Oh, query trenches, how I loathe thee! Querying can be sooo hard and discouraging: you send your heart’s work into the void, hoping someone will connect with your story, and then you wait—and wait, and wait some more. To make matters worse, even if you have an excellent query, a kick-ass synopsis, and wonderful opening pages, there’s no telling whether an agent will be interested.
My Query Journey
I started querying my debut novel REBEL PRINCE this year. I did my research: I spent hours Googling the sh*t out of the querying process: I learned about the key elements of a good query letter, how to write a short and long synopsis, how to research agents, and so on.
Then, I sent out approx. 20 queries (in batches, of course), which ended in just as many form rejections AND one full manuscript request (which also ended in rejection—albeit a very kind one).
I started doubting myself: why did I only receive form rejections? Was my query letter not up to par? Were my first pages not voicy enough? Was this just the name of the game? I had so many questions, but no answers. Until…dun dun dunnn: Query Camp!
Query Camp
Created by New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young, Query Camp is a weekend-long virtual event exclusively for alumni of the Writing with the Soul community. If you are part of the community and ever have the opportunity to join Query Camp: do it!
Two 12-hour days filled with teaching sessions, agent panels, and group discussions about the harrowing world of querying—with direct input from some of the industry’s most successful and up-and-coming agents. YAY!
Cabin Crew
For the duration of Query Camp, I was assigned to the Hummingbird Cabin. Together with approx. 20 other writers, this is where we shared the ups and downs of camp life (and author life). The vulnerability and encouragement shared in my cabin were a beautiful, heartwarming thing to experience, and I will definitely stay in touch with some of my cabin buddies (HUMMINGBIRDS FOR LIFE).
Camp Counselors
Each cabin is led by a Camp Counselor, who is an agented writer. The Counselors share their personal experiences, answer questions about the querying process, and lead group discussions. After camp, my cabin buddies and my Counselor provided feedback to my query letter to help me get ready for the Query Camp Shopping Book, which will go directly to the agents who participated in the event so they can “shop” the Query Camp pitches in an exclusive submission.
Community
When I first signed up for Adrienne Young’s Writing with the Soul workshop in November 2021, I knew I would be embarking on a treasured adventure. The workshop helped me hone my craft, sharpen my voice, and find my writer’s creed. I also became part of the AMAZING community of WWTS alumni: fellow writers who are connected by their love of storytelling and their dream to be a published author. They are driven, hard-working, inspiring, and lovely people—I’m so grateful to have found them. They are the best cheerleaders!
And now…back into the trenches I go, but not before I share some inspiring words and lessons from Query Camp:
- Write the book you really want to write
- You can do anything you want if you do it well
- It only takes one “yes” in a multitude of “no”
- The people who have success in traditional publishing are the ones who refuse to give up
- Be intentional