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
Pay Attention to Me
Discover what every new and aspiring author needs to know about the publishing industry and how to navigate all the complicated feelings that come with writing a book in this no-nonsense guide from literary agent, author, and creator of the popular newsletter Agents & Books Kate McKean.
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