@devonhalliday.bsky.social
writer, musician, & editor. warren wilson mfa grad. debut novel coming out 2026 from mcsweeney's.
https://devonhalliday.com/
https://devonhalliday.com/
New post about the #publishing process, & how you can help your agent by anticipating what they're going to need from you before they need it.
For anyone #amquerying or in the #querytrenches, plus anyone actively on submission!
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
For anyone #amquerying or in the #querytrenches, plus anyone actively on submission!
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
July 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
New post about the #publishing process, & how you can help your agent by anticipating what they're going to need from you before they need it.
For anyone #amquerying or in the #querytrenches, plus anyone actively on submission!
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
For anyone #amquerying or in the #querytrenches, plus anyone actively on submission!
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
I'm starting a Substack to talk about the publishing industry, the writing life, craft, rejection, revision, submission, etc. First newsletter goes out Wednesday!
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
Coming Soon
Irons in the Fire, Spaghetti on the Wall
open.substack.com
July 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I'm starting a Substack to talk about the publishing industry, the writing life, craft, rejection, revision, submission, etc. First newsletter goes out Wednesday!
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
open.substack.com/pub/devonhal...
Reposted
23) Addendum #3: The Big Five do publish great books sometimes. But it's incidental to the machine, not a product of the machine.
Independent presses and academic presses are more incentivized to publish quality, because they depend on word of mouth for sales, not large marketing budgets.
Independent presses and academic presses are more incentivized to publish quality, because they depend on word of mouth for sales, not large marketing budgets.
June 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
23) Addendum #3: The Big Five do publish great books sometimes. But it's incidental to the machine, not a product of the machine.
Independent presses and academic presses are more incentivized to publish quality, because they depend on word of mouth for sales, not large marketing budgets.
Independent presses and academic presses are more incentivized to publish quality, because they depend on word of mouth for sales, not large marketing budgets.
Reposted
22) Addendum #2: The more a publishing house pays to acquire a book, the more they will spend on marketing.
This is why that HOT READ that was suddenly everywhere was just okay when you actually read it. They paid a lot for the book so they had to recoup their expense by getting you to buy it.
This is why that HOT READ that was suddenly everywhere was just okay when you actually read it. They paid a lot for the book so they had to recoup their expense by getting you to buy it.
June 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
22) Addendum #2: The more a publishing house pays to acquire a book, the more they will spend on marketing.
This is why that HOT READ that was suddenly everywhere was just okay when you actually read it. They paid a lot for the book so they had to recoup their expense by getting you to buy it.
This is why that HOT READ that was suddenly everywhere was just okay when you actually read it. They paid a lot for the book so they had to recoup their expense by getting you to buy it.
Reposted
19) Lastly, about rejection:
Every! Rejection! Is! A Gift!
Every! Rejection! Is! A Gift!
June 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
19) Lastly, about rejection:
Every! Rejection! Is! A Gift!
Every! Rejection! Is! A Gift!
Submitted my magnum opus to TBQ this morning! That feeling of pride but also fear, like what if I've peaked
TBQ is open! Y'all are bringing it so far. We've received around 200 pieces overnight and I've read about 20 of them so far and already marked five as intrigued! Live más. Send us something. We now pay $150. I'm certain it will slow down but try to get your piece in by the next two weeks lol
April 20, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Submitted my magnum opus to TBQ this morning! That feeling of pride but also fear, like what if I've peaked
Crawling up out of the depths... stay tuned...
March 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Crawling up out of the depths... stay tuned...
Now for my next trick, total collapse
February 27, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Now for my next trick, total collapse
Ariane Koch's debut novel Overstaying is full of those little unnerving pinches of realism that you only get in speculative fiction. Review up @barrelhouse.bsky.social!
www.barrelhousemag.com/blog/koch-ov...
www.barrelhousemag.com/blog/koch-ov...
Devon Halliday Reviews Ariane Koch — Barrelhouse
Nothing here has value except her own doubled-down commitment to it—there’s a kind of nobility in deciding to hold onto the nothing that you have.
www.barrelhousemag.com
December 19, 2024 at 9:33 PM
Ariane Koch's debut novel Overstaying is full of those little unnerving pinches of realism that you only get in speculative fiction. Review up @barrelhouse.bsky.social!
www.barrelhousemag.com/blog/koch-ov...
www.barrelhousemag.com/blog/koch-ov...
Reposted
Translators Bruna Dantas Lobato, Mike Fu, and Julia Kornberg reflect on how their translation work shaped their writing https://electricliterature.com/three-literary-translators-discuss-their-paths-to-writing-their-debut-novels/
Three Literary Translators Discuss Their Paths to Writing Their Debut Novels - Electric Literature
Bruna Dantas Lobato, Mike Fu, and Julia Kornberg reflect on how their translation work shaped their writing
buff.ly
December 18, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Translators Bruna Dantas Lobato, Mike Fu, and Julia Kornberg reflect on how their translation work shaped their writing https://electricliterature.com/three-literary-translators-discuss-their-paths-to-writing-their-debut-novels/
PSA for the winter holidays: avoid small towns and handsome men, and DO NOT quit your job. New piece up @mcsweeneys.net
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/qua...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/qua...
Quaint Hometown Christmas Festivals Are Costing Me All My Best Employees
Look, I want to make one thing clear: I’m not a selfish guy. I’m all for my employees discovering themselves and finding true love. The first time ...
www.mcsweeneys.net
December 13, 2024 at 9:51 PM
PSA for the winter holidays: avoid small towns and handsome men, and DO NOT quit your job. New piece up @mcsweeneys.net
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/qua...
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/qua...
Reposted
"Far be it from me to keep them from their dreams. But do all their dreams have to involve marrying some rough-hewn yet soft-hearted guy from their hometowns and taking over management of a financially dubious small business, farm, or townwide festival?"
Quaint Hometown Christmas Festivals Are Costing Me All My Best Employees
Look, I want to make one thing clear: I’m not a selfish guy. I’m all for my employees discovering themselves and finding true love. The first time ...
buff.ly
December 13, 2024 at 7:27 PM
"Far be it from me to keep them from their dreams. But do all their dreams have to involve marrying some rough-hewn yet soft-hearted guy from their hometowns and taking over management of a financially dubious small business, farm, or townwide festival?"
-----yes BUT, reading avalanches of praise for a mediocre book makes me feel like the lit world is gaslighting me. Negative reviews (if fair, & undertaken in good faith) hold writers to a higher standard, which an overwhelmed and overworked publishing industry is not always able to do
December 7, 2024 at 9:52 PM
-----yes BUT, reading avalanches of praise for a mediocre book makes me feel like the lit world is gaslighting me. Negative reviews (if fair, & undertaken in good faith) hold writers to a higher standard, which an overwhelmed and overworked publishing industry is not always able to do
"You had 0 breakthroughs" there is a satisfying pain to this graphic, like drawing blood with floss @mcsweeneys.net
December 5, 2024 at 1:05 PM
"You had 0 breakthroughs" there is a satisfying pain to this graphic, like drawing blood with floss @mcsweeneys.net
Stock photo clearly just a screenshot from #Succession
November 29, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Stock photo clearly just a screenshot from #Succession
The writing equivalent to this is declaring your plot holes "intentional" and "subversive"
in competitive chess you can legally win a match by declaring “checkmate” at any time, regardless of where the pieces are on the board. it’s considered rather tasteless and won’t win you many friends, but it’s there whenever you really need to get out of a jam
November 27, 2024 at 4:54 PM
The writing equivalent to this is declaring your plot holes "intentional" and "subversive"
Writing is a lot easier if you don't believe in a continuous self. I get to make the messes and Future Me gets to clean them up, whoever she is, poor bastard
Vomit it up! There are editors to clean this shit up somewhere!*
*It's probably just you in a few days
*It's probably just you in a few days
November 26, 2024 at 6:40 PM
Writing is a lot easier if you don't believe in a continuous self. I get to make the messes and Future Me gets to clean them up, whoever she is, poor bastard
I'm thinking of scheduling a weekly "Avoidance Day", where I knock out all the emails and texts and calls and tasks I've been avoiding. Traditions of this holiday will include deep breaths and snack-based rewards
#avoidanceday #selfcare #selfcarebutnotthefunkind
#avoidanceday #selfcare #selfcarebutnotthefunkind
November 18, 2024 at 2:50 PM
I'm thinking of scheduling a weekly "Avoidance Day", where I knock out all the emails and texts and calls and tasks I've been avoiding. Traditions of this holiday will include deep breaths and snack-based rewards
#avoidanceday #selfcare #selfcarebutnotthefunkind
#avoidanceday #selfcare #selfcarebutnotthefunkind
Reposted
Okay, I'm working on a Starter Pack (and accompanying Feed) of lit mags and presses. Who's here? Who can I add?
go.bsky.app/QktiLWR
go.bsky.app/QktiLWR
November 13, 2024 at 12:29 AM
Okay, I'm working on a Starter Pack (and accompanying Feed) of lit mags and presses. Who's here? Who can I add?
go.bsky.app/QktiLWR
go.bsky.app/QktiLWR
Hello to the book people! I'm a writer and freelance editor, & I'll be on here posting about books & stories I like, publications I'm proud of, literary journals open for subs, & maybe some scattered thoughts/advice/hot takes on the publishing process. Scroll in peace ✌️
November 16, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Hello to the book people! I'm a writer and freelance editor, & I'll be on here posting about books & stories I like, publications I'm proud of, literary journals open for subs, & maybe some scattered thoughts/advice/hot takes on the publishing process. Scroll in peace ✌️
Reposted
Because tedious tasks are my therapy right now: are you a short fiction writer (flash or short stories only, please) publishing in litmags or aspiring to? I'd like to make a starter pack of short story and flash people! Comment here and please share for visibility #writingcommunity
November 14, 2024 at 7:36 PM
Because tedious tasks are my therapy right now: are you a short fiction writer (flash or short stories only, please) publishing in litmags or aspiring to? I'd like to make a starter pack of short story and flash people! Comment here and please share for visibility #writingcommunity