Kate McKean’s Write Through It arrives at a time when writing guides flood the market with promises of overnight success and formulaic approaches to publication. What sets McKean’s work apart isn’t just her dual perspective as both literary agent and writer, but her unflinching honesty about the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies every step of the writing journey. This isn’t another book promising to decode the “secret” to literary success—it’s something far more valuable: a compassionate roadmap through the psychological terrain of writing and publishing.
McKean, who represents writers at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency and writes the popular Agents & Books newsletter, brings seventeen years of industry experience to bear on a fundamental truth: writers aren’t robots at keyboards, but feeling humans who have “unfortunately chosen to write.” Her book operates on the premise that the practical and emotional aspects of writing are inextricably linked, a perspective that feels both revolutionary and overdue in a field obsessed with mechanics over mentality.
A Fresh Approach to an Old Problem
The book’s greatest strength lies in its recognition that most writing guides focus exclusively on craft or business while ignoring the messy emotional reality of the creative process. McKean bridges this gap with remarkable skill, weaving together practical advice about query letters, manuscript formatting, and the submission process with honest discussions about self-doubt, rejection, and the peculiar vulnerability that comes with putting your work into the world.
Her writing voice mirrors the tone of her successful newsletter—direct, witty, and refreshingly free of the condescension that plagues many writing guides. When she admits that even as an agent, writing her own query letter made her “susceptible to the same pitfalls as anyone else,” readers feel the relief of recognition rather than the sting of inadequacy.
The book’s structure follows the chronological journey from first draft to publication and beyond, but McKean smartly acknowledges that writing rarely follows a linear path. Her chapter on “What If It All Goes Wrong?” doesn’t read like an afterthought but as an essential part of the process—because failure, she argues convincingly, is not just possible but normal.
Strengths That Set It Apart
McKean’s insider knowledge provides invaluable transparency about an industry notorious for its opacity. Her explanations of how agents actually work, what editors look for, and how book deals function feel like pulling back the curtain on literary Oz. The inclusion of her own query letter—imperfect and human—serves as both practical example and vulnerability badge, showing rather than just telling writers that authenticity trumps perfection.
The book excels in its treatment of platform building and self-promotion, topics that often leave writers feeling like hucksters. McKean’s advice feels grounded in reality rather than fantasy, acknowledging that building an audience is work, not magic, while providing concrete strategies that don’t require writers to become marketing mavens overnight.
Perhaps most importantly, the book validates feelings that writers often keep private. The admission that it’s normal to hate your book a quarter of the way through, that waiting for responses feels eternal, and that professional disappointment is part of the territory gives readers permission to feel human in a process that often demands superhuman resilience.
Areas for Improvement
While McKean’s dual perspective as agent and writer provides unique insights, it sometimes creates blind spots. Her advice occasionally skews toward traditional publishing paths, which may leave indie authors feeling less supported. Though she acknowledges self-publishing exists, her treatment feels perfunctory compared to her deep dive into traditional routes.
The book also suffers slightly from trying to be all things to all writers. While McKean addresses both fiction and nonfiction authors, some sections feel more tailored to one group than the other. Her expertise with nonfiction proposals shines through, but fiction writers might find some advice feeling less specific to their challenges.
Additionally, while the book promises to cover “every stage” of the writing and publishing process, some crucial contemporary issues receive minimal attention. The changing landscape of social media, the impact of BookTok and Instagram on publishing, and the evolving role of sensitivity readers and authenticity questions in modern publishing feel underexplored for a book published in 2024.
The Emotional Intelligence Factor
What distinguishes Write Through It most clearly from its competitors is its emotional intelligence. McKean understands that writers need both practical knowledge and psychological support, and she delivers both without condescension. Her advice about handling rejection doesn’t just provide coping strategies but validates the grief process that accompanies creative disappointment.
The book’s treatment of impostor syndrome feels particularly nuanced. Rather than offering platitudes about confidence, McKean acknowledges that feeling like a fraud is endemic to the writing life and provides tools for working through those feelings rather than simply dismissing them.
Context and Comparison
Write Through It fits into a growing category of writing guides that prioritize honesty over inspiration. It shares DNA with Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird in its willingness to discuss the darker aspects of the creative process, but McKean’s industry expertise provides practical weight that purely inspirational books lack.
Compared to more tactical guides like The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman or platform-focused books like Platform by Michael Hyatt, McKean’s book feels more holistic. It doesn’t promise to solve every problem but rather to help writers navigate problems more skillfully.
Similar Books Worth Reading
Readers who appreciate McKean’s approach should consider:
- Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses – challenges traditional workshop culture
- Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell – offers systematic approach to revision with emotional awareness
- The Writing Life by Annie Dillard – poetic exploration of writing’s psychological demands
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – focuses on creativity’s emotional landscape
- The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner – editor’s perspective on publishing psychology
Final Verdict
Write Through It succeeds because it treats writers as complete human beings rather than just aspiring professionals. McKean’s combination of industry expertise and emotional wisdom creates a resource that writers will return to not just for information but for reassurance and perspective.
The book doesn’t promise to make publishing easy or guarantee success, which is precisely why it feels trustworthy. Instead, it offers something more valuable: the tools and emotional framework to survive and thrive in a challenging industry while maintaining both sanity and creative integrity.
For writers at any stage of their journey, Write Through It provides what its title promises—a way to write through the doubt, the rejections, the confusion, and yes, even the successes. It’s the kind of book that validates your feelings while giving you practical tools to move forward, which might be exactly what the writing world needs right now.
In an industry that often feels designed to break spirits, McKean has written a book that helps writers stay whole. That alone makes it essential reading for anyone serious about the writing life.
