Two weeks ago I started querying literary agents about my middle grade dog novel, which I’ve been revising since attending Highlights’ Whole Novel Workshop in August.

I chose 5 agents who are very experienced and seem like they’d be interested in this story. I want an agent with great connections, who communicates well, and who understands marketing.

To help normalize this process, I thought I’d give you an update on my agent queries and research. Of the 27 agents I’ve queried so far, 7 accepted queries by email, 1 by a form on the agency website, and 19 by Query Manager.

Finding an agent who’d be interested in your novel seems fairly straightforward in these days of social media and the Internet. There’s so much information available. And yet—so much information means even more to review and assess for fit. It can be time consuming for sure.

There is so much good advice on the internet and in books about querying literary agents. Sometimes, though, it helps to see how one writer goes about it. That’s what I’m doing in this post—explaining my query process for my middle grade mystery.

After being able to say “I have an agent” for the last two years, I’m now back in the hunt for a literary agent. Looking for an agent is kind of like a treasure hunt for me. Lots of clues to decode about their interests and how my work might fit their list.