Thank you so much for this. I just started querying my historical horror novel, and I believe my query and query package materials are polished, but I often second guess the salutation with using the titles Mr. / Ms. which is always somewhat of an assumption. One I'd rather not make. I'm just going to go with the agent's name.
You are a GODSEND right now as I spiral out of my mind into a deep void of depression and overwhelm about agents and all that.
I am so glad I saw this post.
I did a workshop where an agent read the first 10 pages of my writing. It was helpful in ways and hurtful in ways; especially since the agent wasn’t in my genre and I don’t think she understood what I was trying to do.
Would you take her the feedback onboard or would you selectively take things from it? Nothing? I’m curious how someone who has worked with agents in her genre would respond to this scenario because I’ve never had an agent interaction before.
I’m glad this was helpful! If you receive notes that don’t resonate, I would try this: 1. Look for the note behind the note. What specific sections are they reacting to, and how can you rewrite or revise to make it read more smoothly. 2. Pick and choose only the notes that you think are helpful.
Sometimes you may need to try 20 readers (usually family or friends) before you find 2 that you really trust 🤗 Good luck with everything!
This is incredibly helpful. I’m writing memoir, but aspects of what you shared are absolutely transferable! Also, my daughter seems to be on a similar path as you as she is interested in screenwriting and also writes fiction/horror stories. I️ will share this with her. Thank you so much for your generosity! ☺️💕
This is so helpful, thank you and thank you for the resources. I queried 10 agents since January 1st and only got one form rejection. Stopped querying and went back to my pages and query letter to revise and make stronger but find myself sometimes spinning my wheels. I can’t get discouraged yet….
Heeeey this is good. Did you use queryshark at all? One of the lecturers in this Professional Writing degree I'm doing suggested it as a resource..
I'm not quite there yet - at 75k but need to write up to 110 to edit down to 90.... but getting close. I feel like I need to start at least thinking about it.
Thank you for generously sharing your query letter and tips Lauren. I remember hearing you read it on Instagram when I first discovered you and finding it so gripping. I’m currently in the querying process and have sent out my first 10, but no luck so far. I’m planning to send another batch in the next couple of weeks—would you recommend aiming for a new round every three months?
What I did was about 5-10 per month, and after I didn’t hear a response from the first ten, I would slightly modify it, like try to make my first pages have conflict right away or change my comp titles, or even cut words so that my word count was closer to 80,000…another thing I’ve seen in friends’ queries is sometimes their genre doesn’t fall within a category that the agent represents. So instead of saying “cross-genre romance, sci-fi, thriller” which isn’t something they would be familiar with, a person could use something more common like “romantasy” or “upmarket romance” or “domestic thriller” depending on the work ☺️
So much great info here! So kind of you to share. Thank you and congrats to you!
Thank you!! 🩷🩷
Thank you so much for this. I just started querying my historical horror novel, and I believe my query and query package materials are polished, but I often second guess the salutation with using the titles Mr. / Ms. which is always somewhat of an assumption. One I'd rather not make. I'm just going to go with the agent's name.
Glad this was helpful! I went with the full name as well :)
This is so encouraging. Thanks for sharing this. Really helpful.
I’m glad it’s helpful!
Thank you as someone who is querying its very helpful!
You are a GODSEND right now as I spiral out of my mind into a deep void of depression and overwhelm about agents and all that.
I am so glad I saw this post.
I did a workshop where an agent read the first 10 pages of my writing. It was helpful in ways and hurtful in ways; especially since the agent wasn’t in my genre and I don’t think she understood what I was trying to do.
Would you take her the feedback onboard or would you selectively take things from it? Nothing? I’m curious how someone who has worked with agents in her genre would respond to this scenario because I’ve never had an agent interaction before.
I’m glad this was helpful! If you receive notes that don’t resonate, I would try this: 1. Look for the note behind the note. What specific sections are they reacting to, and how can you rewrite or revise to make it read more smoothly. 2. Pick and choose only the notes that you think are helpful.
Sometimes you may need to try 20 readers (usually family or friends) before you find 2 that you really trust 🤗 Good luck with everything!
This is incredibly helpful. I’m writing memoir, but aspects of what you shared are absolutely transferable! Also, my daughter seems to be on a similar path as you as she is interested in screenwriting and also writes fiction/horror stories. I️ will share this with her. Thank you so much for your generosity! ☺️💕
I’m so glad it was helpful!
Thanks for sharing.
🤗🫶🏼
This is so helpful, thank you for sharing!
Of course 🤗🩷
Thank you so much for that amazing breakdown. I’ve started querying along similar lines, and realising that I am in for the long haul!
You’ve got this!! 🩷
This is so helpful, thank you and thank you for the resources. I queried 10 agents since January 1st and only got one form rejection. Stopped querying and went back to my pages and query letter to revise and make stronger but find myself sometimes spinning my wheels. I can’t get discouraged yet….
Ten is not many! Definitely keep trying, and if you’re able to get feedback from a friend or family member, that can help, too! Good luck 🍀 - Lauren
Heeeey this is good. Did you use queryshark at all? One of the lecturers in this Professional Writing degree I'm doing suggested it as a resource..
I'm not quite there yet - at 75k but need to write up to 110 to edit down to 90.... but getting close. I feel like I need to start at least thinking about it.
I did use queryshark for reading other letters!
Thank you for generously sharing your query letter and tips Lauren. I remember hearing you read it on Instagram when I first discovered you and finding it so gripping. I’m currently in the querying process and have sent out my first 10, but no luck so far. I’m planning to send another batch in the next couple of weeks—would you recommend aiming for a new round every three months?
Hey Mel. Of course! Glad you found them helpful.
What I did was about 5-10 per month, and after I didn’t hear a response from the first ten, I would slightly modify it, like try to make my first pages have conflict right away or change my comp titles, or even cut words so that my word count was closer to 80,000…another thing I’ve seen in friends’ queries is sometimes their genre doesn’t fall within a category that the agent represents. So instead of saying “cross-genre romance, sci-fi, thriller” which isn’t something they would be familiar with, a person could use something more common like “romantasy” or “upmarket romance” or “domestic thriller” depending on the work ☺️
That sounds like a great plan– and a lot faster than what I intended to do. Thanks Lauren!
I did use Queryshark to read other queries and learn the structure of them, but not to track my queries