Caitlin McDonald, Donald Maass Literary Agency

Caitlin McDonald is an agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency and has worked in the industry since 2011. She represents award-winning adult and young adult speculative fiction, primarily science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and related subgenres. Caitlin looks for diversity in all projects, and is most drawn to unique, evocative narratives and cross-genre works, with an emphasis on high-impact stories that have something powerful to say.

Previously she trained in non-fiction under industry titan Celeste Fine, and has extensive experience crafting pitches and proposals for successful titles in the cooking, health, how-to, pop culture, and psychology spaces. Though she no longer seeks these projects for her own list, she enjoys the chance to share her knowledge and aid non-fiction authors via meetings at the Manuscript Academy.

Listen to Caitlin's Podcast Episode

Work with Caitlin

LIVE Meetings: Meet face-to-face, from home. Choose Zoom, Google Meet, or phone, and speak for the appointed time about your query, first page, and/or first ten pages (for longer meetings). Does not include written notes, but is a chance to have an honest discussion about your work, and to ask follow-up questions. International meetings welcomed.

WRITTEN Critiques: Get detailed, thoughtful notes on your work. Comes with large-scale edits (character, world, plot, tension, concept, conflict, and similar as needed) in an editorial letter and small-scale, line-by-line notes as needed (for longer critiques, an average of three per page). Work arrives in your inbox by the date on the calendar.

HYBRID is a live meeting at the appointment time, with written notes.