Abigail Fenton
@abifenton.bsky.social
Literary Agent at The Ampersand Agency
Freelance developmental editor and book coach
🌐 www.abigailfenton.co.uk
✍🏻 https://substack.com/@abigailfentoneditorial
Freelance developmental editor and book coach
🌐 www.abigailfenton.co.uk
✍🏻 https://substack.com/@abigailfentoneditorial
Pinned
Abigail Fenton
@abifenton.bsky.social
· Sep 4
Hi! 👋🏻 I’m a literary agent at The Ampersand Agency actively building my list 📚 Here is my manuscript wishlist 👀 #mswl
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
What agents and editors mean when they say a book 'doesn't fit the market' – and how to make sure your book does:
What We Mean When We Talk About ‘Fitting the Market’
And how to do it
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:37 PM
What agents and editors mean when they say a book 'doesn't fit the market' – and how to make sure your book does:
My latest post – on plotting for pantsers (not for panthers, as my autocorrect kept insisting): abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/plotting-f...
Plotting for Pantsers
How to plan a novel without tying yourself down
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:17 PM
My latest post – on plotting for pantsers (not for panthers, as my autocorrect kept insisting): abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/plotting-f...
If you're in the query trenches, here is the secret to a query letter that makes me desperate to read your pages – and what the letters of the authors I've signed so far had in common.
Query Letters that Make Me Sit Up and Take Notice
And those that don’t
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:26 PM
If you're in the query trenches, here is the secret to a query letter that makes me desperate to read your pages – and what the letters of the authors I've signed so far had in common.
If your new year's resolution is to write a novel, I have a Substack series for you! Step by step I'll walk you through – whether you're yet to start or partway through and stuck, if you want to finish a novel this year then come and join us! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/write-your...
Write Your Novel in 2026 Part One: What Story Are You Telling?
If you want to write a novel this year, let’s get it done!
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:11 PM
If your new year's resolution is to write a novel, I have a Substack series for you! Step by step I'll walk you through – whether you're yet to start or partway through and stuck, if you want to finish a novel this year then come and join us! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/write-your...
Ready to write a novel? This week on Substack I wrote about making the time for your writing. If 2026 is the year you want to write a novel, come and subscribe to get advice and help month by month to get you from your opening lines to writing ‘The End’!
What to Do When You Don’t Have Time to Write
And planning to write your novel in 2026!
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Ready to write a novel? This week on Substack I wrote about making the time for your writing. If 2026 is the year you want to write a novel, come and subscribe to get advice and help month by month to get you from your opening lines to writing ‘The End’!
Coming to the end of your draft and need to craft a satisfying ending? My latest Substack will help! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
What to Do When You Don’t Know How to End Things
And a competition for paid subscribers
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Coming to the end of your draft and need to craft a satisfying ending? My latest Substack will help! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
Exactly what it says on the tin: why literary agents turn things down but can't give feedback (about which I will forever feel guilty) abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/why-i-turn...
Why I Turn Down Submissions
And why I don’t give feedback, by a literary agent
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Exactly what it says on the tin: why literary agents turn things down but can't give feedback (about which I will forever feel guilty) abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/why-i-turn...
This week on Substack I wrote about what to do when you get stuck. If you're staring at a blinking cursor and don't know what your characters should do next, these tips will help!
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Write Next
On writer’s block, getting stuck, and finding a way forward
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:24 AM
This week on Substack I wrote about what to do when you get stuck. If you're staring at a blinking cursor and don't know what your characters should do next, these tips will help!
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
A new Substack series (of sorts!): What to Do When... This week it's What to Do When You Don't Know Where to Start, and are faced with an overwhelming blank page.
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
What to Do When You Don’t Know Where to Start
And getting past the dreaded blank page!
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A new Substack series (of sorts!): What to Do When... This week it's What to Do When You Don't Know Where to Start, and are faced with an overwhelming blank page.
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
Multiple timelines can add layers of narrative complexity and depth to your novel – here's how to handle them without getting in a tangle abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
How to Make a Dual-Timeline Novel Work
Adding layers, not confusion
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Multiple timelines can add layers of narrative complexity and depth to your novel – here's how to handle them without getting in a tangle abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
New Substack post! If your plots twists aren't hitting hard enough yet, here are some tips on making sure they have emotional heft behind them: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/great-plot...
Great Plot, No Emotion
Why plot twists fall flat
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:53 AM
New Substack post! If your plots twists aren't hitting hard enough yet, here are some tips on making sure they have emotional heft behind them: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/great-plot...
Want to know the difference between the manuscripts of unpublished novelists and published ones (which might help you finish your novel)? This week's Substack breaks it all down: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
Here’s the Secret to Finishing Your Novel
Spoiler alert: there is no silver bullet
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Want to know the difference between the manuscripts of unpublished novelists and published ones (which might help you finish your novel)? This week's Substack breaks it all down: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
Thinking about self-publishing? This week on Substack I dig into the things to consider before taking the leap: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-self-pu...
On Self-Publishing
When, Why and How to Do It
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Thinking about self-publishing? This week on Substack I dig into the things to consider before taking the leap: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-self-pu...
The million-dollar question: how do I get my book noticed? This week on Substack I wrote about getting attention for your book from agents, publishers and readers. abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-get...
October 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The million-dollar question: how do I get my book noticed? This week on Substack I wrote about getting attention for your book from agents, publishers and readers. abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-get...
Ready to start querying your novel? This week on Substack I run down everything you need to know to create the perfect submissions package: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-wri...
How to Write a Query Package
That will make agents sit up and take notice
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Ready to start querying your novel? This week on Substack I run down everything you need to know to create the perfect submissions package: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-wri...
This week on Substack: how to balance action, dialogue and narrative summary for maximum impact! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/narrative-...
Narrative Summary, Dialogue and Action
The building blocks of a book
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
This week on Substack: how to balance action, dialogue and narrative summary for maximum impact! abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/narrative-...
My latest Substack: how to plan your novel's structure, whether you're a plotter or a pantster (wall of Post-its optional): abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-str...
How to Plan a Novel
Even if You're a Pantser
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
My latest Substack: how to plan your novel's structure, whether you're a plotter or a pantster (wall of Post-its optional): abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/how-to-str...
Hi! 👋🏻 I’m a literary agent at The Ampersand Agency actively building my list 📚 Here is my manuscript wishlist 👀 #mswl
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
September 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Hi! 👋🏻 I’m a literary agent at The Ampersand Agency actively building my list 📚 Here is my manuscript wishlist 👀 #mswl
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
Send three chapters/50pp to abigail@theampersandagency.co.uk, along with a synopsis and a brief bio.
This week's Substack is on word count – what to aim for, how to know you're done, and what to do if you're vastly over or under the ideal...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-word-co...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-word-co...
Are You Done Yet?
On word count and knowing when your book is finished
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
This week's Substack is on word count – what to aim for, how to know you're done, and what to do if you're vastly over or under the ideal...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-word-co...
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/on-word-co...
Struggling to come up with an idea for a novel? This post will help! open.substack.com/pub/abigailf...
Finding an Idea for Your Novel that Actually Works
Finding the right idea – and the right way in
open.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Struggling to come up with an idea for a novel? This post will help! open.substack.com/pub/abigailf...
Making sure your plot is as strong as possible is key to crafting an impactful and compelling novel. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you test your plot and ensure it's watertight: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-wh...
This is What’s Wrong With Your Novel
Or how to test your plot (plus a special discount on annual subscriptions!)
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Making sure your plot is as strong as possible is key to crafting an impactful and compelling novel. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you test your plot and ensure it's watertight: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-wh...
Is your novel lacking impact? You might have the wrong POV. Here's how the choice of POV – who tells the story and how – can make or break your book: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-wh...
This is Why Your Novel Feels Flat
How to choose the right POV and narrative perspective for your book
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Is your novel lacking impact? You might have the wrong POV. Here's how the choice of POV – who tells the story and how – can make or break your book: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/this-is-wh...
Make sure your first sentence, paragraph and page are working as hard as possible for you – my post on hooking readers in immediately is up on Substack: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/i-would-st...
I Would Stop Reading Your Book on Page One
But here’s how to make me read on
abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Make sure your first sentence, paragraph and page are working as hard as possible for you – my post on hooking readers in immediately is up on Substack: abigailfentoneditorial.substack.com/p/i-would-st...
This week's Substack post: What editors mean when they say "raise the stakes!" – and how to raise them: open.substack.com/pub/abigailf...
Readers Don’t Care About Your Story – and Here’s Why
Plus, some news from me!
open.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This week's Substack post: What editors mean when they say "raise the stakes!" – and how to raise them: open.substack.com/pub/abigailf...
Reposted by Abigail Fenton
The Ampersand Agency has appointed Katie Blagden and Abigail Fenton as new literary agents to work alongside founder Peter Buckman, Jamie Cowen and Anne-Marie Doulton 👇 #BookSky
Katie Blagden and Abigail Fenton appointed agents at The Ampersand Agency
ebx.sh
July 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The Ampersand Agency has appointed Katie Blagden and Abigail Fenton as new literary agents to work alongside founder Peter Buckman, Jamie Cowen and Anne-Marie Doulton 👇 #BookSky