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From Scottie · July 31, 2026
See The Shit No One Tells You About Writing in a Scottie brief
Scottie read The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, Pitch Your Novel, and The Forever Workshop for a reader with the priorities shown below. Start with the rundown, open the full brief, or check every issue behind it.
3sources
5issues read
3stories included
2 of 2 The Shit No One Tells You About Writing issues included
What shaped this brief
Reader priorities
A querying writer who wants agent interviews, pitch critiques, high-concept guidance, and candid explanations of what gets pages requested.
These are illustrative priorities, not a customer’s data.
Sources in this brief
- The Shit No One Tells You About WritingThe publication this guide is about
- Pitch Your NovelAdds novel-positioning and publishing-path guidance.
- The Forever WorkshopAdds craft, agent strategy, and help moving through creative blocks.
Scottie
Scottie example brief
July 31, 2026 · Executive brief
01 / The rundown
- Literary agent Tali Shammas reports a 2% request rate from 2,000 queries, highlighting the strict bar for submission readiness.
- Author Molly Fader generated five agent offers by refining loglines and mastering complex dual-timeline structures in her latest manuscript draft.
- Panel editors emphasize that experimental sample pages require intentional layers of meaning rather than mere stylistic strangeness to earn publication.
Read the complete brief 3 stories · 2 action items
02 / The briefing
01 / main
Unpacking high-concept premises and agent request metrics
The takeaway: Sarah Adler explains high concept demands full execution from page one, while agent Tali Shammas shares query stats. Plus, Catherine Ryan Howard warns against querying before you fully trust your ending.
Concrete details
- Agent Tali Shammas received 2,000 total queries during two weeks of open submissions, requesting 47 full manuscripts.
- Tali Shammas currently holds approximately a 2% request rate for full manuscript submissions from open querying.
Why it matters for this reader: As a querying writer seeking agent request insights, these real-world submission stats and manuscript readiness tests help refine your submission strategy.
Original sourcesThe Shit No One Tells You About Writing
02 / main
Landing five agent offers through layered storytelling
The takeaway: Bestselling author Molly Fader details how balancing dual timelines, ensemble casts, and purposeful prologues helped her secure five distinct agent offers after parting with her previous representative.
Concrete details
- Author Molly Fader landed five distinct agent offers for her novel Lady X after refining her story logline.
- Author Gloria Chao advises finishing your full manuscript draft before evaluating market position rather than chasing fast-moving trends.
Why it matters for this reader: Grounding your manuscript in structural techniques like dual timelines gives your querying pitch the strong, distinct hook required to earn multiple agent offers.
Original sourcesThe Shit No One Tells You About Writing
03 / main
Literary editors outline what makes experimental fiction work
The takeaway: Editors from top literary magazines explain that strange page submissions fail without purpose. Truly compelling experimental fiction requires intentional imagery, deeper emotional resonance, and two clear layers of meaning.
Concrete details
- Editors Derek Askey, Rachel Dillon, and Steve Chang analyzed sample pages to clarify what gets experimental fiction accepted.
- The editorial panel emphasized that experimental fiction requires a distinct 'so what' beyond surface-level strangeness.
Why it matters for this reader: Learning how literary editors evaluate unconventional sample pages helps you craft high-concept opening pages that hold critical tension and get requested.
Original sourcesThe Forever Workshop
Action items
- Test your manuscript readiness by asking if a dream agent rejection would leave you regretting unedited ending revisions.
- Complete your full draft before assessing market trends or adjusting your loglines for querying submission packages.
See every issue behind this brief
What High Concept Means and Querying Advice
- ✨Lying to Agents When Querying👀; & What 'High Concept' Really Means. Plus, Meet Your Dream Agent✨The Shit No One Tells You About Writing · Included
The Writing Trick That Secured Five Agent Offers
- ✨The Writing Trick That Landed Five Agent Offers. Plus, Meet the Hosts in Calgary Next Month! ✨The Shit No One Tells You About Writing · Included
What Editors Want From Experimental Sample Pages
- Weird for a Reason: What Editors Want From Experimental FictionThe Forever Workshop · Included
Low-Residency MFA Programs
- Looking for a Low-Residency MFA? We’ve Got You CoveredThe Forever Workshop · Read, not included
Bestselling Novels Common Traits
- What Do the Bestselling Novels of All Time Have in Common and What Can You Learn From Them?Pitch Your Novel · Read, not included
About The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Should you add The Shit No One Tells You About Writing to Scottie?
Improve a query and pitch with direct feedback from agents and working writers.[1][2][3]
Who it’s for
A querying writer who wants agent interviews, pitch critiques, high-concept guidance, and candid explanations of what gets pages requested.[1][2]
What you’ll find in it
The issues linked below include “✨Meet Your Dream Agent. Plus, Your Book Isn't Boring - Your Pitch Is; & Query Critiques Inside!✨”, “✨Lying to Agents When Querying👀; & What 'High Concept' Really Means. Plus, Meet Your Dream Agent✨”, and “✨The Writing Trick That Landed Five Agent Offers. Plus, Meet the Hosts in Calgary Next Month! ✨”. Open them to judge the publication in its own words.
- Byline
- The Shit About Writing Team[1]
How to read The Shit No One Tells You About Writing with Scottie
Add its public feed for publicly available issues. If you subscribe to paid issues, forward those emails to your private @scottie.fyi address. Scottie does not need access to your inbox.
Scottie read 2 The Shit No One Tells You About Writing items and included 2 for the brief. The sources covered different things, so Scottie kept their stories separate instead of forcing a connection.
Read three issues from The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Read the publication in its own words. Scottie keeps these original links attached; it does not replace the writing.
- ✨Meet Your Dream Agent. Plus, Your Book Isn't Boring - Your Pitch Is; & Query Critiques Inside!✨Public issue[2]
- ✨Lying to Agents When Querying👀; & What 'High Concept' Really Means. Plus, Meet Your Dream Agent✨Public issue[3]
- ✨The Writing Trick That Landed Five Agent Offers. Plus, Meet the Hosts in Calgary Next Month! ✨Fri, 24 Jul 2026[4]
Sources and official links
- The Shit No One Tells You About Writing official publication and public archive
- ✨Meet Your Dream Agent. Plus, Your Book Isn't Boring - Your Pitch Is; & Query Critiques Inside!✨
- ✨Lying to Agents When Querying👀; & What 'High Concept' Really Means. Plus, Meet Your Dream Agent✨
- ✨The Writing Trick That Landed Five Agent Offers. Plus, Meet the Hosts in Calgary Next Month! ✨
- Pitch Your Novel official publication
- The Forever Workshop official publication