Manuscript Memoirs — Entry 1

I figure since I’m working on two manuscripts for my publishers, it would be cool to write about the progress for each and offer insight into the traditional publishing process. I’m also ghostwriting a book for a TikTok star, which is pretty cool, too. I’ll write about that, too, since this person is super open with people knowing I’m his ghostwriter.

The first manuscript I’m working on is called Is There A Boy Like Me. It’s a Middle Grade (MG) manuscript that was purchased by Scholastic and will be published in October of 2024.

This deal is actually interesting because Scholastic made me an offer without me finishing the entire manuscript. Anne Shone, who is the editor I’m working with, reached out to me over email with the concept for the novel, which she wanted to be toxic masculinity.

I pulled my agent into the conversation and told Anne that I’d come up with a few ideas then run it by her, and we can take it from there. It took me about a week to come up with the concept and when my agent presented it to Anne, she loved it.

The next step was to write a few chapters. I wrote about 40 pages and submitted. Again, Anne loved it! She asked for one change, which I made, and we moved on to the next step.

The next step was my agent and me putting together a proposal. Here’s something you need to…