Author J.A. McCoy
@jamccoyauthor.bsky.social
Debut fantasy author of the Recovery Series, seeking representation. D&D fanatic, husband, father to humans and dogs, and overall hyper-focuser who operates on caffeine and spite.
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
Let's rip the Band-Aid off now...your story will not be everyone's cup of tea.☕
And that's ok!
If you pursue traditional publishing, you'll get rejected by literary agents and publishers. And even once you publish, you'll get bad reviews.
And that's ok!
If you pursue traditional publishing, you'll get rejected by literary agents and publishers. And even once you publish, you'll get bad reviews.
December 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Let's rip the Band-Aid off now...your story will not be everyone's cup of tea.☕
And that's ok!
If you pursue traditional publishing, you'll get rejected by literary agents and publishers. And even once you publish, you'll get bad reviews.
And that's ok!
If you pursue traditional publishing, you'll get rejected by literary agents and publishers. And even once you publish, you'll get bad reviews.
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
What do you NEED to be a writer? 🤨
Let the truth set you free: there are NO specific qualifications you have to meet.
You can be any age. You can come from any background. You can have a college degree—or not.
Becoming a writer requires just one simple thing: writing over and over again.
Let the truth set you free: there are NO specific qualifications you have to meet.
You can be any age. You can come from any background. You can have a college degree—or not.
Becoming a writer requires just one simple thing: writing over and over again.
December 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
What do you NEED to be a writer? 🤨
Let the truth set you free: there are NO specific qualifications you have to meet.
You can be any age. You can come from any background. You can have a college degree—or not.
Becoming a writer requires just one simple thing: writing over and over again.
Let the truth set you free: there are NO specific qualifications you have to meet.
You can be any age. You can come from any background. You can have a college degree—or not.
Becoming a writer requires just one simple thing: writing over and over again.
2007 (left) meets 2025 (right). Todd Lockwood will forever be my favorite artist (and who I am determined to get to do the art for at least ONE of my own novels, in my life), but alas — the editions with his art aren’t sold commercially anymore and I really need to rebuild my whole Drizzt set.
December 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM
2007 (left) meets 2025 (right). Todd Lockwood will forever be my favorite artist (and who I am determined to get to do the art for at least ONE of my own novels, in my life), but alas — the editions with his art aren’t sold commercially anymore and I really need to rebuild my whole Drizzt set.
Even though I did not win, here’s some of the wonderful feedback that keeps me going, in the comments!
#writersoffacebook #debutauthors #contests #WritingCommunity #shortstory #writingcompetition #AmWriting #writingcontest #autumnbattle #writingbattle #writinglife #authorsofinstagram #AuthorsGuild
#writersoffacebook #debutauthors #contests #WritingCommunity #shortstory #writingcompetition #AmWriting #writingcontest #autumnbattle #writingbattle #writinglife #authorsofinstagram #AuthorsGuild
December 7, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Even though I did not win, here’s some of the wonderful feedback that keeps me going, in the comments!
#writersoffacebook #debutauthors #contests #WritingCommunity #shortstory #writingcompetition #AmWriting #writingcontest #autumnbattle #writingbattle #writinglife #authorsofinstagram #AuthorsGuild
#writersoffacebook #debutauthors #contests #WritingCommunity #shortstory #writingcompetition #AmWriting #writingcontest #autumnbattle #writingbattle #writinglife #authorsofinstagram #AuthorsGuild
It’s Debrief time! That means I can finally open the story up to the public! If you’d like to check it out, you can find my Vampirical Romance here: www.writingbattle.com/story/debrie...
#contests #writingbattle #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #WritingContest #DebutAuthor
#contests #writingbattle #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #WritingContest #DebutAuthor
Writing Battle — Write. Read. Win.
Write. Read. Win. A competitive writing platform for storytellers around the world.
Receive oodles of feedback.
Join the most supportive writing community on the web. You up for the chal...
www.writingbattle.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
It’s Debrief time! That means I can finally open the story up to the public! If you’d like to check it out, you can find my Vampirical Romance here: www.writingbattle.com/story/debrie...
#contests #writingbattle #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #WritingContest #DebutAuthor
#contests #writingbattle #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #ShortStory #WritingContest #DebutAuthor
The Agent Querying process is less disheartening than it is maddening. Rejection, I can take. If I got 15 no’s back to back, it would bother me less than waiting 3-4 months between decisions, to then be told no and have to repeat the process.
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DebutAuthor #AuthorLife
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DebutAuthor #AuthorLife
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The Agent Querying process is less disheartening than it is maddening. Rejection, I can take. If I got 15 no’s back to back, it would bother me less than waiting 3-4 months between decisions, to then be told no and have to repeat the process.
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DebutAuthor #AuthorLife
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DebutAuthor #AuthorLife
I took 2 days off from the day job to make an attempt at focusing on my new Romantasy concept, and I come back to enough emails and Teams messages to carry me through the first five hours of the day. I haven’t actually accomplished anything today. This feels like a punishment.
November 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I took 2 days off from the day job to make an attempt at focusing on my new Romantasy concept, and I come back to enough emails and Teams messages to carry me through the first five hours of the day. I haven’t actually accomplished anything today. This feels like a punishment.
Break from the usual writing posts, but the wifey and I finally broke down and bought a Dutch oven. Our house has never smelled better.
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Cooking #LasagnaSoup #MarriedLife
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Cooking #LasagnaSoup #MarriedLife
November 8, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Break from the usual writing posts, but the wifey and I finally broke down and bought a Dutch oven. Our house has never smelled better.
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Cooking #LasagnaSoup #MarriedLife
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #Cooking #LasagnaSoup #MarriedLife
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
TONIGHT at 10 pm ET. The four genres drop!
You'll be given seven days to write a 2000 word story.
Join the Battle: www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
#writersofbluesky
You'll be given seven days to write a 2000 word story.
Join the Battle: www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
#writersofbluesky
October 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM
TONIGHT at 10 pm ET. The four genres drop!
You'll be given seven days to write a 2000 word story.
Join the Battle: www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
#writersofbluesky
You'll be given seven days to write a 2000 word story.
Join the Battle: www.writingbattle.com/join-battle
#writersofbluesky
It’s that time again y’all! @writingbattle.bsky.social is back, and this time instead of nanofiction, we’re going with 2000 words. I am so excited to get back into the game, can’t wait to see what prompts I draw on Sunday! #writingcontest #AmWriting #shortstory #writingbattle #autumnbattle
October 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
It’s that time again y’all! @writingbattle.bsky.social is back, and this time instead of nanofiction, we’re going with 2000 words. I am so excited to get back into the game, can’t wait to see what prompts I draw on Sunday! #writingcontest #AmWriting #shortstory #writingbattle #autumnbattle
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
It's that time of year again! If you want to apply to my 318R creative writing class, this is for you. We'll be accepting applications for 1 hour from 10:00-11:00 pm MT on Oct 23rd. The application, tips for getting accepted, and other FAQs can be found here:
faq.brandonsanderson.com/article-cate...
faq.brandonsanderson.com/article-cate...
BYU College Class | Brandon Sanderson
faq.brandonsanderson.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It's that time of year again! If you want to apply to my 318R creative writing class, this is for you. We'll be accepting applications for 1 hour from 10:00-11:00 pm MT on Oct 23rd. The application, tips for getting accepted, and other FAQs can be found here:
faq.brandonsanderson.com/article-cate...
faq.brandonsanderson.com/article-cate...
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
So excited to see my upcoming book with QueryTracker's Patrick McDonald listed on Simon & Schuster's website, cover and all! It's getting real 🥹
THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS is coming to you summer 2026! 👀
THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS is coming to you summer 2026! 👀
October 21, 2025 at 10:20 PM
So excited to see my upcoming book with QueryTracker's Patrick McDonald listed on Simon & Schuster's website, cover and all! It's getting real 🥹
THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS is coming to you summer 2026! 👀
THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS is coming to you summer 2026! 👀
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
I've been a book editor for 10 years. 1,000+ authors and countless manuscripts later, the biggest lessons I’ve learned might surprise you.
Here are the 3 biggest takeaways from the past decade that totally changed the way I approach editing.
They might help you take your story to the next level!
Here are the 3 biggest takeaways from the past decade that totally changed the way I approach editing.
They might help you take your story to the next level!
October 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I've been a book editor for 10 years. 1,000+ authors and countless manuscripts later, the biggest lessons I’ve learned might surprise you.
Here are the 3 biggest takeaways from the past decade that totally changed the way I approach editing.
They might help you take your story to the next level!
Here are the 3 biggest takeaways from the past decade that totally changed the way I approach editing.
They might help you take your story to the next level!
So happy to announce that I am now live on the Author's Guild member directory, as an Emerging Writer!
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorsGuild #EmergingWriter #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph #AdultCrossover
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorsGuild #EmergingWriter #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph #AdultCrossover
October 6, 2025 at 2:19 AM
So happy to announce that I am now live on the Author's Guild member directory, as an Emerging Writer!
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorsGuild #EmergingWriter #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph #AdultCrossover
#AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorsGuild #EmergingWriter #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph #AdultCrossover
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
Writing is weird. Some days I’m a genius, other days I’m googling, how many words count as progress? LOL :3
Anyway, the story’s unfolding slowly but surely. If you’re working on something too, you’re not alone. We’ve got this.
#authorlife #writinginprogress #september29 #5AMwritersclub
Anyway, the story’s unfolding slowly but surely. If you’re working on something too, you’re not alone. We’ve got this.
#authorlife #writinginprogress #september29 #5AMwritersclub
September 29, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Writing is weird. Some days I’m a genius, other days I’m googling, how many words count as progress? LOL :3
Anyway, the story’s unfolding slowly but surely. If you’re working on something too, you’re not alone. We’ve got this.
#authorlife #writinginprogress #september29 #5AMwritersclub
Anyway, the story’s unfolding slowly but surely. If you’re working on something too, you’re not alone. We’ve got this.
#authorlife #writinginprogress #september29 #5AMwritersclub
Question out to my fellow #WritingCommunity, y’all think it better to immediately start on Book 2 of my #DebutNovel series, or to start on my next series based on an entirely different world & magic system to broaden my reach?
#DebutAuthor #AmWriting #AgentQueries #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries
#DebutAuthor #AmWriting #AgentQueries #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries
September 27, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Question out to my fellow #WritingCommunity, y’all think it better to immediately start on Book 2 of my #DebutNovel series, or to start on my next series based on an entirely different world & magic system to broaden my reach?
#DebutAuthor #AmWriting #AgentQueries #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries
#DebutAuthor #AmWriting #AgentQueries #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
What you DON'T need to publish successfully:
-an MFA
-a huge social media following
-industry connections
What you DO need:
-patience ⏳
-an MFA
-a huge social media following
-industry connections
What you DO need:
-patience ⏳
September 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
What you DON'T need to publish successfully:
-an MFA
-a huge social media following
-industry connections
What you DO need:
-patience ⏳
-an MFA
-a huge social media following
-industry connections
What you DO need:
-patience ⏳
Waiting is Not Easy!
-Elephant
#TradPublishing #AqentQueries #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel
-Elephant
#TradPublishing #AqentQueries #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel
September 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Waiting is Not Easy!
-Elephant
#TradPublishing #AqentQueries #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel
-Elephant
#TradPublishing #AqentQueries #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #ScarsBook #RecoverySeries #DebutAuthor #DebutNovel
#NewBook #ScarsBook #MustReadFantasy #FantasyFiction #BookAddict #TraumaToTriumph #DarkFantasy #HealingJourney #RecoverySeries #DebutNovel #DebutAuthor
September 16, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Replacement of the monster omnibus is complete! I lost some of my completed Drizzt series in a house fire, so this new series of covers is sorely needed! They don’t sell the old ones at B&N anymore.
#LegendOfDrizzt #ForgottenRealms @rasalvatore.bsky.social #Fantasy #DnD
#LegendOfDrizzt #ForgottenRealms @rasalvatore.bsky.social #Fantasy #DnD
September 16, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Replacement of the monster omnibus is complete! I lost some of my completed Drizzt series in a house fire, so this new series of covers is sorely needed! They don’t sell the old ones at B&N anymore.
#LegendOfDrizzt #ForgottenRealms @rasalvatore.bsky.social #Fantasy #DnD
#LegendOfDrizzt #ForgottenRealms @rasalvatore.bsky.social #Fantasy #DnD
Who wants to explore the connection between their past hurts and their potential for growth, with Kel’rak and Amelia? #ScarsBook is all about examining those scars of the past, and growing.
#DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph
#DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph
September 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Who wants to explore the connection between their past hurts and their potential for growth, with Kel’rak and Amelia? #ScarsBook is all about examining those scars of the past, and growing.
#DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph
#DebutAuthor #DebutNovel #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #DarkFantasy #TraumaToTriumph
Reposted by Author J.A. McCoy
FANTASY VILLAIN WRITING 101
A brief outline of what I think about when crafting fantasy villains. ⚔️ ☠️
I try make all my villains feel a little bit relatable at least, as I don’t enjoy books where evil is a very binary concept.
#booksky #fantasybooks #villainera #writing
A brief outline of what I think about when crafting fantasy villains. ⚔️ ☠️
I try make all my villains feel a little bit relatable at least, as I don’t enjoy books where evil is a very binary concept.
#booksky #fantasybooks #villainera #writing
September 15, 2025 at 9:01 PM
FANTASY VILLAIN WRITING 101
A brief outline of what I think about when crafting fantasy villains. ⚔️ ☠️
I try make all my villains feel a little bit relatable at least, as I don’t enjoy books where evil is a very binary concept.
#booksky #fantasybooks #villainera #writing
A brief outline of what I think about when crafting fantasy villains. ⚔️ ☠️
I try make all my villains feel a little bit relatable at least, as I don’t enjoy books where evil is a very binary concept.
#booksky #fantasybooks #villainera #writing