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.

Zoom is recommended for video. Google Meet may require cameras off due to technical difficulty.

Member Reviews of Caitlin

She delivered clear insights and specific suggestions
The query consult with Caitlin was a terrific experience. She delivered clear insights and specific suggestions–and did so with kindness. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to receive her expert feedback.
Bud Jennings
She took me right to what worked and then to what didn’t work.
Caitlin rocked. She took me right to what worked and then to what didn’t work. Getting published isn’t just about having my name on a book, it’s about the experience of working with a genius editor who will guide you through improving your writing. Caitlin gave me a taste of what that’s like. Which is joyous. Also—and I’m STILL kind of coasting on this—I secretly think I’d fit on the shelf next to a certain super famous author and Caitlin mentioned him in the first three minutes of the call and I almost died.
Bull Garlington
Specific and on-point feedback
Caitlin is awesome. I’ve spoken to her twice now and her feedback is so on-point and specific, while always being kind and upbeat. She’s a terrific advisor and I bet she’d make an excellent agent, for anyone lucky enough to get her.
Jayme Inman
I believe it will probably save my future queries
I hired Caitlin for fifteen minutes to fix a problem after several agent rejections on the first ten pages. It was a problem I feared the pages had, but wasn’t sure how to fix them myself, and my beta-readers thought it all seemed fine. In just fifteen minutes, Caitlin was able to help me fix the problem, as well as fix a couple extra problems I hadn’t known about at all. I appreciated that it was not a session full of compliments–we got a lot done in that small amount of time. Money well spent. I believe it will probably save my future queries.
Darren McNaughton
I feel well-positioned and excited to finally begin the query process.
I enjoyed a very instructive chat with Caitlin. She expressed enthusiasm in the project, and pointed out several ways I hadn’t thought of to strengthen my query and help it better express the scope of the work. I feel well-positioned and excited to finally begin the query process, and would definitely recommend Caitlin as a wonderful source of guidance.
Carolyn Swanson
I came away from our meeting eager to rethink not just the first ten pages but parts of the whole thing.
I enjoyed talking to Caitlyn. She was highly analytical and professional. Her reading was astute–she picked out inconsistencies and unclear spots in a piece of writing I have read at least 300 times. She helped me see the writing from the point of view of the reader, which is not always easy to do. She clearly really thought about the piece and packed in a lot in 15 minutes. I would of course love to work with her as I came away from our meeting eager to rethink not just the first ten pages but parts of the whole thing.
Elaine Ostry
Her feedback is thoughtful, encouraging, and actionable.
So, so helpful. I cannot sing Caitlin’s praises enough. Her feedback is thoughtful, encouraging, and actionable. For such a short session, she’s incredibly organized! Great time management, and leaves room for questions at the end. Loved her so much, I booked her a second time. Both times our session ended, I jumped straight into revising my query letter because I was so excited to get to work and make her suggested changes. I recommended her to my entire writing group and one of them has already used her and loved her as well.
Caroline Davis
Extremely helpful
This session was extremely helpful. I am able to pinpoint my style a bit more and know what the main issues are that need to be resolved before querying.
Kaitlynn McShea
I would definitely recommend this to any author
Caitlin’s feedback was incredibly valuable, and from the short conversation I can already see many opportunities to improve both my manuscript and my query letter. I would definitely recommend this to any author, especially those going the traditional publishing route.
Aaron Peters
I believe it will probably save my future queries
I hired Caitlin for fifteen minutes to fix a problem after several agent rejections on the first ten pages. It was a problem I feared the pages had, but wasn’t sure how to fix them myself, and my beta-readers thought it all seemed fine. In just fifteen minutes, Caitlin was able to help me fix the problem, as well as fix a couple extra problems I hadn’t known about at all. I appreciated that it was not a session full of compliments–we got a lot done in that small amount of time. Money well spent. I believe it will probably save my future queries.
Darren McNaughton
I am excited to rework my query and think it will be stronger thanks to her advice
Caitlin was wonderful! She reviewed my query with me and gave me great insight into how to integrate “industry standard” pieces, such as comps. We also discussed how important specificity is in a query and she helped me identify places where my language was vague. She was a great manager of time, making sure to leave enough time for me to ask questions at the end after sharing her thoughts. I am excited to rework my query and think it will be stronger thanks to her advice.
Sarah McGowan
Suggestions I could easily understand and incorporate without losing the integrity of my work
Caitlin had carefully read my ten pages and offered suggestions I could easily understand and incorporate without losing the integrity of my work. I found the session helpful and began editing after letting her directions settle. I have now rewritten the first chapter and feel it is improved. She was always courteous and on point.
Arabella Ark
Feedback is so on-point and specific
Caitlin is awesome. I’ve spoken to her twice now and her feedback is so on-point and specific, while always being kind and upbeat. She’s a terrific advisor and I bet she’d make an excellent agent, for anyone lucky enough to get her.
Jayme Inman
She also answered my questions concisely and honestly
Ms. McDonald was amazing. She had a lot of insight on my first page, not only because she gave me suggestions but also WHY she felt those suggestions were necessary in order to help build a stronger hook. She also answered my questions concisely and honestly, which I appreciated.
Heather Cardona
Caitlin was off-the-charts helpful.
Caitlin was off-the-charts helpful. I worked with her twice, and both times, she gave incisive, well-reasoned feedback that immediately resounded with me. Also, she offered me information about presses that handle literary sci fi (and gave me that term, which I hadn’t even known was a designation before). She was also very personable. I really enjoyed working with her.
Susmita Ramani

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.