Jim McCarthy: What Makes Your Work Publishable

Agent Jim McCarthy is vice president at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management and he is also doing a fabulous session right now. For aspiring writers this is the place to be! Jim is talking about trends (and the trends that never were) and what he's looking to represent.

Jim is asking for horror--both YA and adult and hoping for a renaissance in the genre. While opening up the floor to Q&A, Jim was asked to distinguish between YA and adult.


"Voice and perspective distinguish YA from adult. And sometimes the material or tone can lift it to an adult level." Then he talked about The Lovely Bones and pointed out the ways it is more adult than YA.

The Q&A feels like an insider's guide to the industry. Jim talks about the inner working of his agency, some of his author's upcoming books, and how he targets editors. And beyond that, he's keeping the tone very fun! Good times.