It seems to take forever to be ready to query. I queried the novel I'm currently working on after its first draft - I make no apologies for this... I had no idea what I was doing - and never heard back from the agent. Luckily I only did it once, and I can't even remember who the agent was. It took a couple of years to investigate why the novel wasn't good enough (yes I'd come to that conclusion after being ignored by a single agent) and it turned out to be simply that I wasn't good enough yet - the idea was solid but required major development. After using those two years to learn how to write at a higher level, and getting involved in the process of publishing via a writing group, I bit the bullet and started on a complete re-write, and completed the first act two days ago. It's harder work than I ever imagined, but I now have a polished first act - at least to the limit of my own creative capability. By the middle of the year I'll be ready. Your videos are so encouraging, Alexa. Thanks for supporting and helping us all like you do.
Great video! An agent recently tweeted that for her a query that is agent-ready captivating is one that includes: 1. Who is your character? 2. What do they want? 3. How are they going to get it? and 4. What happens if they don't get it? This helped me not only figure out my query, but as I re-wrote my query it also some plot holes in the novel that needed fixing.
I’m really glad I found your channel. Up till this point I was convinced to never try to traditionally publish by so many other channels. I understand it’s going to be hard either way, but at least I know to try both now.
I was binge-watching you yesterday while typing my work in progress, and you really inspired me. Thank you so much Alexa. One request though, could you please make a vid on how to choose a title for your book?
So the key is to be strategic. I think you should query your dream agent at the point where you have a lot of full requests, and enthusiasm seems to be high. You're looking for the right momentum point. Sometimes if an agent is reading and wants to set up a call, that gives you a window: leave at gap of at least 24 hours before the call so you can query the dream agent before the official offer. (it's not kosher to keep querying once you have an offer, so you have to play it carefully)
How does workshopping work? How do critique partners work? How do you ensure your great ideas do not get stolen or influence the people reading your drafts?
I think a lot of us needed this because there is a lot of information going around but there’s always small hold that makes all the difference especially to people like me. I need a step by step, all in the details, get to the point... so thanks you for this video.
Great tips especially the one about how long it takes a Critique partner to read your book. It’s so easy to lose patiences with them or nag them about reading your story. I like how the questions you suggested refocus the responsibility back to the writer.
Thanks for this! I always think I can “do more” for my WIP... I just have to recognize my “best effort” rather than aiming for perfection (which isn’t possible) 😂 FOMO is such a thing for me too...I don’t want to sit on the manuscript too long, so I gotta let go of fear in general.
This is such a helpful video as always! I do have a request for a future topic. I would love to hear your advice on prepping for in-person pitch sessions!
With my current WIP it's an interesting story. I wrote it as a novella in 2018, sent it to two beta readers on Fiverr and one editor via Writers Services who all gave me useful feedback and made me realise that the book was nowhere near done. I left it alone till 2020 when I completely revised it (initially it was an adult satirical dystopia but I changed it to a YA satirical dystopia with more absurdist humour and themes). Two people in my fb group read it and liked it a lot, now I'm doing another self-edit and read through and then going to pay for an editorial assessment via Jericho Writers UK. If they think your book is great they find an agent for you via their database. But even if not at least I'll know what steps to take before it is query-ready. It is nerve-wracking though especially when working on a project for a long time. I also put aside another project which was a YA fantasy novel which I didn't think was quite ready either. Sometimes you just have to leave a book for a while and then come back to it with fresh eyes.
*listens to first few seconds* Aw, man! *listens to rest of video* Fine. I guess all of that is useful, even if it does mean that I still have to keep working on this thing. Thank you for a timely video from a newer fan. :)
I'm sorry if you explain this in another comment -- or if you have a video on this, feel free to link me! -- but how do you distinguish between tiers of agents? Do you mean by their sales or six+ figure deals, or some other way? This is such an incredibly informative video! I've just discovered you recently and I'm so glad I have.
do you think, if you were to get requests in the earlier "rounds" of querying: should you continue querying until you get to the "last round" before sending in partial/full manuscripts and then pick and choose from all the request, or respond round by round, only to turn down a lot of potential offers in the end? what would you guys do?
I have a question that might be a future video topic for you if you have ideas and the time to bother. I've started my second round of small batch queries. I sent a few out last night. My question is how do you prevent the worrying and seizing up during the slow drag of time waiting on replies? I never envisioned being such a mess. Wondering about my book baby and these query letters is interfering with my sleep, it's stifling my creativity on other projects. I've been eating less. I've been grumpy in waves off and on with people. I walk my dog every day. That time is usually spent working out plot concerns and new ideas in my head while she sniffs around and pees. Not lately. No, for the last month it is like my brain is an old record player and the needle is stuck in a grove: "Will anyone like it? Will anyone like it? Will anyone like it?" AHHH! So that's where I'm at. I'd like to get to work on something else but I can't seem to chill. Ideas?? Thanks ahead of time. And wonderful timing for this video. Take care. Jeff
I just finished my non-fiction book. I originally wanted to traditionally publish but I wasn't sure it fit with traditional publishing as its very niche oriented, maybe a niche in a niche haha. Although it is a topic that has potential and their are more people interested in the subject then one may think...anyways...how does someone know if their book is right for traditional publishing verses self publishing. I decided to self publish which means I am marketing on my platforms and publishing is in the next 2 months. To now consider getting an agent leaving the book out there for another possible year is not what I imagined. I plan to write another non fiction though and wonder if that would be a reason enough to want to traditional publish knowing I will be writing another book on a similar niche topic. I also have a novel idea that I've started writing and wonder if this book would be better to plan on going the traditional publishing rout....Any thoughts?
I know this is an older video but if you see this great! How do you go about creating the agent list? I don’t know much about the publishing industry and don’t want to fall into getting scammer agent.
If I am getting rejections on my manuscript from agents saying, "Unfortunately, this simply isn't for me, but this is a very subjective business, and I hope you find someone." Is this a secret code? Is it TRULY not for them or is it a kind way of saying the book isn't good enough? I feel silly to ask this, but I've gotten fourteen rejections that do have some personalization to them, but they all just say that it's not for them and to "keep going." But I don't want to keep submitting if it's simply a bad book or there's something that keeps people from wanting to read it. XD I feel like I'm somehow paranoid.
That is a form rejection, actually. Unfortunately b/c forms are so vague I can't really say what it might mean? Have you posted your query to pubtips? Perhaps they could take a look?
@@AlexaDonne I have not tried PubTips... I will do that. I've worked with a few people on the query but haven't gone that direction. Also, thank you for enlightening me on the fact that they are, in fact, form rejections. It's good to know!!
Hey Alexa, is there any chance you would do a video on what it's like to become a public figure/ how to deal with the stress that comes with being a published author? I'm just about ready to query my novel, but I keep stopping myself because I'm a bit terrified of the idea of being published. Once your book is published, people know your name. I'm afraid that hate mail or bad reviews or creepy DMs will trigger my already rampant anxiety. This fear is paralyzing! It makes me never want to let people read my book again. How do you deal with this?
She has a vid with the word importer in its title that covers this area that might help you. Also watch her vid on reviews not being for the author. I have anxiety too and her vids have helped.
Great video! I've been working away at a manuscript for a while now and I'm hoping to start querying soon! Would you say that it's best practice to have a manuscript edited professionally before sending it out on query, or do a fine-tooth comb and a couple good critique partners work? Asking for a broke college student :)
I 100% DO NOT recommend that writers seeking traditional publishing hire a freelance editor. I think it's a waste of money/potential scam. I have a whole video on it! (you can search my channel) If you're going to be trad-pubbed, you should be able to self-edit with the help of CPs, and then once you sell the editor at your pub will work with you. So no money required :)
Great video, thanks Alexa! I’ve had a couple of short comments in my rejection responses - they ‘enjoyed it’ but it wasn’t for them or they ‘admired the quality of the writing’ but weren’t ‘completely drawn in’ by the opening chapters. Does this indicate the need for more revision or do I take this as the subjective opinion of agents? It’s so hard to know.
Those are quasi-forms--meaning it could be personal, it could be form, but they're pretty common stock responses a lot of agents (and editors!) use. I means you've got raw talent (anytime they compliment your writing it's a good sign, though they can be telling you that your prose is technically good but you're missing other story craft elements), but they're just not connecting. Indeed this can be subjective, but I always encourage writers to look at their characters on the page, how they're starting the book--you could be starting in the wrong place, your pacing could be dragging, you could be info-dumping too much. The options are endless (which is what makes vague rejections frustrating). But I say it always comes back to character--make sure your POV character is as vivid as possible, that you're making clear what they want and who they are, so the reader cares. Also definitely look at pacing though.
Honest question. I know the manuscript should be polished before sending it in but how many rounds of edits do you suggest? I have a finished manuscript and I'm editing it now so this would be round one of full edits for me.
It really varies author to author, and you have to go with your gut. The average writer though should have revised at least twice, IMO. One pass for major developmental edits and one for continuity and polish. But it really does vary!
I'm struggling with this right now, I was going to query my manuscript (around 10 revisions/edits and have been working on it for a year and a bit), but think it needs one last bigger revision based on notes from readers and critique partners. But I can't face it right now. My plan is to be away from it for a few months and come back with fresh eyes. Though it's hard to put it aside.
Often putting it aside is the best thing! Also, you may already know about this and don't know if your ms is YA, but there's also programs like Author Mentor Match--those can be good things to try, to basically bring in a mentor to help you get query ready.
@@AlexaDonne My novel is closer to Adult than YA, though I've had conflicted opinions from readers and critique partners on the subject. The main character is in her early twenties, with a middle-aged supporting role, and a couple of older teenagers in more minor roles. I've been interested in Author Mentor-Match, it's a great opportunity, but I'm unsure if my ms is the right fit for the program.
@@katiestewart7926 Is the MC the sole POV character? Is it written like a YA? Could it reasonably be aged down? Then you might be ok. (there's also the rare one that doesn't have to be aged down and still sells as YA, but it is more rare)
@@AlexaDonne She isn't the sole POV, the ms is in third person. If needs must, the mc could be aged down. I'm inclined to say it's not written like a lot of the YA I pick up, but it might be (I'm at the point that I'm so close to it I'm starting to loose perspective). I worried some darker scenes and concepts would keep it from being YA, but the genre (if a whole age group can be called a genre) is getting darker, with novels like "Sawkill Girls" and "The Conquerors Saga" (And I Darken) in mind. There's a lot of variables to keep in mind. I'll look more into author mentor match, you never know if you don't try :)
In my query bio portion, should I put my ghostwriting experience? Seems like a gray area because there is so much stigma on authors using ghostwriters but ghostwriters are prolific, professional writers.
@B. Gordon But... you need constructive criticism in order to make your book better. Cheerleader feedback doesn't help anyone improve their book. A writer is able to articulate issues in a way a regular reader cannot. CPs have a ton of value, and great writers utilize them.
If you’re not on Twitter, I’d recommend joining as that’s where I’ve found all of my critique partners/beta readers. There’s a great writer’s community on there ☺️
5:52 OMG. I sent my manuscript to 10 people and my friends, only one has gotten to complete it after 2 months. I purposely gave them around Christmas and the holidays to have time way back in November since some are in college still. I finally asked them a few times and a few of them opened it. I was freaking out mid Dec because I needed it back the first week of Jan. Then finally one of my friends was like the pacing is off... 😮 and she made it to chapter 10. No wonder 🫠. Luckily I’m going back to edit after my old Wattpad reader gave me feedback last weekend.
