Worldbuilding Without Confusing Readers

In this week’s Books with Hooks episode, CeCe, Carly, and Bianca critique two submissions: an upmarket coming-of-age novel about a teen questioning evangelical purity culture and a speculative romance set in a matriarchal future society. The discussion touches on the importance of specificity in query letters, balancing character and plot, choosing the right title, and clearly establishing a protagonist’s place in the world. The hosts also explore the challenges of pitching memoir-inspired fiction, worldbuilding in speculative novels, and how curiosity, tension, and interiority keep readers invested from page one.

Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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