At The Author Conservatory, we are committed to empowering young writers to turn their dreams into reality, providing them with the skills, mentorship, and resources they need to thrive in the literary world. One of our most inspiring success stories comes from Abi, a talented young writer who has recently achieved a major milestone in her career: she has signed with the prestigious Donald Maass Literary Agency. This is an incredible achievement, and we are so proud to share her journey and offer insights into the perseverance, growth, and lessons that led her to this point.

Abi’s Journey: From Aspiring Writer to Landing an Agent

Abi’s journey to landing a literary agent has been years in the making. Her novel has been in the works for almost four years, and through every step of the process, Abi has shown immense dedication to honing her craft and growing as a writer.

Abi’s journey with her project started in June 2021, when she began developing the original concept. Since then, she has rewritten, revised, and reworked the manuscript multiple times, constantly improving the story. Despite the challenges, Abi kept going, always learning and refining her craft.

One of the key moments in her journey was in 2023, when Abi submitted her novel for a manuscript assessment with a renowned author and editor. Abi received valuable feedback that helped her strengthen her novel. The following year, she attended Realm Makers, a Christian speculative fiction conference, where she had the opportunity to pitch to Donald Maass. After receiving a manuscript request, Abi’s excitement was palpable, and she began the revisions with renewed focus and determination.

Through the next year, Abi worked tirelessly on revisions, continuing to receive feedback and support from her critique partners and mentors. Even when things seemed overwhelming, she kept pushing through the tough spots, including moments of self-doubt, low points, and the pressure of working on a project so close to her heart.

In the end, the revisions were worth it. Abi shares that when she submitted her manuscript for the second time in January 2025, the story had evolved into something truly special. With a stronger, more refined manuscript, Abi was ready to present her work to Donald Maass once more. This time, it was different—she believed in the story, and it was clear that others would too.

Securing Representation

The moment Abi received the email from Donald Maass was nothing short of life-changing. After reading her revised manuscript in record time, Donald expressed interest in representing her, and she signed with the Donald Maass Literary Agency in early 2025. This is a huge accomplishment for any writer, especially one as young as Abi.

At The Author Conservatory, we’re so thrilled to have facilitated Abi and her projects. We’re grateful for the years of hard work, growth, and trust in the process that she conveyed as one of our students. 

A Bright Future Ahead

Abi’s story is just one of many at The Author Conservatory, where young writers are learning the skills, gaining the experience, and finding the support they need to make their dreams a reality. We are incredibly proud of Abi’s achievements and excited to see what the future holds for her and her upcoming manuscript. If you’re a young writer looking to turn your passion into a career, The Author Conservatory can help you take that first step.