Welcome, this is a weekly interview series with other querying writers for querying writers. For first time querying authors, querying is the process of trying to find an agent for your manuscript. The right agent will be able to help you prepare your manuscript for submission to publishing houses, broker book deals, and hopefully establish and grow your author career.
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Alix who also goes by @KelindaAlix on X (formerly known as Twitter) and on Instagram.
Alix, can you tell us a little about your writing journey? Did you start out writing for fun or always know you want to be traditionally published?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I could remember, but I didn’t actually begin putting my fingers to the keyboard until my thirties after I finished grad school (in medical research). I knew I wanted to be traditionally published, although I’m not sure I fully understood what that entailed until I was knee-deep in querying for the first time—it’s a grind!
With a background in science rather than writing, I improved my craft through practice, a lot of googling, some coursework, and by networking with other writers. My third completed novel was the first one I bothered to query. I did secure an agent, but did not sell the book and have since returned to the trenches.
All this to say that everyone’s writing journey will be different, and none less valid, but what all writers need is perseverance and determination!
Think fast, name 5 things that you do while querying that are not repeatedly checking QueryTracker or your inbox.
Besides constantly tweaking my query letter and opening pages?
To distract myself, I love to refocus my writing attention on short stories and/or a new WIP. I also enjoy yoga and find the yogi mindset can be very helpful for enduring the querying experience (if you follow me on X you’ll see I’m constantly sharing inspirational quotes from my instructor). Not sure that’s five things but hopefully no one is counting…
You’ve mentioned that you’re a big reader! How do you balance between life commitments, reading and writing? Are there any specific genres you read while writing or while querying?
Audiobooks. I cannot stress how amazing they are! As a mother with a full-time job in addition to my writing aspirations, squeezing in a few chapters while commuting or doing dishes allows me to stay current in my genre. I also read at least one chapter of a physical book each night—although recently I devoured The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center and got very little sleep.
I tend to search for comparable titles in the early stages of a WIP and shortly before querying/submitting. Otherwise I like to diversify my reading. I frequently get inspired by genres outside the ones I tend to write. (Book reviews featured on my Instagram @KelindaAlix).
I see that you’ve had a short story published as well as won first place in the 2023 Writes of Summer Short Story contest! In contrast, your querying manuscripts have ranged from 60,000 to 80,000 words. What do you like about writing in these different styles? Do you have a preference or current favorite?
Short stories are such a great way to actually finish a project and receive some recognition in a publishing world that seems to progress at a slow crawl. I also enjoy being able to try out other genres or experiment with different writing styles without committing to a full manuscript.
I’m incredibly proud of my first-place win for Water Wounds (link available on my homepage AlixKelinda.com), a dystopian story I wrote in just THREE DAYS after receiving three random prompts, in this case “a boat”, “earmuffs”, and the phrase “that’s so cliché.”
I’m a little addicted to these types of prompt competitions as they stir up ideas I never would have had otherwise. They are a great way to get the creative juices flowing or to distract you from refreshing your inbox.
Rejection is tough, and there’s plenty of it when one goes through the querying process. What comes to mind when you receive a rejection and do you have any advice for other writers that may want to stop querying after getting a rejection?
Honestly, I keep thinking it will get easier but the rejections continue to sting. And that’s OKAY. Let yourself feel it, pour yourself a glass of wine or go for a run, just don’t let the negativity linger. Combat feelings of doubt by remembering the positives as well—how often do we forget a beta reader’s gushing review and instead fixate on a form rejection?
Also, and perhaps most importantly, find your people! It helps to know we aren’t alone in this process, that even the most talented writers experience rejection and setbacks, and having a good querying buddy/group allows you to vent and get that much-needed pep-talk.
Then it’s time to let it go and move on to sending out that next query or working on that next project. Who said the only difference between a successful author and an unsuccessful author is that one of them didn’t give up?
Finally, I absolute love the comps you have for THE CHRISTMAS CURSE. Would you be able to give readers a short pitch?
Thank you! I’m a constant tweaker so right now I’m pitching my laugh-out-loud rom-com THE CHRISTMAS CURSE as having the humor and spice of The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, the holiday hijinks of Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle, and the emotions of a Katherine Center novel.
“When a woman whose Christmases are quite literally cursed gets saddled with a holiday-obsessed neighbor, she fears he’s been sent to ruin her only safe space, her home, but when sparks ignite they team up instead, concocting a plan to break her curse, and hopefully find their Merrily Ever After.”
Thank you again to Alix for taking the time to share her experiences and knowledge with the writing community. Don’t forget to follow her on X here.
Love,
EJP