August marks two years since I submitted my first query letter to a literary agent and, coincidentally, in August 2026 I’ve entered the query trenches again, armed with a brand-new book and pitch. I’m excited about this new story – with, in my opinion, a stronger sense of where it sits in the current market and its commercial appeal – but that doesn’t mean I’m not terrified of the process once again.
When I first queried my debut novel, Cornelia Fairfield and the Darkened Heart (published 19 May 2026 by Cranthorpe Millner) I think I was naive in my approach. I knew it would be difficult, and I’d undertaken a lot of research that told me the harsh reality of what querying is like – it’s not called the trenches for nothing! But I think I misunderstood how draining the process was mentally. I knew it would be difficult, but I thought it couldn’t be as bad as everyone said – I was very wrong. The lack of communication and the waiting for a response that probably would never come was the hardest part, and then there was the lack of feedback. I completely understand that agents are swamped with submissions and cannot provide feedback, but I genuinely didn’t have anything to work with to understand why my manuscript was being rejected – and I still don’t. I often wonder if it was the word count, the comp titles, or just market trends. This summer it appears that pirate- or nautical-themed books have flooded the market, and my debut is not out of place. Before my manuscript was accepted by my publisher, I needed to a hard edit on the word count, which suggests to me that may have been a sticking point during the querying process.
Advice for querying writers
Anyway, that’s all in the past now. It was a process that I learned a lot from, and now I’m taking a different approach to querying. I’m researching agents in more detail and focusing whose interests really align with my book and the type of story I’ve written, as well as looking at the book from a more marketing standpoint and pulling out those tropes or key selling points.
For anyone who is thinking of querying, my advice to you would be ensure your word count is in the range for the genre you’re writing in – a lot of information can be found online, although it can differ. I also learnt that while you may be inside the appropriate word count, some agents have their own guidelines. This brings me to my next point: researching agents! I mean specifically pulling out elements from their Manuscript Wishlist and seeing whether your story and pitch align with their interests. At the end of the day, your agent needs to believe in your story as much as you do in order to champion the work to the best of their ability.
The next tip for querying is very much about protecting your mental health. The querying process the first time round made me feel very disheartened and a little depressed because when you’ve put your heart and soul into crafting a story, all you want to do is share it with the world. And when it feels like the world doesn’t want it, it’s heartbreaking. Couple this with the lack of feedback, long response times and often the flashy success stories that seem to take over social media, just when you’ve had another form rejection can often feel overwhelming. I’m often much better at giving advice than following said advice, but taking a step back from social media can really help, while it can be filled with really supportive writers also suffering in the trenches, you need to take everything with a pinch of salt. I’d suggest working on another book or idea that consumes your thoughts during that time, limit have many times you check your emails or query tracker status (yes, I know it’s difficult) and take breaks when you need to.
Querying is a long process and sometimes it’s alright to take a step back and gain a little headspace from your manuscript. For any querying writers reading this – good luck!
The pitch
I’m currently querying a YA fantasy novel with a slow-burn, opposites-attract romance, high-stakes adventure, and a fairytale setting (the first in a planned duology).
A sheltered archivist and a cursed shadow-wielding assassin must work together to find an ancient artefact before a vengeful goddess’s wrath destroys the kingdom. Think one-bed trope, witty banter, world-ending stakes, and a rather dashing assassin. Perfect for fans of Disney’s Tangled / Rootbound by Margaret Owen, Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley, and Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.
Stay updated
Amy is a writer and reviewer and her action-packed debut novel, CORNELIA FAIRFIELD AND THE DARKENED HEART is available in paperback from WATERSTONES and independent bookshops, and ebook (with an exclusive bonus chapter only on Kindle / Kindle Unlimited AMAZON).
Stay updated for writing updates, reviews and exclusive content by subscribing to Amy’s newsletter.
Sign up to Amy's newsletter for exclusive content, updates and reviews!