Querying Journey: Updates as of March 2023 from the Querying Trenches

Some numbers so far:
The first query was sent on January 23rd
Sent a total of 24 queries between Jan 23 and Feb 13
2 full requests, one has already passed, and one is still pending as of the time I’m recording this
5 have lapsed the standard 42-day wait window so assuming a pass with those
12 rejections - ouch (well actually 13 since the one agent who asked for a full then passed - extra ouch)
And the rest I am still waiting for a response or for that 42 past period to expire
Here is what I’ve learned so far and my experience so far. If you are a published author or agent watching this and I have something incorrect - PLEASE COMMENT WITH A TIP!! Help me!! Thanks
What is a query package?:
That package is the query letter, the synopsis, and the sample pages. Each agent asks for something different. Some have also asked for a one-line pitch, some have asked for the bio or the comp titles separate from the query letter, and some have asked why their agency.
Regardless of what the agent calls these documents, you pretty much need all three.
Yes, that’s correct. An agent has requested a full for my manuscript and while I really want to work with this agent and I hope the feeling is mutual, I’m going to keep querying until I am signed with an agent. I’m not putting all my eggs into one basket.
Querying Mindset
And this goes to my mindset. I addressed this a bit in the first video about how when I wrote my very first books and queried them a decade ago - a decade, I can’t be that old. 2010. 2023. More than a decade ago. shocked eyes - I had the wrong mindset. I found the biggest authors of the time and researched their agents, didn’t even look at the genres they represented, mailed out - yes mail in an envelope, carried by a dinosaur across the country to new york - and crossed my fingers. I wasn’t strategic. I assumed each non-response was a judgment passed on me as a person and then when that mean author cut me down it just validated all those negative feelings.
This time around I’m more of the mindset of, “hey do you want to be business partners in bringing this book to market?” Each rejection still stings, but my first thought isn’t “oh my gosh my writing sucks, I’m a failure” (that’s my second thought), My first thought is okay, this wasn’t the right fit for them right now. Even if they said they were looking for exactly what my book is, well maybe they just signed an author with a similar book and they don’t want competing titles, maybe they are really looking for something different on their MSWL right now, or maybe they just had lunch but the sandwich shop messed up their order and they're preoccupied. Especially for the agents WHO ACTUALLY SEND A RESPONSE, I’m like, “cool, thank you for letting me know, happy trials.”
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[@Katlyn_Duncan]

Loving these updates. Crossing my fingers and toes for you!

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you!!!

[@StephSchmitt]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you :) This was a great video!!!

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you!!

[@loriarmstrong4941]

Two full requests in this little time is AMAZING and shows how much potential your work has. A friend spent nearly a year querying…but then landed a very high end agent and editor and book deal! And yes, everyone wants something different…it’s like that made-up card game in Star Trek.)

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you for the encouragement and kudos to your friend!! These positive stories are keeping me motivated

[@klash4631]

You’re undaunted, that’s a good thing. If you can glean any feedback, you will be that much more closer to greater success. Kudos for the insight & sharing.

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you!! It easy to be optimistic on some days, others I totally feel the raging imposter syndrome. It's an ebb and flow. Thank you for the words of encouragement!

[@SDHuston]

The process of querying sounds so frustrating, but I'm rooting for you! Hopefully you'll hear back soon from that second full request 👍

[@1MKWilliams]

I hope so too! And yes, I'm not know for patiently sitting around so I'm learning to trust the process. My cuticles and fingernails are paying the price.

[@EstelleVandeVelde]

Good luck with continuing the query route :) Watching your video makes me think I might want to sent to more than 5 agents at a time, hahaha. I'll go on query tracker to check out US-based agents (I just did the UK ones).

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you! We all have a process that works for us. Can't wait to hear your updates as well. We can do this 🤞🤞🤞

[@patriciadanna7433]

I've started to query traditional, and so many of the agents I'd love to query are closed to submissions!

[@1MKWilliams]

Oh no!! We'll keep checking in on them. It may be temporary. In the meantime you can perfect your query letter and package. If they miss the opportunity to represent you and your book, too bad. They snooze they lose

[@EmmaBennetAuthor]

It can take SO long to hear back from agents and publishers. I think writers are often reluctant to chase up!

[@1MKWilliams]

I'm learning to be more patient every day. It's a tough muscle to train

[@kevinbrown6034]

Kudos to you for giving querying a shot and hope it works out. There's no reason why a self publishing author can't query; why not, at the least you can say you did it. You do have to wonder, however, about those agents who behave like Cheshire cats, and present like: "If you can solve for me these riddles three...then you can query me." Those are generally the ones to stay away from, I think. It's a passive aggressive way of saying they don't really like their jobs and don't want to be bothered.

[@ulkeshkosh6164]

Dealing with rejection is hard. I submit SF & F short stories to magazines. I've had 113 rejections. 1 shortlist. Zero acceptances. All I do after a rejection now is update my spreadsheet, send it out again, then get back to writing another story. Repeat to infinity.

[@1MKWilliams]

I totally relate to you on that. At least that process is sliiiggghhtttllyy improving with Submittable and you know someone has at least seen it. The email ether submissions are always the most nerve-wracking. Best of luck to you and please share when your story gets published!

[@Yggdrasilcreations]

I got a full request from an agent 9 months after i sent the query letter. 8 months later she finally send me my rejection.

[@1MKWilliams]

Oh no!! What a bummer! But Im sure if one agent wanted a full then another will as well. So many authors don't even get that far. I hope you feel confident that your book is wanted just from that request.

[@taylorpingelton4946]

Question is querying is apart of trad how is it different from self publishing, im just asking because I’m trying in the process to get this book published but I’m college student so I’m trying to find a way to make this easiest. What is your advice about the querying and this part of the publishing and if you do one publishing style for one book could you do the other for another down the road when aka more time while having control over what going on. Let me know and if you have any other advice. Taylor:)

[@1MKWilliams]

When you go the query route you are pitching an agent to ask them to sign you on as a client so they can sell the book to a traditional publisher. The agent has an exclusive right to sell the book once you sign with them, so you would forgo the self-publishing route for that book once you sign with an agent. If you decide to self-publish you would not query any agents, you would work on editing and making a publishing plan. There is no short or fast way to publication. Your book deserves the time to get it right so it has the best chance for success in the market.

[@taylorpingelton4946]

Question is there a process that both combines aspects self and trad publishing? Or you just have to pick a path and stay on it

[@1MKWilliams]

@@taylorpingelton4946 pick a path. Vanity presses try to combine the two but end up being the worst of both aspects and many are very predatory towards newbie authors

[@AlyssaMatesic]

The synopsis inconsistencies are SO annoying. One of the worst aspects of querying for sure 😩

[@1MKWilliams]

I wrote two versions, one I call my executive synopsis at 400 words, the other is longer at 1200. I like having options