I did meet my reading goal of 15 books in 2022 because my reading slump that started in 2020 finally ended last September. It feels so good to meet my goal half-way into the year. (This was completed as of June 23!)

I don't know how to make StoryGraph only give me stats for 3 months (only one or all of a year.) So this includes my first quarter reads as well. 

The pie graph says I've been reading adventurous, emotional, and dark stories the most. This is spoilers for my two favorite reads this quarter.

This year I'm primarily a Fantasy reader with a large amount of LGBTQIA* rep. Young Adult (which I write and therefore read) and Science Fiction follow those up.

The spikes in the third month of each quarter intrigues me. I'm not sure why I read more books in those months. Here's to another 24 books!

For months I have wanted to post some advice on querying. You may have already seen the advice I'm going to give. However, I've come across many writers who query without getting up-to-date advice and make mistakes. The worst that happens is the writer gets a form rejection. The best that happens is the rare agent who will tell you what mistake you made so you can improve. But why get rejections when you could be getting requests?

All agents have manuscript wishlists and guidelines. The wishlists may be on their agency agent page, their own website, or on the Manuscript Wishlist website.

• First, agents may be opened or closed. Do not try to query closed agents. They will often delete your query unread.
• Second, each agent has the genre list and age categories they represent. Sending outside of those will earn you only a rejection.
• Third, each agent and agency will have guidelines on the agency website and often repeated on an agent's personal website or the manuscript wishlist. Follow them!

Common guidelines include what they want in the query package. It will make your life easier if you have the following already saved in a folder.

• Query Letter (should be under 400 words total)
• Synopsis (most agents want a 1-page single spaced letter, 250-750 words, 1000 words on the outside)
• First 5 or 10 pages in manuscript format OR First 1-2-3-5 chapters in MS format OR First 50 pages in MS format [These are the common page requests.]

In short, NO!

Generally, once your query is off to the agent, you let it be until they respond. There are agents who accept query inquries, but it's rare. Querying has been slow for the past three years. It will take some time for most agents to get back to you. Have patience. Query more agents, write your next book, distract yourself.

In short, NO!

The vast majority of rejections are form rejections. Often personal rejections may not give specific advice for improvement. Emailing the agent or DM'ing via social media to plead for personal response is generally frowned upon. 

Obviously, if the response is a request or asking for contact, then of course you follow-up!
​If you have an offer in hand, then nudging (a follow-up) is considered appropriate. 

Don't have agents be the first reader of your manuscript. Get readers for your manuscript and get feedback before querying. You may be nowhere near ready to query and then you blow your shot. Agents typically frown upon getting second queries on the same story they rejected, even if rewritten.

Get feedback on your query package from other querying and recently agented (seriously recently, as in the past year or two) writers who have been around the block.

Query using a currently accepted query letter format. There are many blogs and resources on query letter format - but make sure the advice is within the past couple of years.

Query following agent guidelines - synopsis the length they ask for, the number of pages they ask for you to send (or none at all if they are query letter only), etc.

Response times are long, invest in Query Tracker to have an idea when you might expect a response. 
Accept the response as given and move on.

Ideally, you'll find yourself a group of writers who are querying, who have been querying, who have successfully queried (that means groups with agents authors who stick around and give advice). These groups are a lifesaver and are available on many social media platforms. 

In June I posted twenty-one (21) story for followers to read. Here they are all rounded up!

Hibernation Heirloom by Chelsea Mueller was published by The Sunday Morning Transport in June.

Your Inheritance Will Taste of Salt by Karolina Fedyk was published at Fireside in 2019.

Eternal Haunted Summer published Beneath an Unknown Sky by Dawn Vogel in June.