Help! It's Time to Query My Novel
First thing’s first: I basically know nothing about querying full-length novels. I've written three novels and shelved the first two (they were practice).
And yet, here I am, diving head-first into the mysterious world of novel submission. The process feels veiled and shimmery, like I'm trying to pull back some secret curtain.
Well, maybe it's not so mysterious. And maybe I know a tiny bit more about querying than I think I do. In fact, on any given day, there's a good chance I'm reading Loud Coffee Press submissions to help determine if they’re a “right fit.” Further, Loud Coffee Press routinely rejects hundreds of excellent pieces simply because they’re not a “best fit.” But, it doesn’t mean they’re not great. Perhaps this is a good perspective to keep in mind during my own querying process. I may not be everyone's cup of tea, but someone may find me a best fit.
So, back to my initial dilemma: I’ve never queried a novel before. Therefore, to the internet I go to figure out how everyone else does it. Here’s what I’ve figured out thus far. Forgive me in advance if I've managed to get this all wrong.
1. Plan for this process to take an extraordinary amount of time. I've been at this for about a month and have just about managed to compile my list of potential agents.
2. Polish your novel to a shine. This isn’t a time for half-drafts or almost-dones. My research revealed that agents aren’t looking for drafts. They want your nearest version of a complete book.
3. Next, compose that query letter! I binge-listened to the podcast “The Shit No One Tells You About Writing,” by the super talented agents at P.S. Literary Agency. After hours of hearing critique on letters submitted by other writers, I feel pretty good about the state of my own letter. The most surprising change in my query before versus after the podcast? It was that I thought I had a decent first draft. Turns out I was way off.
4. Begin your agent search. Steps one through three seemed easy compared to this (and yes, I’m talking about how step two suggests you write a book). One suggestion I read was to register for an account on Publisher’s Marketplace and create a target list of around 25 to 50 possible agents based on comps (or similarly sold books).
I’ve also utilized the following resources so far, all of which seem very helpful:
This blog post that contains a database of successful query letters
5. Ink up your printer and stock up on enough paper, envelopes, and stamps to handle the job ahead. (The Dollar Store came in very handy for this step.)
6. Submit and track. I created my own spreadsheet to keep track of agent details, submission preferences (email or postal mail), date submitted, timelines, response, etc.
7. Don’t stop writing. A willing agent may ask to see your social media, how you interact on social media, and other work(s) in progress, so be prepared to show yourself as a fully-formed writer!
And that's... that. Here I type, with my meager steps humbly placed before you to ask: what am I missing? What other resources have you used? What tips and tricks do you have for me, and anyone else navigating this process for the first time? Share below!
The “best fit” perspective is such a helpful way to frame rejection, especially when the process can feel so personal. Your breakdown makes the research stage seem much less mysterious, and I’m saving it alongside tools like this png text editor for keeping my submission notes and simple visuals organized. Good luck with your agent list!
The “best fit” perspective is such a reassuring way to approach rejection, especially after putting so much work into a manuscript and query. I also enjoyed the illustration alongside the post—it made me think of tools like photo to drawing for giving an image a similarly expressive feel.
Querying really is a marathon—best of luck with your submissions! When I was polishing my manuscript, one fun trick I used for fleshing out character personalities and deep archetypes was running fictional birthdays through this Mayan Astrology Calculator based on the Tzolk'in calendar. It's a surprisingly inspiring tool for adding psychological layers to a cast while taking a break from query prep.
Querying a novel sounds tough! When I need a brain break from writing, I play toon tone game to sharpen my color skills. It's fun and helps me refocus.
This is so relatable as a newbie! Your step-by-step breakdown demystifies novel querying. Definitely saving your resource list. Visual inspiration comes in handy too when designing my author platform - maybe a nice css gradient generator for the site background.