I mentioned in the query updates video about how I stopped and revised my query package after the first round of 24 queries didn’t result in more than 2 full requests (at this time still waiting on a response from the second one, if I have an update when this goes live I’ll put it *here*)

I didn’t send all 24 out at once. I had my tiers of agents who used Query Manager and were responding quickly, like 1-2 day turnaround quickly first. What’s great about agents who use Query Manager is I can see all the queries they get (not the actual query but the genre, length, if it was responded to) with QT Premium. So from the first seven or so I could see that 5 of those agents skipped my query. This could mean two things, either it got lost in the ether of the internet, OR they liked the query, it piqued their interest, and they were saving the sample pages to go back and read later.

This certainly leads to more obsessive checking as I can see if they are working their way through their “maybes” or “skips.” 

So after those first seven, one of which asked for the full manuscript, I had a good idea that my query letter was good. I sent out a few more than a few more based on response rates and started to see more skips, but ultimately agents were passing. So the query letter was still getting me on a skip or maybe list, but good enough to catch their attention in a sea of queries. But maybe the sample pages weren’t landing. Maybe there was a disconnect between what I was selling in the query and what they were reading in the pages, maybe it didn’t grip them enough. 

So as more of the longer response time, rejections came in (again, rejection sucks, but it’s better than silence) I was a little daunted at the idea of sending more queries. Because maybe nothing was wrong and this just wasn’t the best fit for these agents, or maybe I misspelled my own name or some other glaring error or the whole thing needed redoing. So in our weekly catch-ups, Jason asked me about how querying was going and was I sending more out and the testing strategy. And I expressed my doubts. So he asked if there was a coach who could help. I do coaching for self-publishing to help people make a plan and ensure they aren’t missing anything, did that exist for queries. And I said, yeah it does. Remember Alyssa who I collaborated with? She does exactly that. So we looked at her packages and I reached out that night about working together. She reviewed my sample pages and my query letter.  And her slogan is “your story – stronger” Couldn’t be a better fit. She provided edits to just tighten up my query letter, to really make it shorter without losing the heart or voice. She had great tips for the sample pages that didn’t involve a total rewrite, these were strategic revisions and moving some text around and I think it is much better now. 

So part of her package is two rounds of revisions on the query letter so I just this morning sent back the revised query with some questions on what to include in the bio section. I’m planning to start query round 2 once I have incorporated this next feedback and see how that goes. Having a professional give this a look after critique partners helped to shape it is giving me a lot of confidence going into round two. (Unless I get an offer in the meantime in which case, I’m still happy!)

I wanted to share my experience working with Alyssa, with having the testing mindset on my query package and knowing when to ask for help because I’m guessing a lot of authors in the querying trenches feel the same way. You can only revise and revise and revise this short letter so many times before you go bonkers over which article or comma to place here or there. I obviously believe in working with coaches,I am a coach. Alyssa did a great job communicating, she was on time with her deliverables, and she is encouraging. And I want to say all that before I send out more queries. Because maybe I don’t get an agent (dear universe, I am NOT manifesting that, I am very specifically asking you to help me get an agent and book deal and maybe sell the tv/film rights too, okay) but the success I am measuring in working with Alyssa is “do I feel more confident in this next round of queries?” She can’t guarantee any results because the entire industry is subjective, but she can and she has made her client feel more confident so I’ll have a link to check out Alyssa’s channel and her services below.

Okay, what have you been doing to test and modify your queries? Are you at a point where you feel like each query is moot before you even send it? What indicators do you look at in Query Tracker to help inform any revisions? Again, I’m sharing and being so vulnerable about my rejections here so any love for this video in the form of likes, subscribes, thanks is much appreciated. 

Alyssa’s Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic

My video on her channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwh1ql_AB3A&t=96s

Her video on my channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTk9CeCHexk

I mentioned in the query updates video about how I stopped and revised my query package after the first round of 24 queries didn’t result in more than 2 full requests.

I didn’t send all 24 out at once. I had my tiers of agents who used Query Manager and were responding quickly, like 1-2 day turnaround quickly first. What’s great about agents who use Query Manager is I can see all the queries they get (not the actual query but the genre, length, if it was responded to) with QT Premium. So from the first seven or so I could see that 5 of those agents skipped my query. This could mean two things, either it got lost in the ether of the internet, OR they liked the query, it piqued their interest, and they were saving the sample pages to go back and read later.

This certainly leads to more obsessive checking as I can see if they are working their way through their “maybes” or “skips.”

So after those first seven, one of which asked for the full manuscript, I had a good idea that my query letter was good. I sent out a few more than a few more based on response rates and started to see more skips, but ultimately agents were passing. So the query letter was still getting me on a skip or maybe list, but good enough to catch their attention in a sea of queries. But maybe the sample pages weren’t landing. Maybe there was a disconnect between what I was selling in the query and what they were reading in the pages, maybe it didn’t grip them enough.

So as more of the longer response time, rejections came in (again, rejection sucks, but it’s better than silence) I was a little daunted at the idea of sending more queries. Because maybe nothing was wrong and this just wasn’t the best fit for these agents, or maybe I misspelled my own name or some other glaring error or the whole thing needed to be redone.

I’m planning to start query round 2 once I have incorporated this next feedback and see how that hoes. Having a professional give this a look after critique partners helped to shape it is giving me a lot of confidence going into round two. (Unless I get an offer in the meantime in which case, I’m still happy!)

I wanted to share my experience working with Alyssa, with having the testing mindset on my query package and knowing when to ask for help because I’m guessing a lot of authors in the querying trenches feel the same way. You can only revise and revise and revise this short letter so many times before you go bonkers over which article or comma to place here or there. I obviously believe in working with coaches, I am a coach. Alyssa did a great job communicating, she was on time with her deliverables, and she is encouraging.

Alyssa’s Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AlyssaMatesic
Alyssa’s Website: https://www.alyssamatesic.com/
My video on her channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwh1ql_AB3A&t=96s
Her video on my channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTk9CeCHexk

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