For our 125th episode, Marissa and Joanne talk all things query letters! Answering listener-submitted questions, we cover such topics as:

How do you know when you're ready to query?
How do you find an agent to query?
Should you send your query letter in batches?
How do you find relevant comp titles?
How do you step back and get a big picture view of your pitch?
What do you put in your bio if you don't have a writing degree or publishing experience?
How do you choose an agent if you receive multiple offers of representation?
When is it time to move on to a new project?

And more! 

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Marissa chats with Britney S. Lewis about her surreal zombie romance - THE UNDEAD TRUTH OF US - as well as working with underlying metaphors in your fiction, and how your themes might change and expand as you explore the deeper meanings of your story; balancing poetic prose and surreal descriptions with authentic dialogue and characters; writing heart-wrenching scenes that have the power to make your readers cry; thoughts on that age-old advice of "write what you know"; challenges and considerations of developing a unique romance (such as, when the love interest is sometimes a zombie…); the undeniable truth that persistence in necessary when it comes to the dream of being published; and bonus: our adventures in learning the Michael Jackson Thriller dance! (#lifegoals)

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Marissa chats with Alicia Thompson about her contemporary romance - LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS - as well as some of the benefits and challenges of writing your romance in first person point of view; a more informal approach to outlining your novel; infusing your character's voice with your own unique sense of humor, to hilarious effect; striking a balance between sustained romantic tension and a believable falling-in-love arc; describing small moments, gestures, and facial expressions to help clue your reader into the thoughts and feelings of your love interest; and a shared favorite trope: the "when I fell in love with you" speech.

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Gina Chen about her debut fantasy - VIOLET MADE OF THORNS - as well as how readers tend to pick up on themes and symbolism that speak to them, regardless of what the writer might have intended; using fun relationship dynamics and internal conflicts (such as clashing personalities and varying moral codes) to enhance an enemies-to-lovers trope; some things to consider when including prophecies as a plot device, and two different methods for writing them (plot first vs. prophecy first); why the "flashlight method" might be right for you, especially if your process falls somewhere in the middle of the plotter/pantser spectrum; and how to overcome some of the challenges specific to fanfiction writers who want to start writing original works.

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Melissa See about her YA contemporary romance - YOU, ME, AND OUR HEARTSTRINGS - as well as how life experiences like drama and theater (and playing Dungeons and Dragons!) can benefit your writing career in unexpected ways; treating your disabled characters with the authenticity and respect they deserve, and reframing your own perspective to avoid disability sensationalism in your work; immersing yourself in music in order to describe the act of playing and listening to music in your prose; writing two dynamic voices in your duel point-of-view story by infusing each character with different aspects of your own personality or experiences; and tips from a professional digital marketer on what to do on social media to promote your author career - while recognizing that doing the best you can do is enough!

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Derrick Chow about his debut middle grade - RAVENOUS THINGS - as well as how fiction, and horror in particular, can help young readers who are experiencing  periods of grief (and how writing fiction can help us work through our own difficult emotions, too); considering the growth and character arcs of not only your protagonist, but supporting characters as well, and how they can all contribute to the larger theme of the story; some great tips on writing a character who has an unusual way of speaking, such as the importance of reading that character's dialogue out loud to keep it feeling natural; deciding whether your new idea is best suited to an illustrated or prose format; and why you might want to step back from a manuscript that is giving you lots of trouble to work on something else for a while - even if you've had interest from an agent.

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Sara Ella about her new Alice-inspired retelling - THE WONDERLAND TRIALS - as well as some of the unique challenges that come with writing retellings, such as deciding what liberties you can take with the original source material that will both surprise and satisfy your readers; keeping a checklist to ensure you're being true to your vision and including all the ideas and details you care most about; the simple joy of leaving "Easter eggs" in the text for readers to discover; why writing puzzles and riddles in book format (as opposed to the big screen) can be so bloody difficult!; the importance of putting restrictions and weaknesses into your worldbuilding and magic system, even when that world is based on nonsense and impossibilities; and a bonus non-writing topic: What it's like to play a beloved character at Walt Disney World!

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Rebecca Barrow about her YA murder mystery - BAD THINGS HAPPEN HERE - as well as looking at the types of books you like to read to help you decide what you should be writing; the huge role that voice can play in achieving a stark, chilling vibe for your mystery or thriller; how to develop both settings and characters that have layers, depth, and secrets; using your protagonist's unique perspective to highlight those elements of your story world that you most want readers to pick up on; deepening your characters by taking a closer look at the choices they are making, and what is motivating those decisions; and some things to consider when determining whether to tie up all those loose ends, or to leave some subplots unresolved.

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Rachel Menard about her debut Greek Myth-inspired fantasy - GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM - as well as making the tough decision to put a novel on the backburner, which is not the same thing on giving up on it entirely; how imagining your story in a totally different genre can lead to unique and unexpected developments in your worldbuilding; writing a retelling that will surprise readers, even those who know the original story; some things to consider when it comes to including multiple points of view, and how to decide which POV to use for each chapter; why motive plays such a huge role in characterization and can help to make your unlikeable characters relatable and your antagonists redeemable; and crafting a magic system with rules and limitations that will constantly challenge your protagonist. 

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Marissa chats with Hannah Orenstein about her new romance - MEANT TO BE MINE - as well as how the beloved genre ideals of "fate" and "soul mates" can come with their own problems, and how to leverage those to add believable conflict in your romance; crafting lush settings that will whisk your readers away while also introducing that aspirational lifestyle element that many readers crave; using the outline stage to explore possibilities for various subplots before committing to your final story, and how the path not chosen can be used to create dynamic relationships; why having the right day job can go a long way when it comes to balancing your career with your writing goals; and how the best method for keeping your ideas fresh is to get out there and live your own life.

The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org
Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Order The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781250362377

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/