Let the Querying Commence!

It’s that time again. 

Years ago, when I first picked writing back up and began to take it seriously, I shortly afterward queried work that, in retrospect, was half-baked. Obviously, I was not successful in my many (many) attempts. 

These rejections gave me time to sit with my work for longer. They also led to me taking the plunge to self-publish two of the novels—Sirens and Wisteria Drive—that I initially queried for traditional publishing (after many rounds of editing, editors’ feedback, and beta reading, of course).

Now, even in spite of this previous failure, I’m looking to query again. 

I intend to chronicle my querying process as I go about it. After I apply the last of the feedback I’ve received from beta readers to my manuscript, I intend to shop for a query letter editor on Reedsy so that I can go into this endeavor with the best chance of standing out. I have previously used Reedsy as a way to find freelance editors for my prior novels, and I hope that I can find someone who will work in tandem with me to clean up the skeleton letter and responses I’ve drafted. 

And then… The querying will commence! I am very nervous to face the onslaught of rejection I endured last time. The book that I intend to send out is a fantasy romance—”romantasy,” if you will—inspired by Fire and Blood and Cruel Prince. I believe that since the last time I tried to gather the attention of literary agents, I have not only strengthened my prose but also created something more commercially viable. I can see this book slotting itself easily into the BookTok trends, and I hope the agents I reach out to see the same potential. 

As I continue this process, I will be updating my blog with information on my journey to getting traditionally published. 

Wish me luck!