A note from the query trenches | my literary agent search so far

[@janmorrison4141]

Hi Alyssa - I have so much to share with you. First of all I'm 72 years old. I had my first book published when I was 70. How long had I been writing? Since I was 14. Seriously? Yep. I've had plays that were professionally produced, poems and essays published, but my heart's desire took 54 years to obtain. Yeppur. In terms of querying novels, I've done that for maybe 15 or more years. But I'd stop because you know ,nobody bit or they'd request a full, then after getting me hysterical with desire, squash me flat as the bug I apparently was. In 2016, in my fourth or so NaNoWriMo I started The Crooked Knife. I wrote my first horrible draft in about six months then fiddled with it off and on for a couple of years, then hired an outside consultant because I was passionate about it. After a couple of more years I started querying it to agents and publishers (being a mystery I don't really need an agent but that's another story). The fifth publisher I sent took it after asking for some major revisions. The end sucked! Having it published was, naturally, a dream come true. I've since finished two more books ‐ one that I started in 2013 (gasp) and one that is with the same protagonist as The Crooked Knife. Guess what? I have to find a new publisher. This isn't a tragic or comic tale however. It is me, the elder writer you might become, who is telling you it is the writing that matters. Being a writer is hard but somehow glorious. Being an author is satisfying,but not glorious. I've never met you, but I have great affection for you. Keep writing, get help when you need to, take care of your body, eat good food and read only good books.

[@AM-is1jh]

awesome

[@elamishne8982]

Thank you for the honest video! I keep seeing people post videos about how they got their literary agent but nobody posts a video saying "I queried 50 agents and... nothing!" By the way, I've sent out 150 queries and... nothing.

[@user-cl1fz1sc2c]

Did you get one?

[@daviddarlingauthor]

I've queried 174 agents before I signed. I know exactly how you feel. If you need help with your query letter (or just another set of eyes on it) let me know. I've helped quite a few.

[@eolaspellor1718]

I just (at 4:00 this morning) started querying for my 77,000 word novel. I started writing it in March. I hope the querying goes well but, you’re absolutely right, rejection is the norm, and a big part of the path to success. With my short stories I set myself the goal of getting at least 52 rejections before the end of December - hear me out! It’s not as dumb as it sounds. If I got that many rejections, it means I put my stories in that many editors hands. Of course, a lot of magazines get 500-2000 submissions per issue; the chances of getting published are always small… but if 52 different editors saw my stuff, the small chance is much better than if I sat on the manuscripts. I’m taking the same approach with my novel. I plan to send it out to at least 40 agents… fingers crossed

[@carolynbrubaker1619]

LOL agents see more like 500 submissions A DAY! You have the RIGHT attitude. I've been in this business since I sold my first book in 1992. I have talked to countless published authors in the last 30 years and they all have one thing in common. We all had to pay our dues (that means the struggles all authors go through). It is much easier to do it before you're published than after. This is the time of your innocence when you ae writing what you want when you want. It is a time to hone your craft and to learn. My advice is continue to submit, but start your next book. I didn't sell my first book or my second. My third book was the first I sold. The more you write the better you write. Somebody famous (though I don't remember for sure who it was ) said you need three things to get published. Talent, luck and perseverance, and if you have perseverance you only need one of the other two

[@jasewrites]

This is an important video! I love how honest you always are. I’m about to embark on querying again after a LONG gap and you’ve made me feel a lot more prepared ☺️ excited for whatever the future may hold for you!

[@MalikLLong]

I’ve been binge watching all your videos lately, and you’re literally my favorite authortuber💕💕

[@0chuklz0]

I am currently in the midst of querying for my second novel. I did not get an agent for the first one and ended up going the self-publishing route with it. That was an interesting experience, and it taught me that I do not want to do that again. Your attitude toward getting an agent strikes me as the most reasonable one to have, of course all the videos you see from agents seem to echo the same point about getting to know them on all the different platforms they are using before querying. I agree that this sounds more like setting yourself up for even more intense disappointment when you get the form rejection letter. Getting an agent is a business relationship, and I know I can work with anyone, especially if they are positively inclined about my novel. That being said, I do read about the agency, read about the agent, try to get a sense of the types of books they have enjoyed previously and if I really don't think they are the one who will appreciate my story, I move on. Best of luck to you. You won't fail until you stop trying.

[@yvonnebazor3200]

Thank you. I needed this. I am at the beginning of querying.

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

Wishing you the best! Make sure to treat yourself!

[@HaleyWrites]

Just found ur channel! I’m not ready for queries quite yet but I feel you 100% that some “I got an agent!” Videos are well and good for inspiring…until it’s not anymore haha 😅 especially after getting rejections! Oof. Good luck and keep going! That’s awesome that you got some personal feedback from an agent! Not many people get that (from my understanding haha) I’m glad to find another fellow trad pub authortuber on here showing the journey! 🎉

[@MirandaLeggett]

Oh man, I wish we could make "A note from the query trenches" videos a thing. So relatable. Thank you for this!

[@MrGman79]

This was very encouraging. Just sent my first query last night. A hundred more to go lol

[@MrK.A]

It's true that you can leverage an offer of representation but be careful. If you tell agents that you have an offer of rep and, say, give them 2 weeks to read your book and get back to you some agents (who may have actually been interested in your work) will then automatically drop out because they simply don't have the time read your work and make a decision within your two week deadline. I would say you should only leverage offers that you would actually take. Otherwise you might get burned. In the UK a lot of agencies tell authors to email them if they get a full manuscript or offer of representation request.. I've found that leveraging the full manuscript request works with a lot less risk as there is no deadline. I've had agents request a full hours after my update of receiving a full request elsewhere.

[@christinabriggs1782]

I appreciate hearing this video. I'm just now getting in the query trenches for my first children's book, and I'm hoping to get a yes. But I'm prepared for the rejections. It's a tough world out there for writers no doubt. Keep persevering. 👍

[@marlinthecreative118]

You querying process/philosophy sounds like mine best of luck.

[@user-pn1ws2mw1s]

Should i copyright book before dending it to agents?

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

From my knowledge, you don't need to! Agents often won't represent copywritten books and most of the time you aren't sending them the full thing

[@stevenklinden]

I appreciate your talking about this, and I admire your perseverance. I've queried on and off since last March, and have gotten nothing but form rejections (and no responses) after 37 queries - not even a single full request. At this point, I've pretty much given up on the idea of ever getting an agent or being published.

[@alyssa.and.the.books.]

It really does feel so desolate most of the time, but keep going! You never know when the timing might come together

[@MrRosebeing]

Other drinking vessels are available. Writing is difficult and gives back very little. Do it because you love doing it, not for fame or money. You will be disappointed.

[@leenaronalds4155]

Are you drunk?