YA Author Cameron Lund shares her best laid plans for getting published

Cameron’s debut novel is “too good to ignore.” — bustle.com

When it came time to submit her manuscript, Cameron Lund moved with clear intent and laser-sharp focus. How do I know? I watched her. Cameron has been a member of my writers' group (we call ourselves the Uninventables) for five years.

She didn't ask for help. She just set her sights on getting published, put her butt in a chair, created the mother of all spreadsheets, and got it done: an agent, a two-book deal with Penguin Random House, six translations, rumors of ... you know ... the silver screen.

It was an amazing thing to witness (as was the actual writing of the book; so fun from page one that we still miss workshopping it), and Cameron has been incredibly generous with all the knowledge she has accumulated. Instead of swanning off to do the rising star thing—Best Laid Plans was lauded by Barnes & Noble as one of the most anticipated books for the summer, and by Bustle as a debut book too good to ignore—she shared her process, her research, and her resources with the rest of the group.

I asked her if she would be willing to share with my larger group of writers: you.
Another yes! So, next week we will be zooming on TUESDAY May 26th, from 5pm-6pm formally on camera (recorded for posterity), and then from 6pm-7pm with a glass of wine and the camera off (the fun goss).

What Cameron has to say is such gold, I encourage you to join us for some good laughs and nuts-and-bolts insight into winning maybe the toughest part of the game. First-come, first-served; you know the drill.

Here’s the link to the recording!

For those of you who missed Michael David Lukas talking about just how one begins a novel, here's the recording of our chat and Q&A.

One last announcement! If you are writing a children’s book — picture book, MG, or YA — dealing with struggles against the challenges and hardships that life can mete out, here’s a call for submissions for a two-week, all expenses paid residency at the Writers’ Colony at Diary Hollow that will allow the recipient to focus entirely on their work. Deadline is midnight on Monday, July 6, 2020!

In the meantime, happy writing everyone!

Shirin