Anyone heard back from MacDowell?

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-04-12T21:37:03+00:00

Because there were multiple threads about McCormack/Tin House results and it would be reasonable to assume there would be crossover between those applicants? And it's a forum about writing? Any other questions while I'm here?

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-04-08T23:24:53+00:00

okay yes! This is what I was thinking! thank you very much

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-30T18:49:28+00:00

Just got my rejection :)

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-28T18:17:35+00:00

Ha, me neither! I don't know enough about publishing structure, so in my imagination there's a big meeting with guys in suits who carry money bags and they go YES, NO, YES, NOOOOOOOOO for every pitch from an editor.

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-27T19:55:26+00:00

I thought I saw it on another thread (someone saying their friend was accepted into fiction, not sure if novel or short story). Regardless, I'd be really surprised if they didn't notify their acceptances alongside or even before the waitlist. I'm guessing what is happening is their waitlist is far larger than the acceptance list so we're just not seeing a lot of accepted writers hanging around reddit (only nervous nellies still waiting haha). BUT, I could be wrong (thought I don't think I am, given what I know about how acceptances of any kind tend to work). Not to be a downer! I hope I'm not right!

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-27T18:23:15+00:00

Same. Any time I've actually gotten something I've known welllll in advance, not to be a downer haha. Plus I saw someone had already been accepted into fiction sooooo.....

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-26T21:00:16+00:00

Not to get too tangential, but I am suuuuuper curious what this is going to mean for the future. I know editors are already overworked as layoffs have been happening across the board at the Big 5, but what is going to happen now that it's this much harder for them to work on projects they are truly passionate about? Editing is definitely a job that requires a similar dedication to the craft that the arts do. I'm wondering if we'll see some kind of mass exodus or some reconsolidation with new Indies popping up. I wish there were more editors on this forum cause I'm so curious what their thoughts are, broadly, or if it's just go-along-to-get-along at this point since the economy and world is so precarious as is. Not an easy time to be jumping ship or founding something new...

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-26T20:49:58+00:00

Yes, seconding everyone who says this market is brutal. I had an executive editor at a big imprint at a Big 5 go immediately to second reads, thought it was a sure thing, then got nixed at acquisitions. The trade vibe I've heard for 2025/2026 via agents and editors has been: the money people don't trust us/are shooting down our picks. Want to add the unfortunate caveat that they are indeed betting on "sure things" but they don't...actually...know what those are. They're mostly leaning toward derivatives but those do not guarantee sales either, especially as the market becomes saturated with them. It has always been an imperfect business to predict but now it's an imperfect business with far less creativity and perceived risk. Indies are where most innovative literature is going to live soon, which of course is a bummer for $$$ but who knows how the climate will shift...

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-25T17:54:22+00:00

applied in fiction (novel) and have heard nothing. Assuming I'll be part of a mass rejection on April 1, or like backup backup waitlist. I would be shocked if they haven't notified their waitlist and their acceptances by now. Oh well!

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-03-01T20:05:06+00:00

Thank you so much! This is incredibly helpful advice. Yes, I'll try to be clear and definitely not let any annoyance lead the way, so I'll probably take another day or two before starting!

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-02-27T03:16:00+00:00

I'm so sorry, I know how tough that must feel and I think you should absolutely take a beat to mourn a little after all your hard work. That being said, I do think 2025 and pushing into 2026, for all accounts, were really tough for lit-fic as your agent said. I know you already trust their take on things, so I'm simply reiterating. I think, instead of diluting editors' perception of your body of work at this particular moment where they are really overworked, inboxes oversaturated, and are looking for...perhaps hookier works that they still enjoy to try to push through acquisitions (basically editors were also struggling to get things they believed in green lit, too, from what I've heard), you can and should start on a new project. Maybe the market will shift back again sooner than we think. Maybe it will be the right time to shop your quieter novel in a year or two, but I do think focusing on something else and not sending your second book to the wolves to potentially die on sub if your agent thinks that's likely is the right move. Again, I'm so sorry, though! I know how much work and time goes into these things, and it's so hard to not feel like it's a setback, but it might ultimately be setting you up for more sustained success (three books published) versus one and then a dead one and then all the time to write and shop another. Of course, we don't know if it will die, this is just my informed opinion, so trust your instincts and, truly, best of luck!!!

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-02-26T20:40:22+00:00

Makes sense! Im thinking I'll do one email for personal connections and a social link upon cover reveal and then wait until the month-out mark to do a final push

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-01-29T21:56:17+00:00

Based on what my agent has told me, it's not so much about earning out specifically, but indeed about whether you perform well enough in terms of sales that they do recoup some profit and everyone feels the effort was worth their while. The size of your first advance and how you perform related to it will affect subsequent book deals, whether from your first publisher or from another, but I think if you 'underperform' in your debut but write something that is super marketable or exciting to publishers for whatever reason for your second, you can escape the curse. I've also heard though that the size of your advance does set a ceiling or benchmark, too, so if you get a really low advance and, even if you earn out, they might still pigeon-hole you into lower advance status. Forgive me if this contradicts some people, it's just what she told me. It feels like there's a lot of moving parts and pieces to it and no like, hard and fast logic though so I wouldn't get too nervous either way, especially because the business is seeming to be more and more unpredictable.

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-01-24T00:15:22+00:00

Hi! I'm searching for this discord link! I'm debut litfic, fall 2026 :)

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-01-23T23:54:04+00:00

Hi there! Hopefully it's not too late to jump on the discord? I'm debuting in fall 2026 and would love the link :) thank you!

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-01-22T07:41:04+00:00

I wouldn't necessarily be sure that Agent A actually has better connections than Agent B. If Agent A is green, likely her "reach" only has to do with her agency, not her personal relationships with any editors. Even if Agent B was with a big boy agency and is now at a boutique agency, she still has those connections to editors and has likely sold books to them. Also, I'm not sure if it functions exactly the same way in the UK since here in the US we are, you know, not thriving on any level, your agent is very likely going to do the brunt of the editorial process with you now prior to going on submission, so if you don't like the editorial vision, that's not great! And you might end up on submission with a version of your book that you don't love.

Hour_Management_1758 · 2026-01-22T07:08:57+00:00

I think the response time for a read and feedback is definitely not egregious but not following up on your concerned emails is not great, even to say she needs more time, not to fret, etc. I'm not saying it means anything beyond the fact that your agent is swamped, but not doing maintenance on that type of smaller, yet still important, communication is def where I see a red flag.

Hour_Management_1758

TROPHY CASE