industry News

• 💡Small Presses accepting submissions

• 🚀Writing / Publishing contests

• 📌Job listings and freelance gigs

• 🪶& more!

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🔐Paid Subscriber Content Below

Look at you, sneaking a peek! ;) Enjoy!💌

💎Upgrade to Access:

• 5 more Literary Agents who are building their lists!

• 10 more Freelance Writing Gigs (including one for The Bookish Box!)

• 2 Writing Residencies accepting applications

• 5 more Publishing Job listings (including a paid internship at Macmillan!)

• 4 more Industry News links

• 2 Bonus Resources

  • 📝Blog: What Literary Agents Want: Query Letter Trends and Red Flags

  • 🔗Tool: Free Author Brand Checklist!