London Writers' Salon #189: Juliet Mushens — Building Bestselling Writer Careers, Decoding Agent Feedback, and Why Writing for the Market Rarely Works
Juliet Mushens, literary agent and founder of Mushens Entertainment who represents multiple bestselling authors. She talks about why tension is the single must-have in fiction. Hear how personalised editorial feedback signals progress. Learn what to weigh when choosing representation and why writing strictly for the market rarely leads to great books.
01:07:32
Personalised Agenting With Global Ambition
- Juliet runs Mushens Entertainment with a 'personal touch and global reach' ethos, tailoring strategy to each author's goals.
- She balances ambitions like branding or privacy by discussing consequences and aligning on what 'good' or 'great' looks like.
Build A Life Outside Publishing To Stay Sane
- Protect your energy by having a life outside publishing to avoid myopia and burnout.
- Juliet credits swing dancing, book groups and non-publishing friendships for commercial insight and resilience.
Friction Over Convenience As A Cultural Trend
- Juliet is intrigued by the pushback against convenience in an age of AI, arguing discomfort often fuels meaningful growth.
- She explores cross-industry conversations to spot where friction creates value and cultural interest.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Juliet's reading background and love of fantasy
02:20 • 2min
From reading to agenting and editing strengths
04:25 • 2min
First publishing deal and early agency experiences
06:01 • 2min
Creating Mushens Entertainment and agency ethos
08:08 • 6min
Protecting energy and life outside publishing
13:38 • 2min
Following wider trends: convenience vs inconvenience
16:07 • 3min
How Juliet reads submissions and tension's importance
19:06 • 2min
What makes Juliet request a full manuscript
21:22 • 41sec
Deciding to offer representation
22:03 • 3min
Interpreting agent feedback
25:31 • 3min
Using freelance editors and when they're helpful
28:32 • 1min
Age and publishing: it doesn't matter
29:46 • 1min
Social media myths and fiction platform concerns
31:10 • 1min
What happens after Juliet offers representation
32:23 • 2min
How to prepare for an agent meeting
34:40 • 3min
Choosing between multiple agent offers
37:35 • 4min
Contracts and the agent's negotiating role
41:13 • 2min
Why not to write for the market
43:13 • 2min
Moving on when a book doesn't sell
45:17 • 2min
Publishing myths Juliet dispels
46:53 • 3min
Submitting tips: perfect cover letter elements
49:44 • 4min
Submission timing and follow-up etiquette
53:57 • 2min
Reading future submissions after rejection
56:00 • 3min
Handling success, envy and staying grounded
58:42 • 3min
Managing self-doubt and optimistic pessimism
01:01:29 • 1min
AI, piracy concerns and publishing's near future
01:02:50 • 1min
Final advice: nothing you write is wasted
01:04:08 • 2min
Outro
01:06:34 • 51sec
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The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton
#64031
The House of Fortune
The Miniaturist, #2
Jessie Burton
In 1705 Amsterdam, eighteen-year-old Thea Brandt, a young Dutch-African woman, navigates her coming-of-age amid her family's financial decline and hidden secrets from the past.
As her aunt Nella desperately seeks a wealthy husband for her at an exclusive ball, Thea falls for Walter, the theatre's set painter, while eerie miniature figurines reappear, hinting at the miniaturist's return.
The story explores themes of love, identity, race, gender expectations, and family loyalty in a richly evoked Golden Age Amsterdam.
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Girl
Jamaica Kincaid
A short story exploring themes of mother-daughter relationships, cultural identity, and the transmission of knowledge and tradition.
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The Assassin's Apprentice
Robin Hobb
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We Need to Talk about Kevin
Kate Mosse
Lionel Shriver
The novel is written from the perspective of Eva Khatchadourian, the mother of Kevin, who committed a mass murder at his high school.
The story is told through a series of letters from Eva to her estranged husband, Franklin.
It delves into themes such as the nature vs.
nurture debate, the challenges of modern parenting, and the aftermath of a tragic event.
Eva's ambivalence towards motherhood and her complex relationship with Kevin are central to the narrative, which also explores the societal and personal factors that may have contributed to Kevin's actions.
The book is a poignant and thought-provoking examination of family dynamics, guilt, and the unconditional love of a parent for their child.
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The Saddle Club
Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club series follows the adventures of Stevie Lake, Lisa Atwood, and Carole Hanson as they navigate their passion for horses and their friendships.
The series is set at Pine Hollow Stables and includes various themes such as teamwork, problem-solving, and personal growth.
The books are aimed at young readers and have been adapted into an Australian television series.
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Nancy Drew
Carolyn Keene
The Nancy Drew series, written under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, is a long-running series of mystery novels featuring the teenage detective Nancy Drew.
The books follow Nancy's adventures as she solves various mysteries, often involving thrilling chases, clever deductions, and daring escapes.
The series is known for its strong female protagonist and its emphasis on problem-solving and adventure.
The books have been popular with young readers for generations, inspiring a love of mystery and adventure.
The series' enduring appeal lies in its engaging plots, relatable characters, and timeless themes of justice and perseverance.
Nancy Drew remains an iconic figure in children's literature, representing a strong and independent female character.
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The Baby-Sitters Club
Ann M. Martin
In 'The Baby-Sitters Club,' Ann M. Martin introduces readers to Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill, who form a baby-sitting club to earn money and help their community.
The book follows their adventures, friendships, and the challenges they face as young entrepreneurs.
The series is known for its relatable characters, realistic storylines, and positive themes.
#18663
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Famous Five
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton's 'The Famous Five' series revolves around the adventures of four children—Julian, Dick, Anne, and Georgina (who prefers to be called George)—and George's dog, Timmy.
During their school holidays, the children come together and stumble upon various mysteries, exploring secret passages, hidden islands, and encountering smugglers and thieves.
The series is celebrated for its themes of independence, bravery, and the joys of outdoor exploration.
With its engaging plots and relatable characters, 'The Famous Five' has remained a beloved classic in children's literature, fostering a sense of adventure and camaraderie among young readers for generations.
#33528
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger
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Wild swan
Celeste De Blasis
Jung Chang's "Wild Swans" is a powerful memoir recounting three generations of women in China, from the early 20th century to the Cultural Revolution.
It offers a poignant and intimate perspective on the tumultuous changes that shaped modern China.
The narrative spans political upheaval, social transformation, and personal struggles, providing a rich tapestry of Chinese history.
Chang's vivid storytelling and unflinching honesty make this a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of China's past.
The book's impact lies in its ability to humanize history, revealing the profound impact of political events on individual lives.
#8274
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
Room
Emma Donoghue
Room is a novel by Emma Donoghue that tells the story of Jack, a five-year-old boy who has never known a world outside the 11-foot square room where he was born and raised.
The room is his entire universe, shared with his mother, whom he calls 'Ma'.
Unaware of the true nature of their confinement, Jack believes the world outside is fictional, as depicted on TV. His mother, abducted at 19 and held captive for seven years, has created a structured and loving environment for Jack despite the dire circumstances.
When Ma devises an escape plan, Jack's world is turned upside down as they face the challenges of the outside world and the complexities of their new freedom.
The novel explores themes of resilience, motherly love, and the process of adjusting to a new reality.
#29867
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Silent Companions
Laura Purcell
Newly widowed Elsie Bainbridge moves into her late husband's dilapidated home, The Bridge, where she discovers creepy life-sized wooden figures called silent companions that seem to move and watch her.
Accompanied by her husband's cousin Sarah, Elsie uncovers a dark family history through an old diary from 1635, amid suspicions from hostile servants and villagers.
The narrative weaves between Elsie's terrifying experiences, her time in an asylum as a scarred, mute patient recounting her story to a doctor, and ancestral horrors, building to a haunting climax of supernatural dread and inevitable tragedy.
#15435
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Death of Us
Abigail Dean
Literary agent Juliet Mushens on what makes her offer representation, how she builds bestselling careers from debut to long-term success, and why writers need a life outside of publishing.
We discuss
- Why tension is the single most important quality an agent looks for in any genre of fiction.
- How personalized feedback from an agent signals you’re closer than you think.
- The editorial conversation that happens when an agent offers representation.
- What to consider when choosing between multiple agent offers, and why gut matters more than questionnaires.
- How some of today’s biggest bestsellers had their first and second books rejected — and what changed.
- Why writing for the market rarely produces the best books, and how to hold the tension between passion and positioning.
- The publishing myths that refuse to die, from social media requirements to green book covers.
- How agents negotiate contracts and why an escape clause matters.
- The concept of inconvenience over convenience and what it means for writers in the age of AI.
- Why building a sense of esteem outside writing is essential to surviving the highs and lows of publishing.
Resources & Links
- 📄Interview Transcript
- Mushens Entertainment Submissions
- Mushens Entertainment Blog
- Get Started in Writing Young Adult Fiction by Juliet Mushens
- Juliet Instagram
- Mushens Entertainment Instagram
About Juliet Mushens
Juliet Mushens has been an agent for over a decade. More than a dozen of her clients are Sunday Times bestsellers, with half a dozen claiming the number one slot in the last two years alone. Her clients include million-copy no. 1 bestseller Jessie Burton, multi-million copy NY Times bestseller Taran Matharu, and record-breaking multi-million copy no. 1 bestseller Richard Osman. The Times ran a piece recognising her as the first agent to represent the number 1, 2, and 3 UK bestsellers in the same week: ‘Star literary agent first to top the charts three times’, a feat she repeated in 2022. Juliet sits on the advisory board of Book Brunch, is currently President of the British Fantasy Society, and sits on the board of the Women’s Prize Trust. You can find her on Twitter as @mushenska.
For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.
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