It was so helpful to hear your process. Thank you for sharing, and congratulations on finding your agent! 🎉 I'm very happy to have reached the querying stage, and also to be working in the sequel to my book. I agree, it's important to be working on something else at the same time.
Interesting and I agree with much of what you have said. The big problem I find is that many agents don't respond at all these days. They don't even give an indication of a timescale when you know you have been rejected so you could find yourself waiting for a response that never comes. You are absolutely right in advising to start writing another book which is what I have done. I have sent of 12 queries and just 2 rejections so far in around six weeks. Like you I was at oine time head of PR sdo I know my way around!
Thanks for your comment! In the UK, most agents do have bounce back auto-responses that give you guidelines of when to expect a reply, and if it's beyond that timeframe, to expect it being a 'no'. Most agents are hugely swamped so not entirely their fault, but I completely understand that it's hard not to have any response at all! Best of luck with your querying journey ☺️
Watched this video ten days ago but came back to it today because I was writing the first draft of my query letter! And even though a few things in the query journey are different here in Germany your video helped me a lot - thank you very much! :)
Oh there are a lot of differences. But first of all there are only a total of around 30 agencies that are a fit for my genre and you don't really personalise your application (you just adjust your documents a little bit). There are no personal informations about the agents and therefore you can't know what is interesting for them - you can just go with the knowledge of other authors that are represented by this agency. Agencies won't usually work with you on your manuscript. It's expected that this work is done beforehand or is this minor that it is directly done with the publisher after the manuscript is sold.
It’s more of a nice encouraging message, especially if you’re still in the beginning phases. I’ve finished my draft however since I’m a loser with zero friends and even family members who laugh at my aspirations for being a published author. I don’t have anyone around to proofread my manuscript. So I’ve hired an editor to look things over from my manuscript to my letters.
Great video! Very helpful. I'm struggling with writing my first query letter right now and really appreciate what you said about patience. My first novel wasn't good enough to query and I'm really glad I waited till I have something I really believe in to even attempt this arduous process. Congrats on getting an agent.
I’ve watched so many of these videos and was surprised I learnt something new! Everyone else has been cagey on when to ‘nudge’ agents. My query letter is literally driving me crazy. Your advice on not querying too soon was the bitch slap I needed. My word count was way too high and I’ve just done a re-edit. I def queried too soon! Will stop pressuring myself so much 😂
This is such a helpful video! Thank you for this! Also, apologies if I missed this, but if you get a rejection from an agent for one book, is it okay to reach out to that same agent again about a different book?
So pleased it was helpful! Yes you can reach out to the same agent with a different book, but I would definitely space it out a bit to show that you've carefully considered your query and that the book is the right fit for the agent. Hope that helps!
The word count issue with agents is the bane of my existence as a new writer and quite unfair. In the middlegrade fantasy genre agents seem draconian about being under the wordcount made up numbers for a first novel. They dont care what story mechanics you used. Even though the novel itself is fine. But agents wont even look at it if your manuscript is over a few thousand words over the targets. (even with several edit drafts). This has been my experience to date. Very frustrating
Thank you, this video was so helpful. I was wondering if in the about me section of the query should I mention past experience writing in a different genre under a pen name?
I'm about to launcch into this myself, my only real worry being that my novel length is a bit much for what's apparently recommended. Sci Fi, recommended says 90K-125K and after several revision edits i've only gotten mine down to 143K. Is it dead in the water?
Hi there! Yes I would say if your book is over 120k words, you really should be looking at ways to cut it down before querying. Either be savage and cut sections out entirely, or find another natural ending for the book and make it into a series. Sadly some agents will automatically reject due to the word count. Good luck with your querying journey!
@@thebookbelle that's a problem, since it's already the first in a series and the wordcount has already been slashed through several editing runs. Crap.
Thank you for sharing your story, it was informative and inspirational. I do have a question, which may seem like an obvious one. My fantasy is at a massive 220k words. And I've downed it from 250. I know it's still too much, but if I cut it into two parts, leaving me with about 119k for the first, I've run into a problem which is that the first book doesn't have a substantial ending (which is contained at the end of the second half). I heard that any book you put out should have a proper ending, but would cut off so much if I placed that ending in the first. My question is, is 220k words a guaranteed rejection?
I’ve literally had the same issue! I queried at 165k words and was told thought rejections it was too long even for fantasy. But most agents didn’t comment on length so I was left wondering. I finally cut it to 100k plus bonus chapters. Thankfully I had a good place to do so and only had to add a few sentences and a new epilogue to set up the next one. But now I’m left with 58k words for the 2nd one in the series and all the big reveals and cliffhanger are there. Plus now I need to change my synopsis and query letter. I guess I’ll see what response I get from agents. Really, only already published authors can do massive word counts.
Thanks for your comment! Sadly (as I know it’ll be a lot of work!) I think you would need to cut it massively to max 120k words and try to round off the story as much as you can. It can of course be part of a series and definitely mention that in your query letter, but an agent would need to find the book you’re querying with as a complete book that fits within the genre word count conventions to consider it! Best of luck with your query ☺️
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! I really liked this video and would love to hear more on your querying process.
Thanks so much for watching - glad you enjoyed the video! ☺️
This was so comprehensive. Thank you so much!!
Thank you!
This video is so valuable. Thank you!
It was so helpful to hear your process. Thank you for sharing, and congratulations on finding your agent! 🎉 I'm very happy to have reached the querying stage, and also to be working in the sequel to my book. I agree, it's important to be working on something else at the same time.
Best of luck on your querying journey! ☺️
Interesting and I agree with much of what you have said. The big problem I find is that many agents don't respond at all these days. They don't even give an indication of a timescale when you know you have been rejected so you could find yourself waiting for a response that never comes. You are absolutely right in advising to start writing another book which is what I have done. I have sent of 12 queries and just 2 rejections so far in around six weeks. Like you I was at oine time head of PR sdo I know my way around!
Thanks for your comment! In the UK, most agents do have bounce back auto-responses that give you guidelines of when to expect a reply, and if it's beyond that timeframe, to expect it being a 'no'. Most agents are hugely swamped so not entirely their fault, but I completely understand that it's hard not to have any response at all! Best of luck with your querying journey ☺️
This is so straightforward and complete. Many thanks!
So pleased it was helpful! Thanks for watching ☺️
Watched this video ten days ago but came back to it today because I was writing the first draft of my query letter! And even though a few things in the query journey are different here in Germany your video helped me a lot - thank you very much! :)
So pleased it was helpful and good luck with querying ☺️
That's great. How is it different in Germany?
Oh there are a lot of differences. But first of all there are only a total of around 30 agencies that are a fit for my genre and you don't really personalise your application (you just adjust your documents a little bit). There are no personal informations about the agents and therefore you can't know what is interesting for them - you can just go with the knowledge of other authors that are represented by this agency.
Agencies won't usually work with you on your manuscript. It's expected that this work is done beforehand or is this minor that it is directly done with the publisher after the manuscript is sold.
Omg best video, so happy that I found you! 🌸
ah so pleased! Thanks for watching 🥰
I loved the video! ❤❤❤
Thanks so much for watching! ☺️
I don’t even have a first draft I don’t know why I’m watching these videos 😅
It’s more of a nice encouraging message, especially if you’re still in the beginning phases. I’ve finished my draft however since I’m a loser with zero friends and even family members who laugh at my aspirations for being a published author. I don’t have anyone around to proofread my manuscript. So I’ve hired an editor to look things over from my manuscript to my letters.
Great informative video and congratulations 🎉👏
Great video! Very helpful. I'm struggling with writing my first query letter right now and really appreciate what you said about patience. My first novel wasn't good enough to query and I'm really glad I waited till I have something I really believe in to even attempt this arduous process. Congrats on getting an agent.
Best of luck with your querying journey and thanks for watching!
Thanks for these tips. They really help!
So pleased the video was helpful! Thanks for watching :)
Thank you so much!
Thanks for watching!
Ty..really helpful!
So pleased you found it helpful! Thanks for watching 😊
I’ve watched so many of these videos and was surprised I learnt something new! Everyone else has been cagey on when to ‘nudge’ agents. My query letter is literally driving me crazy. Your advice on not querying too soon was the bitch slap I needed. My word count was way too high and I’ve just done a re-edit. I def queried too soon! Will stop pressuring myself so much 😂
Best of luck with your querying journey and thanks for watching! ☺️
This is such a helpful video! Thank you for this!
Also, apologies if I missed this, but if you get a rejection from an agent for one book, is it okay to reach out to that same agent again about a different book?
So pleased it was helpful! Yes you can reach out to the same agent with a different book, but I would definitely space it out a bit to show that you've carefully considered your query and that the book is the right fit for the agent. Hope that helps!
What is suggested length for historical fiction?
I would say between 80k - 100k words - no more than that usually!
The word count issue with agents is the bane of my existence as a new writer and quite unfair. In the middlegrade fantasy genre agents seem draconian about being under the wordcount made up numbers for a first novel. They dont care what story mechanics you used. Even though the novel itself is fine. But agents wont even look at it if your manuscript is over a few thousand words over the targets. (even with several edit drafts). This has been my experience to date. Very frustrating
Thank you, this video was so helpful. I was wondering if in the about me section of the query should I mention past experience writing in a different genre under a pen name?
So pleased it was helpful! Yes absolutely, I would mention your other books under your other pen name. Best of luck! ☺️
I'm about to launcch into this myself, my only real worry being that my novel length is a bit much for what's apparently recommended. Sci Fi, recommended says 90K-125K and after several revision edits i've only gotten mine down to 143K. Is it dead in the water?
Hi there! Yes I would say if your book is over 120k words, you really should be looking at ways to cut it down before querying. Either be savage and cut sections out entirely, or find another natural ending for the book and make it into a series. Sadly some agents will automatically reject due to the word count. Good luck with your querying journey!
@@thebookbelle that's a problem, since it's already the first in a series and the wordcount has already been slashed through several editing runs.
Crap.
@@smokinggnu6584 best of luck with it! ☺️
Thank you for sharing your story, it was informative and inspirational. I do have a question, which may seem like an obvious one. My fantasy is at a massive 220k words. And I've downed it from 250. I know it's still too much, but if I cut it into two parts, leaving me with about 119k for the first, I've run into a problem which is that the first book doesn't have a substantial ending (which is contained at the end of the second half). I heard that any book you put out should have a proper ending, but would cut off so much if I placed that ending in the first. My question is, is 220k words a guaranteed rejection?
I’ve literally had the same issue! I queried at 165k words and was told thought rejections it was too long even for fantasy. But most agents didn’t comment on length so I was left wondering. I finally cut it to 100k plus bonus chapters. Thankfully I had a good place to do so and only had to add a few sentences and a new epilogue to set up the next one. But now I’m left with 58k words for the 2nd one in the series and all the big reveals and cliffhanger are there. Plus now I need to change my synopsis and query letter. I guess I’ll see what response I get from agents.
Really, only already published authors can do massive word counts.
Thanks for your comment! Sadly (as I know it’ll be a lot of work!) I think you would need to cut it massively to max 120k words and try to round off the story as much as you can. It can of course be part of a series and definitely mention that in your query letter, but an agent would need to find the book you’re querying with as a complete book that fits within the genre word count conventions to consider it! Best of luck with your query ☺️
@@thebookbelle Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time out to answer this
@elishevahmonrad8591 yes, I know it is tough to tell a story in all of its parts and still fall in the accepted criteria. Good luck with yours!