5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Sending My First Query Letter

Here are five things I wish I'd known before sending my first query letter:

1. I wish I knew about the query critique on Evil Editor. Let me warn you: NOT for the faint of heart. But, if all you want to hear is how great your query is, then you may not be ready to query. I didn't find out about this site until well into my query journey. And my ass was handed to me each time I posted - but my query got stronger and stronger and stronger. I often wonder how much shorter my query hell would've been if I had known Evil Editor existed before I'd emailed a single query. Hindsight is 20/20.

ADVICE: Get query feedback from reputable sources and get a lot of it. Don't take one person's opinion as gospel - get a ton of opinions. Join She Writes. It has a plethora of valuable information. Also visit Darcy Patterson’s site – tons of query information.

2. Back in 2008 I wish I didn't take the gushing of family members (obviously well intentioned) as a sign from God Almighty himself that my first novel was ready to query. It wasn't. I have always been a "get it done and get it done fast" kind of person. I wish I would've been patient and let the book sit and stew for a while - taken my time with it. But I didn't. I rushed and it cost me countless rejections and frustrating moments on my journey.

ADVICE: Don't be fooled into false confidence when it comes to your first novel. Do everything you can to get feedback from industry people and fellow writers. How? Go to conferences, join a writer's group, submit your work to public contests. Visit Writer’s Relief for solid blog posts packed with helpful information.

3. I wish I knew the power of a solid critique earlier. I didn't let another writer read my manuscript until I had written my fourth novel. Yet I continued to query that first novel, which desperately needed a re-write. I just didn't know it yet. The rejections continued to pile up for that book. After my crit parters gave me solid feedback on my fourth novel I queried it. And the requests came in quick - ultimately landing me my first agent.

ADVICE: Let a select few writers you trust (like, 2 or 3) read your work and give you feedback. It is crucial.

4. I wish I joined QueryTracker.net earlier. Oh, I used the site frequently but not as a paying member. After joining—for a measly $25/year—a whole new world of information opened up to me and it helped me be very precise as to who I queried and when. That site is just an incredible resource, and I can not sing its praises loud enough. And no, I have no affiliation with them whatsoever. I'm just a lover of what they provide.

ADVICE: I'm thinking it's obvious. Check out the site and you'll see.

5. I wish I didn't compare my query journey to other writers. Yes, I know it's human nature, but it's also extremely unhealthy and seriously gets in the way of success. I wish I'd had the mantra of: This is your journey, not anyone else's. Instead, I did a lot of comparing and boo hoo'ing. I wish I didn't do that.

ADVICE: Do everything in your power not to compare. Every writer is different. Every book is different. Every agent is different. Your query journey is your journey for a reason. Learn from the obstacles put in front of you and don't be distracted from doing so by comparing yourself to others - it gets you nowhere. Trust me.