Querying: Lessons Learned
Over last summer and early fall I was mostly focused on querying my first MG novel. My mind was entirely focused on the status of my queries to agents, and I am embarrassed to admit I spent a ridiculous amount of time staring at timelines on QueryTracker — A TOOL THAT IS BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE!
As a first-timer in the query trenches, I think I did a pretty good job of preparation, but definitely learned some lessons. It should be stated, regardless of how obvious, that everyone’s querying path looks a little diffrent. Truly, I have yet to hear two “path to publishing” stories that are identical! However, now looking in the rearview mirror after a few rounds of querying and dozens upon dozens of rejection under my belt, I thought it might be helpful to share what I think went well and what might be tweaked in my next round.
1) RESEARCH: I did a TON of research on agents. My primary methods were as follows - a) I checked the agent acknowledgements in my comps and put them on my list! I tried to mention an agent’s client when personalizing my query; b) Manuscript Wishlist was a wealth of information. I searched by keywords, titles and genre; and c) Publisher’s Marketplace was a good place to look for sales information and do more searches (clunky, but important); and finally, d) Querytracker. Thanks to a tip from a fellow #amquerying writer, I learned about an awesome report function in agents I had on my list that allows you to find “Agents With Similar Tastes” and filter by genre.
2) SENDING IN BATCHES: I sent queries out in batches, testing different versions of my query package and revising things as I felt was needed. I had a good rate of requests for fulls, so I didn’t make huge changes — just minor tweaks. In future query endeavors, I think I will consider holding off on my top tier agent prospects until I am SURE I have the best possible version of my materials to distribute. Although I think I was generally “ready” to query, my materials were stronger after my mentor-led revision, and I wish I had been able to submit my revised manuscript to some of those earlier agents. Could I still? Perhaps, but I am not sure the revised version is substantially different ENOUGH to merit another pass from those who have already considered. Probably a grey area there.
3) TO BEGIN AGAIN: After launching myself into the query trenches, so SURE that this manuscript would capture hearts and minds, my brain was 100 percent fixated on its success (or presumed failure). It took me a long while before I was even willing to ruminate on new ideas or write new material, especially for another novel-length project. It felt like an insurmountable task. How could I be sure that the next project would not stall out? Or that I could write about other interesting characters or a new plot? Now that I knew the required time and investment of writing and re-writing an entire book, it was so daunting that my brain refused to begin again.
After a lot of time, I began to accept that the growing pile of rejections were only mile markers and not something signifying an ending or failure. After all, in this business, rejection does not equal failure. It only means that, for a variety of reasons, only some of which you have any control over, a particular manuscript doesn’t find a home right away. Fear not (I told myself) — IT WILL. Maybe not right now. Maybe the right agent match is still out there. Maybe more tweaks are needed. Maybe the market is looking for something other than your book (for now). AND, in order to keep moving forward, you MUST BEGIN AGAIN.
Now, I am happily ensconced with a new main character on a fun, voicey new novel, which is keeping me winding my way through the drafting phase. I still have some promising fulls outstanding on this first novel, but it is no longer my main preoccupation. This feeling signifies for me perhaps the best lesson learned of all: FIND JOY IN THE PROCESS, not the outcome. Writing these stories gives me energy, and while it takes work and sometimes a fair dose of gutting through (drafting, whew!), I will keep going and try to appreciate the journey. How cool is that?
Onward!
