The Querying Project

When I first started querying, I did what I do best: I made a list.

Actually… I made a spreadsheet.
A beautifully organized, multi-tabbed, color-coded spreadsheet.
Because at heart, I’m a project manager. And project managers don’t leap—we track.

I had watched YouTube videos by other aspiring authors—some seasoned, some just starting out like me—and I felt encouraged by how generous people were with their process. So I opened a blank Excel workbook and titled it Agents to Query. It felt bold. And terrifying. And also a little thrilling.

Then I did what any research-loving, deadline-driven person would do:
I Googled “literary agents for upmarket fiction.”

So what is upmarket fiction, anyway?

It turns out, upmarket fiction lives in that lovely space between literary and commercial—books that make you feel and think. Books you might recommend to a friend who loves character depth but also wants something they’ll stay up late to finish.

That felt like home for me.  That's exactly what I'm writing.

So I started finding agencies—one by one—and added them to my list.

Then I discovered QueryTracker.

If you’re not familiar, QueryTracker.net is a site where writers can track submissions, research agents, and see what agents are requesting or rejecting (anonymously, of course). It felt like stumbling into a secret society of spreadsheets already made by people just like me.

I paid the $20 for the premium version and instantly thought:   “Why didn’t I start here?”

No shame—just growth. (And several copy/paste hours I’ll never get back.)

Fun Facts:

• There are over 450 literary agents that like upmarket or commercial book club kinds of manuscripts

• Summer is a timeframe a lot of agents are on vacation

• If you use query tracker, a lot of agents are set up to automatically update the tracker when they shoot you their rejection email (ask me how I know this....ok, don't)

• Query tracker let's you put notes and custom rank the agents you want to watch.  It also puts checks next to Agency names so you don't accidentally query two agents in the same office at the same time.

• You can also set up different projects in Query Tracker if you have more than one book to track your submissions.

• You don't have to subscribe like I did to submit a query using Query Tracker.  But you will limit yourself to tracking your queries using a spreadsheet, which, as my proof of concept demonstrated was great...just not as efficient I want.

Then came the prep phase

Before I sent a single query, I:

• Drafted a generic query letter I could customize

• Wrote a short, medium, and long synopsis

• Wrote a short, medium, and long author bio

• Researched comps (books similar in tone and audience to mine)

• Created a note section in QueryTracker for what resonated with me about each agent

And then… I started writing the custom queries.

My goal: Connection, not just submission

I took an entire day to customize the first round of queries—making sure each letter reflected what I believed that agent would connect with, based on interviews, Manuscript Wish Lists, or other books they’d represented.

It was time-consuming. It was brain-taxing.
It was exactly what I’d want someone to do if they were pitching me a story I’d carry into the world.

The Launch: 20 Queries

Yes, I sent 20 queries to start.
That’s a big first round—but I knew from the incredible querying community that I’d receive:

• Some ghosting

• Some “This isn’t quite right for me” replies

• And hopefully… eventually… one “Yes.”

As responses start to come in, I’ll send out another small batch. I’m not racing—I’m strategically placing each query like a seed. Some won’t take root. But some might.

Final Takeaways (so far)

• Start with research, but don’t stay stuck there forever.

• Customize your query—but protect your energy.

• If you’re thinking, “I can track this myself…” just go ahead and spend the $20 on QueryTracker. Trust me.

This is a long game. And I’m fully vested in finding these stories a home.