Author
My work has appeared in Poets & Writers, Electric Literature, Catapult, Lit Hub, Writer’s Digest, Bustle and many more. My first book, Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life is out now from Simon Element. In 2026, Sourcebooks will publish my debut picture books Pay Attention to Me.
I am represented by Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
Write Through It
Write Through It is a candid, actionable guide to navigating the rollercoaster ride of writing and publishing, both on and off the page. Literary agent and author Kate McKean has been educating authors and demystifying publishing for years in her popular newsletter Agents & Books, and now, in these pages, she walks writers of all genres through every stage of the writing and publishing process and its accompanying emotional moments. From the uncertainty of knowing when you should stop fiddling with your book and start pitching to agents to how to deal with the sting of rejection and the elation (and fear) of getting a book deal, Write Through It covers it all.
"A must have for all aspiring authors! Kate McKean has written a clear, helpful, and encouraging book about the writing and publishing process; she manages to be realistic and detailed, as well as comforting and reassuring."
— Jasmine Guillory, author of the New York Times bestseller The Proposal.
“Write Through It is a thoughtful, informative and wildly generous guide.”
— Sarah Knight, author of the New York Times bestseller Get Your Sh*t Together
The reviews are in! From Kirkus:
“Move over, internet cats—this feline has something to say.
Though Edgar’s humans oohed and aahed over him when he was a kitten, now they spend all their time looking at images of other cats online and in print. How to receive the adulation he so deserves? By becoming the most famous cat in the world, of course! Edgar proceeds with his plan (“a three-claw approach”). Step one: “show them how smart he [is].” Step two: “prove he’s star material.” And step three: “call on the wisdom of his ancestors” (his grandfather’s words—“If I fits, I sits”—come to mind). Edgar’s humans aren’t impressed by his ability to scratch his name on the back of the sofa or the dance number he performs on the dining room table. Despondent, he takes a nap and dreams of the fame that eludes him—but perhaps celebrity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. McKean’s tongue-in-cheek text plays cleverly off the popularity of cats online while capturing the divalike essence of real-life felines. In Justus’ energetic illustrations, Edgar’s an appropriately flamboyant, over-the-top figure, whether busting a move while clad in leg warmers and skates or (in the dream sequence) posing on the cover of Cat Vogue in a crown and ballgown. Edgar’s human family appears to be multiracial; one adult and child are brown-skinned, while the other adult is pale-skinned.
A witty tale that oozes “cat”-titude.”
Pay Attention To Me
Edgar wants to be famous and he has a three-clawed plan to get there. By being famous that means his people won’t leave the house to do things like go to soccer practice and go to work, and THEN there will be more time for scritches and snuggles. You won’t believe what Edgar gets up to in Kate McKean’s debut picture book, PAY ATTENTION TO ME, with fantastic illustrations by Rob Justus! Get yours May 5, 2026!
Writing About Writing
I’ve written a lot about writing, and more. Here’s where to read more of my work.
Ten Novels Agents Have Already Seen a Billion Times, Electric Lit
An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Book Deals, Electric Lit
No, You Probably Don’t Have a Book in You, The Outline
What We Talk About When We Talk About Book Titles, Catapult
What’s Genre, Anyway?, Catapult
Book Contracts: Let’s Talk Money, Catapult
Book Contracts: Let’s Talk Rights, Catapult
Book Contracts: Let’s Talk Surprises, Catapult
Spring Migration (Fiction), Catapult
Deal or No Deal: Why Being a Literary Agent Doesn’t Make It Easier to Write a Book, Catapult
What Bird Watching Gave Me After My Miscarriage (Personal Essay), Catapult