tktkCongratulations, Kensi, that’s awesome! I’d love to see your query whenever you’re able to share it.
I did something similar in moving from my first agented book to the one that sold: read comps and reined myself in hard. For me, simplifying my out-there ideas was also key.
Thanks, Barbara. I wouldn't want to do that yet as nothing is signed on the dotted line while the others read, but I rewrote it at least 30 times. I also hired two different query editors who helped me hone. The key for me was to be SPECIFIC - not use vague generalities like "But her life would change forever" but to say exactly what was happening without giving away the twists. Also to make sure I had stakes. "If she doesn't X then Y will happen." It wasn't easy, believe me! Haha.
30 passes seems about right. Writing the query is undoubtedly harder than writing the book.
If those query editors helped, one or either of them, consider giving them a shout-out. (I wasn't one of them, so I can say that.)
Congrats again, and may good news come your way before you can say "agented author."
Thank you, all. I had a second offer and three more are frantically (?) reading before the deadline tomorrow.
Thank you, all. I had a second offer and three more are frantically (?) reading before the deadline tomorrow. One offer would be easier! This is all very surreal considering the demoralizing query hell I went through not very long ago!