What it Actually Takes To Land An Agent: An interview with Shaina A. Cordas

This week, we're highlighting a rising name in the literary world: Shaina A. Cordas. A "middle grade and young adult fantasy author dedicated to whimsy and adventure." 

Abigail had the pleasure of interviewing Cordas, to learn about her journey as a professional writer: From muses, to manuscripts, favorite snacks and more, get comfy  and enjoy a behind the scenes look at how to turn storytelling into a successful career.

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "What’s the first story or piece you remember writing that made you think: “I want to do this seriously?"

Shaina: "It was actually someone else’s work that made me want to write—Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard!" "I remember reading it back in 2019 and, for the first time, seeing the pieces of the story and how they fit together. It was a lightbulb moment where I thought that if I could see the pieces, maybe I could figure out how to make my own."

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "Looking back at your early drafts, what’s one big mistake you made? What did it teach you?"

Shaina: "I think my biggest mistake was giving myself deadlines."

"I thought that my very first book would be “the book”. Or at the very least, the second book would be. Honestly, if I couldn’t make it work in two books, what was even the point? If it wasn’t naturally the book that would get me an agent and a book deal, how could I ever succeed?"

"What I wish I knew then is that writing a book is a skill. A skill that you have to build. Before you can write something that works, you have to learn how to write a book."

 "How to make a first, second, and third act fit together. How to make a character arc and tension pay off for the reader. How to hone in on the structure of every sentence to make it as easy and interesting for your audience as possible. Now, I know how to write a book in a way that works for me. As well as what pieces I need to get to the end of that first draft, and then make it good."

"The most beautiful thing about writing is that there will always be a new challenge for you to face–writing in a different genre, a different voice. Multiple POV’s or a different age group."

"I think the key is  to never stop growing your skill set and not being afraid to fail. One resource I love, and who talks about the same thing, is Brandon Sanderson. He puts up lectures on writing fantasy on YouTube, and they’re free to watch—I would highly recommend them!"

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "Can you share a surprising or unusual place where one of your story ideas came from?"

Shaina: "Gosh, I don’t know if anything is super unusual." 

"The way I typically come up with story ideas is I have a running document of things that I love–books, movies, TV shows, songs. And then I just throw them together. "

"My most successful one yet has been Whisked Away– a middle-grade cozy fantasy adventure that is The Great British Baking Show meets Ella Enchanted. This story got me my agent!"

"It has everything I love–a rebellious girl, a forbidden baking competition, fairytale magic, and a found family trio that echoes all the ones I loved growing up. I’m still figuring out how to make a Mamma Mia x Kpop Demon Hunters story work, though."

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "What keeps you coming back to the page, even on tough days?"

 
Shaina: "There will always be tough days, weeks, months, and years."

"I’ve been writing in pursuit of traditional publishing for six years now– with many high highs and low lows. There have been years where I’ve struggled to write even a first draft of a book on top of my day job and *surviving*. There have also been periods where I whipped out a book in a flow state of less than 3 months."

"What I try to focus on is the craft–the act of putting actual words on an actual page. That, to me, is an act of self-care. It’s time for me and me alone, in a world that I love and created myself."

"I don’t put pressure on [thinking] "I have to get this done" –I remind myself that I want to write. That I am a writer. On the days that the world is too heavy, I let myself rest and try again tomorrow."

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "If you could give one piece of advice to your younger writing self (or teen writers today), what would it be?"

Shaina: "Traditional publishing as a career, at the very least, is a marathon and not a sprint. It took me 5 manuscripts to land my agent over 6 years. More than 200 queries sent."

 "I have author friends who have had an even longer journey than this. It takes time to develop those skills and learn how to write books with an enjoyable impact. And looking back, I’m grateful for it."

"My first manuscript was terrible and shall never see the light of day, even though I wanted it too so badly back then. Keep at it. Keep writing books. Keep learning the craft. Try to reframe it as a beautiful act of artistic integrity to have the opportunity to keep getting better."

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "What’s something outside of books (music, art, places, etc.) that always sparks creativity for you?"

 Shaina: "I love movies,  TV shows, and music!!!"

"I think my writing style is very cinematic–I try hard to make you see the “movie” of my book playing in your head as you read. 

"I study what light, colors, and facial expressions actors use. I think it’s a wonderful resource."

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail: "Was there a specific book, movie, or moment that made you fall in love with fantasy?"

Shaina: "Gosh, I really am a fantasy girl at heart."

"I absolutely loved Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson as a kid, and still do. I’m also a huge fan of Gail Carson Levine–if you want to write middle grade fantasy and you haven’t read her books, you need to."

"The Two Princesses of Bamarre is truly the most underrated of her works. Two sisters, a deadly plague, and a quest to save their kingdom and each other. What could be better?!?"  

    

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

Abigail:  "Last one (and it is a bit of a strange one). What is your go-to writing snack?"
  

Shaina: "Cinnamon rolls. Extra frosting. Full stop."

📖.  📖.  📖.  📖.  📖. 📖.  📖

90% of people who say they want to write a book never do. 

You've probably heard this statistic before. Maybe it's the reason you only call writing a "hobby." Or maybe it's why you joined StoryBridge. 

Regardless, being a part of the 10% isn't easy. But as shown in countless stories like Shaina A. Cordas, with time, passion, and patience, it is possible.

To learn more about Cordas and follow her writing journey, check out her official website: https://shainacordas.com/

and Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/shainacordasauthor/ 

Happy reading and writing!

- Nadia