Alyssa Matesic
@alyssamatesic.bsky.social
your book editor friend 💪📚
formerly at Penguin Random House and The Book Group
🎥 weekly tips on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic
💌 insider publishing tips: https://www.chapter-break.com
✏️work with me: https://www.alyssamatesic.com
formerly at Penguin Random House and The Book Group
🎥 weekly tips on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic
💌 insider publishing tips: https://www.chapter-break.com
✏️work with me: https://www.alyssamatesic.com
Here are the 10 things I wish every first-time author knew (from my 10+ years of book editing):
January 28, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Here are the 10 things I wish every first-time author knew (from my 10+ years of book editing):
Does your protagonist have to be likable? Not necessarily.
But they do need to be compelling.
Here are the 6 most common character issues I discuss with my editing clients — along with my favorite tricks to make your protagonist unforgettable.
(Psst: Number 4 is the one I almost ALWAYS bring up.)
But they do need to be compelling.
Here are the 6 most common character issues I discuss with my editing clients — along with my favorite tricks to make your protagonist unforgettable.
(Psst: Number 4 is the one I almost ALWAYS bring up.)
January 27, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Does your protagonist have to be likable? Not necessarily.
But they do need to be compelling.
Here are the 6 most common character issues I discuss with my editing clients — along with my favorite tricks to make your protagonist unforgettable.
(Psst: Number 4 is the one I almost ALWAYS bring up.)
But they do need to be compelling.
Here are the 6 most common character issues I discuss with my editing clients — along with my favorite tricks to make your protagonist unforgettable.
(Psst: Number 4 is the one I almost ALWAYS bring up.)
More than half of Americans think they have a good idea for a novel.
But only 15% have started writing. And only 8% have finished.
It's no wonder the success rate is so low; it's incredibly difficult.
If you're deep in a rut, watch my latest writing pep talk!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDX...
But only 15% have started writing. And only 8% have finished.
It's no wonder the success rate is so low; it's incredibly difficult.
If you're deep in a rut, watch my latest writing pep talk!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDX...
In 8 Mins, I'll Give You the Writing Motivation You Didn't Know You Needed
Most people say they want to write a book in their lifetime, but very few actually follow through. I get why: it's hard to sustain your motivation through su...
www.youtube.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:16 PM
More than half of Americans think they have a good idea for a novel.
But only 15% have started writing. And only 8% have finished.
It's no wonder the success rate is so low; it's incredibly difficult.
If you're deep in a rut, watch my latest writing pep talk!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDX...
But only 15% have started writing. And only 8% have finished.
It's no wonder the success rate is so low; it's incredibly difficult.
If you're deep in a rut, watch my latest writing pep talk!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDX...
For most authors, the end goal is getting published—but the journey can take years.
Don't forget about all the smaller (but important!) milestones in between.
As author Catherine Dang told me, "Publishing is a long journey. Even when you reach one milestone, there’s always another one behind it."
Don't forget about all the smaller (but important!) milestones in between.
As author Catherine Dang told me, "Publishing is a long journey. Even when you reach one milestone, there’s always another one behind it."
January 23, 2026 at 5:02 PM
For most authors, the end goal is getting published—but the journey can take years.
Don't forget about all the smaller (but important!) milestones in between.
As author Catherine Dang told me, "Publishing is a long journey. Even when you reach one milestone, there’s always another one behind it."
Don't forget about all the smaller (but important!) milestones in between.
As author Catherine Dang told me, "Publishing is a long journey. Even when you reach one milestone, there’s always another one behind it."
As an editor, I read dozens of novels a year. Many fall into the same plot pitfalls—slow starts, messy middles, rushed endings.
Here are the 7 most common plot issues I see in early drafts, and solutions to fix each one!
Here are the 7 most common plot issues I see in early drafts, and solutions to fix each one!
January 22, 2026 at 5:03 PM
As an editor, I read dozens of novels a year. Many fall into the same plot pitfalls—slow starts, messy middles, rushed endings.
Here are the 7 most common plot issues I see in early drafts, and solutions to fix each one!
Here are the 7 most common plot issues I see in early drafts, and solutions to fix each one!
Why did you start writing?
Was it because...
👉 You have this story in your head that needs to be told
👉 Writing feels like an escape from the mundaneness of everyday
👉 It's a way for you to express your own life experiences
👉 You want to leave a legacy
👉 The book you want to read doesn't exist yet
Was it because...
👉 You have this story in your head that needs to be told
👉 Writing feels like an escape from the mundaneness of everyday
👉 It's a way for you to express your own life experiences
👉 You want to leave a legacy
👉 The book you want to read doesn't exist yet
January 21, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Why did you start writing?
Was it because...
👉 You have this story in your head that needs to be told
👉 Writing feels like an escape from the mundaneness of everyday
👉 It's a way for you to express your own life experiences
👉 You want to leave a legacy
👉 The book you want to read doesn't exist yet
Was it because...
👉 You have this story in your head that needs to be told
👉 Writing feels like an escape from the mundaneness of everyday
👉 It's a way for you to express your own life experiences
👉 You want to leave a legacy
👉 The book you want to read doesn't exist yet
I've had several editing clients come to me recently with 150,000+-word novels that they want to shorten to meet industry standards.
But they have no idea what to cut. And they're terrified of making the wrong choice and hurting their story.
Here are some of my top tips for trimming your novel.
But they have no idea what to cut. And they're terrified of making the wrong choice and hurting their story.
Here are some of my top tips for trimming your novel.
January 20, 2026 at 9:29 PM
I've had several editing clients come to me recently with 150,000+-word novels that they want to shorten to meet industry standards.
But they have no idea what to cut. And they're terrified of making the wrong choice and hurting their story.
Here are some of my top tips for trimming your novel.
But they have no idea what to cut. And they're terrified of making the wrong choice and hurting their story.
Here are some of my top tips for trimming your novel.
Draft as fast as you can. Then revise as fast as you can. Right?
Sometimes, taking a step back and slowing things down can work wonders, especially in your writing!
From author Allegra Goodman: "I’ve found that slowing down is necessary in order to solve problems and do serious thinking."
Sometimes, taking a step back and slowing things down can work wonders, especially in your writing!
From author Allegra Goodman: "I’ve found that slowing down is necessary in order to solve problems and do serious thinking."
January 16, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Draft as fast as you can. Then revise as fast as you can. Right?
Sometimes, taking a step back and slowing things down can work wonders, especially in your writing!
From author Allegra Goodman: "I’ve found that slowing down is necessary in order to solve problems and do serious thinking."
Sometimes, taking a step back and slowing things down can work wonders, especially in your writing!
From author Allegra Goodman: "I’ve found that slowing down is necessary in order to solve problems and do serious thinking."
Would you read this?
"A young woman kills an animal and is taken to a magical land." 😴
Now what about:
"After killing a wolf, a young huntress is dragged into a dangerous fae realm as punishment — only to find herself falling for the masked faerie lord who holds her captive." 😲
"A young woman kills an animal and is taken to a magical land." 😴
Now what about:
"After killing a wolf, a young huntress is dragged into a dangerous fae realm as punishment — only to find herself falling for the masked faerie lord who holds her captive." 😲
January 15, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Would you read this?
"A young woman kills an animal and is taken to a magical land." 😴
Now what about:
"After killing a wolf, a young huntress is dragged into a dangerous fae realm as punishment — only to find herself falling for the masked faerie lord who holds her captive." 😲
"A young woman kills an animal and is taken to a magical land." 😴
Now what about:
"After killing a wolf, a young huntress is dragged into a dangerous fae realm as punishment — only to find herself falling for the masked faerie lord who holds her captive." 😲
Somehow, we're already halfway through January. So let's be honest:
Have you been keeping up with the writing goals you set for this year?
Having edited countless novels and co-authoring a book last year, I can vouch for two ways to keep your writing momentum going (even when it gets tough):
Have you been keeping up with the writing goals you set for this year?
Having edited countless novels and co-authoring a book last year, I can vouch for two ways to keep your writing momentum going (even when it gets tough):
January 15, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Somehow, we're already halfway through January. So let's be honest:
Have you been keeping up with the writing goals you set for this year?
Having edited countless novels and co-authoring a book last year, I can vouch for two ways to keep your writing momentum going (even when it gets tough):
Have you been keeping up with the writing goals you set for this year?
Having edited countless novels and co-authoring a book last year, I can vouch for two ways to keep your writing momentum going (even when it gets tough):
Fact 1: Writing a book will be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
Fact 2: It'll test your patience, your confidence, your sanity.
Fact 3: It’ll also be one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
Fact 2: It'll test your patience, your confidence, your sanity.
Fact 3: It’ll also be one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
January 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Fact 1: Writing a book will be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
Fact 2: It'll test your patience, your confidence, your sanity.
Fact 3: It’ll also be one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
Fact 2: It'll test your patience, your confidence, your sanity.
Fact 3: It’ll also be one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
The first pages of your novel have a simple but incredibly important job:
Give the reader NO CHOICE but to keep reading.
But is your opening hitting the mark?
Here are the four key elements every strong opening includes:
Give the reader NO CHOICE but to keep reading.
But is your opening hitting the mark?
Here are the four key elements every strong opening includes:
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
The first pages of your novel have a simple but incredibly important job:
Give the reader NO CHOICE but to keep reading.
But is your opening hitting the mark?
Here are the four key elements every strong opening includes:
Give the reader NO CHOICE but to keep reading.
But is your opening hitting the mark?
Here are the four key elements every strong opening includes:
You shouldn't obsess over word count at the drafting stage, but it matters once you decide to publish—especially if you decide to query literary agents.
The length affects the pacing and the publishing costs, so if you're WAY off the standard, you may want to revise.
Here's a general length guide:
The length affects the pacing and the publishing costs, so if you're WAY off the standard, you may want to revise.
Here's a general length guide:
January 7, 2026 at 6:10 PM
You shouldn't obsess over word count at the drafting stage, but it matters once you decide to publish—especially if you decide to query literary agents.
The length affects the pacing and the publishing costs, so if you're WAY off the standard, you may want to revise.
Here's a general length guide:
The length affects the pacing and the publishing costs, so if you're WAY off the standard, you may want to revise.
Here's a general length guide:
Want 2026 to be the year you FINALLY finish that book?
Rest assured you don't need to:
-write every day
-outline every chapter
-come up with your magnum opus
But you DO need to be realistic and spend your time wisely.
Here's my no-BS strategy to reach the finish line. 🏁
youtu.be/lwuyeavPEWk
Rest assured you don't need to:
-write every day
-outline every chapter
-come up with your magnum opus
But you DO need to be realistic and spend your time wisely.
Here's my no-BS strategy to reach the finish line. 🏁
youtu.be/lwuyeavPEWk
How I’d Write a Book in 2026
I've worked with hundreds of authors and finished my first book last year. If you’re planning to write your book in 2026, here’s my strategy that'll help you...
www.youtube.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Want 2026 to be the year you FINALLY finish that book?
Rest assured you don't need to:
-write every day
-outline every chapter
-come up with your magnum opus
But you DO need to be realistic and spend your time wisely.
Here's my no-BS strategy to reach the finish line. 🏁
youtu.be/lwuyeavPEWk
Rest assured you don't need to:
-write every day
-outline every chapter
-come up with your magnum opus
But you DO need to be realistic and spend your time wisely.
Here's my no-BS strategy to reach the finish line. 🏁
youtu.be/lwuyeavPEWk
Now that the new year has arrived, you're probably setting your writing goals for 2026.
Whether you plan to finish your draft, complete a revision, query agents, or publish your book, I want you to remember something important:
The process never ends.
Whether you plan to finish your draft, complete a revision, query agents, or publish your book, I want you to remember something important:
The process never ends.
January 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Now that the new year has arrived, you're probably setting your writing goals for 2026.
Whether you plan to finish your draft, complete a revision, query agents, or publish your book, I want you to remember something important:
The process never ends.
Whether you plan to finish your draft, complete a revision, query agents, or publish your book, I want you to remember something important:
The process never ends.
Your characters, your world, and your story can only come to life because of YOUR unique experiences and background that you bring to the page.
January 1, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Your characters, your world, and your story can only come to life because of YOUR unique experiences and background that you bring to the page.
I've been editing books for a decade and finally compiled a master list of the 7 biggest mistakes I see new writers make in their drafts.
Spoiler alert: they have nothing to do with clichés, adverbs, or "telling" over "showing."
Are you struggling with any of these?
Spoiler alert: they have nothing to do with clichés, adverbs, or "telling" over "showing."
Are you struggling with any of these?
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I've been editing books for a decade and finally compiled a master list of the 7 biggest mistakes I see new writers make in their drafts.
Spoiler alert: they have nothing to do with clichés, adverbs, or "telling" over "showing."
Are you struggling with any of these?
Spoiler alert: they have nothing to do with clichés, adverbs, or "telling" over "showing."
Are you struggling with any of these?
I've edited hundreds of novels, and there's one thing that ruins an otherwise incredible story:
Bad dialogue 🗣️
Here are the 7 biggest dialogue mistakes I see and how to revise them so your characters sound real.
Bad dialogue 🗣️
Here are the 7 biggest dialogue mistakes I see and how to revise them so your characters sound real.
December 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I've edited hundreds of novels, and there's one thing that ruins an otherwise incredible story:
Bad dialogue 🗣️
Here are the 7 biggest dialogue mistakes I see and how to revise them so your characters sound real.
Bad dialogue 🗣️
Here are the 7 biggest dialogue mistakes I see and how to revise them so your characters sound real.
It's almost 2026—so what genres are agents looking for in the new year?
I used QueryTracker data to analyze the top genre trends. Let's discover:
-the indisputable top genre right now
-5 oversaturated genres
-genres with the most agent requests
youtu.be/D5qrmB32C-Q
I used QueryTracker data to analyze the top genre trends. Let's discover:
-the indisputable top genre right now
-5 oversaturated genres
-genres with the most agent requests
youtu.be/D5qrmB32C-Q
The Worst Genres to Write in 2026 (Based on Publishing Industry Data)
What genre trends can we expect for 2026? Is romantasy still dominating the book market, or are new genres on the rise? Let's discuss how the publishing land...
www.youtube.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It's almost 2026—so what genres are agents looking for in the new year?
I used QueryTracker data to analyze the top genre trends. Let's discover:
-the indisputable top genre right now
-5 oversaturated genres
-genres with the most agent requests
youtu.be/D5qrmB32C-Q
I used QueryTracker data to analyze the top genre trends. Let's discover:
-the indisputable top genre right now
-5 oversaturated genres
-genres with the most agent requests
youtu.be/D5qrmB32C-Q
If you've ever thought:
"I'm not good enough to be a writer."
"No one will ever care about my stories."
"I'm wasting my time."
Look at the facts: all the pages you've written, the readers who've loved your story, the incredible progress that you've made.
"I'm not good enough to be a writer."
"No one will ever care about my stories."
"I'm wasting my time."
Look at the facts: all the pages you've written, the readers who've loved your story, the incredible progress that you've made.
December 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
If you've ever thought:
"I'm not good enough to be a writer."
"No one will ever care about my stories."
"I'm wasting my time."
Look at the facts: all the pages you've written, the readers who've loved your story, the incredible progress that you've made.
"I'm not good enough to be a writer."
"No one will ever care about my stories."
"I'm wasting my time."
Look at the facts: all the pages you've written, the readers who've loved your story, the incredible progress that you've made.
It's been an incredible year, and I couldn't be more grateful for the incredible community of authors that we've built.
Here's to more writing in 2026! 🥂
Love, Alyssa & Luka 🐾
Here's to more writing in 2026! 🥂
Love, Alyssa & Luka 🐾
December 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
It's been an incredible year, and I couldn't be more grateful for the incredible community of authors that we've built.
Here's to more writing in 2026! 🥂
Love, Alyssa & Luka 🐾
Here's to more writing in 2026! 🥂
Love, Alyssa & Luka 🐾
Planning to write a book in 2026? Remember that drafting with zero prep is like building a house with no blueprint—you'll likely end up with a shaky structure.
I'm not saying you have to outline every chapter, but locking in these 5 core elements before you draft will save you major overhauls.
I'm not saying you have to outline every chapter, but locking in these 5 core elements before you draft will save you major overhauls.
December 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Planning to write a book in 2026? Remember that drafting with zero prep is like building a house with no blueprint—you'll likely end up with a shaky structure.
I'm not saying you have to outline every chapter, but locking in these 5 core elements before you draft will save you major overhauls.
I'm not saying you have to outline every chapter, but locking in these 5 core elements before you draft will save you major overhauls.
When I was fresh out of college about to start my first publishing job at Penguin Random House, I was in awe of the writers I met.
Not just the chart-topping bestsellers. Also the debuts!
Here are the top 5 (hard) lessons they taught me about what it REALLY takes to write a novel. 👇
Not just the chart-topping bestsellers. Also the debuts!
Here are the top 5 (hard) lessons they taught me about what it REALLY takes to write a novel. 👇
December 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
When I was fresh out of college about to start my first publishing job at Penguin Random House, I was in awe of the writers I met.
Not just the chart-topping bestsellers. Also the debuts!
Here are the top 5 (hard) lessons they taught me about what it REALLY takes to write a novel. 👇
Not just the chart-topping bestsellers. Also the debuts!
Here are the top 5 (hard) lessons they taught me about what it REALLY takes to write a novel. 👇
If there's anything that'll make me DNF a book fast...it's bad dialogue.
Are you making any of these common mistakes?
❌ talking heads
❌ name dropping
❌ "As you know, Bob"
❌ melodrama
❌ too many tags
❌ filler
❌ messy formatting
Are you making any of these common mistakes?
❌ talking heads
❌ name dropping
❌ "As you know, Bob"
❌ melodrama
❌ too many tags
❌ filler
❌ messy formatting
December 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
If there's anything that'll make me DNF a book fast...it's bad dialogue.
Are you making any of these common mistakes?
❌ talking heads
❌ name dropping
❌ "As you know, Bob"
❌ melodrama
❌ too many tags
❌ filler
❌ messy formatting
Are you making any of these common mistakes?
❌ talking heads
❌ name dropping
❌ "As you know, Bob"
❌ melodrama
❌ too many tags
❌ filler
❌ messy formatting
Let's talk about a little-discussed but common part of the publishing process: the post-publication blues.
December 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Let's talk about a little-discussed but common part of the publishing process: the post-publication blues.