Welcome, writers! I'm so glad you found your way here.
While working on my debut novel THE DISAPPEARANCES I learned a little about writing, the querying process, rejection, and the publishing industry. I'd love to share what I know, and I hope some of the information here can be of help to you.
A Little Peptalk....
There are many people who know much more about writing and publishing than me, so I'm sending you to drink from their wells of wisdom with a collection of links below.
But if I were to pick the most important things I've learned about writing and publishing, it would be these:
Read everything you can get your hands on, especially in your own genre. I wish I could go back in time and take my own advice! My writing improved exponentially when I started reading more YA fantasy because I learned with each book.
Whenever you're watching a movie, reading a book, or hearing a story someone's telling, ask yourself--what about this caught my interest? What moment made me like or dislike the character? What made my interest wane? What can I learn from every single story I experience?
Don't be afraid to write something bad. Your first draft will not be perfect. No one's is. But get it down on the page and then edit, edit, edit. Then edit some more.
DO NOT QUERY WITH YOUR FIRST DRAFT. Let it sit for a few weeks. Look at it with new eyes.
Be vulnerable and show it to someone who can respond with a mixture of encouragement and tough love by pointing out what blind spots you're missing. Don't be surprised or crushed when they find some--blind spots exist for everyone! (*Unfortunately I cannot personally take a look at your writing, but check out SCBWI, Grub Street, or your local library for some leads on finding a beta reader or critique group.)
Remember that the people who are getting published are people who have spent years learning their craft. It's been said it takes 10,000 hours to master something*. Another popular mantra I've heard is that often the difference between those who get published vs. those who don't is simply persistence. Part of the process is developing a thicker skin and learning how to incorporate feedback--skills you'll need to have when you repeat the same process again with an agent and then again with your editor.
Now edit some more.
Ready to query? See below!
Resources
Some resources I found helpful throughout my writing and publishing journey
John Truby, Anatomy of Story (*More for screenwriting but it helped me better understand story structure)
On Querying
Ah, the querying trenches. Navigating them can be equal parts crushing and exhilarating--but the payoff is so worth it. I got my wonderful agent, Peter Knapp of Park and Fine, from the slush pile. I didn't have industry connections or advanced writing degrees. I didn't win any contests, belong to any associations or meet him at a conference. So be encouraged: slush pile success stories happen!
But this is a game with so many players that you can't win unless you know the rules--and follow them to the letter. One agent estimated that she got 35,000+ queries and took on 7 new clients in a year. (Her stats from the last few years are here, if you want a deeper dive.) So take your time to learn the query process and get your query right.
None of the following advice is original--just culled from wise people and places over the last few years. I'm hoping that some of these insights and links will help you land the agent of our dreams.
When Querying:
Make sure the agent you're querying is legit. Charging a reading fee is a giant red stop sign.
Make a spreadsheet of agents by agency name, agent name, date you queried, and response. Query 5-10 agents at a time.
You don't necessarily need to do extensive personalizing but make sure you're getting their name correct and that they actually represent your genre. Make Manuscript Wishlist your best friend.
Never send a mass e-mail.
Always be polite.
Follow their submission requirements (found on their website). If you don't, it can be an automatic rejection.
If you're not getting any bites for partials or fulls, you may need to rework your query. This is why you only query a few people at a time: so you can re-evaluate based on your response rate and, if needed, make a shiny, new-and-improved query to try on the people you have left on your list. Some agents will let you try again if you have substantially revised your query or sample pages; many ask that you don't.
It will take a long time for a response--longer than you think you'll be able to stand, sometimes. Go work on something else while you're waiting. A lot of writer friends got an agent on the fourth or fifth book they queried.
You will get rejected. It will hurt. Some of us got rejected 50+ times before we found the right fit of reworking our queries and honing our manuscripts. I'm forever grateful for a few agents who took the time to read early chapters and, even if they passed, gave me a few lines of constructive criticism to help me grow. It was of no benefit to them, and they had no reason to do it other than kindness.
Just keep repeating to yourself: rejection is a rite of passage for every writer. And it makes success taste that much sweeter.
Querying Resources
Literary Rambles (One of my absolute favorites to help you personalize and tailor your queries)
The world needs your stories. I hope this was a little bit helpful, and I am wishing you all the best of luck so that we can celebrate your book being on shelves some day!
Xx, Emily