Landing a Two-Book Deal:
Novelist Laura Hankin’s Advice for Aspiring Authors
Laura Hankin expected to find a feminist utopia when she visited a famous women’s co-working space in New York but was left feeling “self-conscious” and struck by her “own desperate need to belong.” A Special Place for Women, the story of an intrepid journalist who dares to infiltrate an exclusive secret society of “millionaire girl-bosses and occult-obsessed Bohemians,” was inspired by this encounter. Happy and You Know It, her previous novel set among Park Avenue’s clique of wellness-addict moms, received rave reviews and was a Book of the Month pick in 2020. Wrapped in a giant blanket with an infectious smile, Laura is the opposite of the icy fictional women she writes. We chatted about getting inside your characters’ heads, working with a literary agent, and the importance of letting go.
Feel Your Characters’ Feelings.
When Laura first moved to New York, her plan was to be an actor. Frustrated with the unpredictability of the acting industry, she sought something creative she could control. Unlike acting, where you ideally need an audience, “you can sit down and write,” she said. When I asked her if she brought elements of acting into her writing process, she laughed, professing to “talking out loud” as her main character earlier that day. She even started “crying a little bit” when she let herself “feel her [the protagonist’s] feelings.”Going for walks as the character is another strategy she uses to get inside her characters’ heads. Although trying to avoid writing “copies” of herself, Laura always tries to find part of her life experience that “can be a way in” when starting a new story.
Giving Up On A Project Doesn’t Mean Giving Up on Being a Writer.
Before writing Happy and You Know It, she had written another novel that got her “an agent, but never got sold.” “I poured my heart into that book,” she said. But ultimately, she realized she had to let it go: “having to give up on a project doesn’t mean you have to give up on being a writer.” This setback wasn’t the only bump along the road to landing her current agent and a two-book deal; she previously worked with a different agency that ultimately wasn’t the right fit. Being an author can often mean “having to deal with periods of uncertainty,” she reflected.
A friend introduced her to her current agent. She stressed that having a personal connection isn’t essential to finding a literary agent, but it can help you get access. “The really good thing about the publishing industry,” she continued, “is that you don’t have to know anyone. You can send in a query letter, and someone will read it. And if it’s what they’re looking for, they will read the first five pages of your book.” When it comes to finding an agent, “find someone you can trust,” and don’t rush into making a decision, she advised.
Notes Are Your Friend.
Getting a two-book deal might be many authors’ dreams come true, but Laura found writing the second book came with unexpected pressure. “Can you make creativity work on a schedule?” Having a deadline proved helpful; “it certainly kicked my butt into gear,” she said. Her agent’s feedback was essential to her process; she pitched three or four different ideas before landing on A Special Place for Women. A key piece of advice Laura has for aspiring authors is to embrace feedback. Even if a note might make you bristle, she recommended you properly consider it if it is from someone you trust. “Notes are your friend; no one will write a perfect draft on their own.”
Happy and You Know It and A Special Place for Women are available for purchase and pre-order online or by contacting your local indie bookstore. You can follow Laura Hankin on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram.
This blog aims to demystify the writing process and share my personal takeaways from conversations with authors. I would love to hear your thoughts and questions about writing in the comments.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in this personal blog are solely my own unless explicitly stated otherwise. This blog intends to spotlight authors and their books. The personal writings in this blog do not intend to defame, injure, or harm anyone. I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic discussed in the comments, but please know that I am not responsible for the content of any comments. The writer of a comment is solely responsible for the comment’s content. Please contact me directly if you would like any content edited or removed because you believe it harmful, unnecessary, or sensitive.
