How I Got My Agent
I can't believe I get to make this post. It still feels surreal.
Where do we start?
My life is just a constant chain of the domino effect screwing me over and then giving me victories after the hardships. There are so many aspects to this story that prove how the domino effect can change your life so drastically and even though at the time it may seem like the worst things are happening to you. It eventually will all work out for the greater good, and I thank God it has.
So seriously, where do we start?
We've got:
My English Tutor
My Dad Dying
COVID-19
BookTok
And I guess for those who don't really care about my waffle, I'll provide you with where the real querying story starts here
My Too Cute for this World English Tutor
So I guess every writer has that one person or thing that ignites their writing career. My Aunty Jacqueline was my catalyst <3
My mother, bless her cotton socks, decided that I needed an English tutor because I was getting straight B's in English (jokes on her because I ended up with a B anyways). I was reluctant, I always have been with education—it brings me so much stress. But lessons with Aunty Jacqueline didn't feel like lessons. She saw something in my writing that no one else did, and convinced me that I could write. Setting me creative writing tasks every session to get my juices flowing.
Every child needs an Aunty Jacqueline.
In a way this story starts with her because without her, I would've never wrote (the dreaded) bad boy wattpad story*. I would've never been on the app, and got the validation from all the comments that maybe I actually can write. Lastly I would've never seen the fake movie trailer I based the plot of WAHP (the book that got me my agent) on.
What's even funnier is that in the early stages of querying she sent me my agencies website and I accidentally ignored the message (look at me blocking my blessings BUT what's for you will never pass you by!!!)
*I must also add, if anyone does ever find the wattpad story—which to be fair it's not hard to—I'M NOT INVOLVED. It was the bad boy era. I'll leave it at that thank you ✋🏾
My Dad Dying
The story also starts here, mostly here. There are so many deep dives I could get into about how if my dad didn't die I probably would not have written this book. I love my father with my whole heart, his death still brings tears to my eyes whenever I think about cancer or even him. It's even bringing tears to my eyes as I'm writing, but I'm not here to make anyone sad. This is a joyous post.
My dad died when I was fifteen, a month before mine and his birthday, and just a few days after my oldest brothers. It rocked mine, my siblings and especially my mother's world apart. Upon reflection, I don't feel like I was allowed to properly grieve my dad. I was too close to the end of my GCSE's, and there was a lot of familial pressure to do well because I now had to make him proud. I was back to school, less than a week after he had died. My friends were shocked, I didn't even have time to process my shock because I just had to get on with it. So I did.
I did well in GCSEs. I was an average student, B's and up so the A's and A* I got I think helped my mum come to terms with it. I did good and I had made my father so proud. I believed it then, I believe it now too.
But then A-Levels came, and I did not do well.
Whilst my dad was alive, he always said I should strive for greater. Why be a midwife when I could be an OB-GYN. So that's what I did, I took Biology, Chemistry and History set out to go to med school. On the first day of class I knew I was kidding myself, and by the end of the first term I dropped Chemistry, Med school dreams shattered, and I felt like a failure.
Midwifery courses here I came but I didn't realise how much that weight of not failing did to me. I was so depressed during A-Level's, I barely studied, I was at a new school—yes with my friends but not in a familiar environment—I hated it. Truly truly hated it.
So as I said, I didn't do well. I felt like I had failed, didn't act on my dad's and family's dreams for me and didn't make them proud. I got into nursing school because I couldn't even achieve the grades to be a midwife. It was that bad—it wasn't, but at the time I felt like it was—I had to take six months out, watching my friends party at uni and get stuck in on assignments and make cool friends whilst I stayed at home working to occupy my time and not sit in how alone I actually felt.
It took me a while to come to terms with it all but I wouldn't have changed starting uni late for anything. I met some of the best people, who played a part in the next parts of the story and again without them, this post wouldn't be possible.
The Dreaded COVID-19
COVID is a touchy subject for some, so many lives were lost and we got to see the heights of just how stupid the British government was.
For me, Covid brought about so many mixed emotions. In November of 2020, the UK went into its second lockdown and I was forced to pull out from my nursing course.
I am what would be labelled a vulnerable person when it came to COVID—I've never felt like my chronic illness caused issues for me, in fact I was part of the extremely lucky percentage who it's awful symptoms never affected.
But it was a health risk to have me out on the wards in case I caught it. So instead of moving me to online school/placement, they said. "Ah well, it was nice whilst it lasted. You've gotta stop studying until things get better, When that is who knows, but we won't update you either. "
It was nice at first, just like in the early pandemic, no responsibilities. Could hang out with my friends whenever I wanted, got to bond with them like I never had before. Plus all of that free time meant that I had time to write WAHP when normally I wouldn't.
Until January hit and I was still not back on my course. It dawned on me I wouldn't be able to graduate with my friends if I didn't start placement in the April.
So I pestered, and pestered and pestered. The pandemic still wasn't great but in my eyes—someone who had never been sick before, wanted to graduate with her friends after already being six months delayed in the beginning, constantly comparing myself to my friends back home, and feels like they have no sense of purpose without their course. I was ready to go back, even if it meant risking my life.
Obviously they didn't see it that way.
We now get to the next part of the story. The most current events I guess.
How BookTok Changed My Life
So in 2019, I met the friend I now share my booktok with, very annoying creature but she's alright <3
One day me and said creature found out that we shared a love for books. I don't know how that happened but somehow we decided to start a BookTok. Whilst I was ready to start going by April, everyone else around me—the smarter individuals who didn't pick courses that depended on placements and could still be studied despite the pandemic—had and were drowning in assignments and adjusting to online learning.
In honesty, and don't tell her I said this. If I hadn't told her that I used to write (barely) and pitched WAHP to her, it wouldn't have been written. So whilst she is a gremlin, I do owe her a lot.
She made me feel like it was possible, and she saw my writing go from dog poo, to the writing that got me my agent. Alpha reading, and coming up with cool concepts for the book. She pulled me out of that depression funk I was in from not knowing what to do myself to somehow writing a whole book.
We facetimed to keep each other accountable, and to give me something to do. She'd write her assignments, and I'd write my book. It was a daily routine that I'm so thankful for.
Sidenote: can you believe even after all of that she rated it a three? She hates me, But anyways🙄
Our BookTok is what I'd like to think quite successful, and we've made a lot of great connections on the app. Especially with the author, who helped me get my offer. Crazy to even say.
Also, hi Etta if you're reading this. No I didn't forget about you, yes I love and appreciate you too <3
The Avengers of Colour
This is where the agent story actually starts haha.
In August 2020, I was back at placement, I had a great summer, finished revisions and had multiple amazing 21st birthday parties. Life felt like it was life again.
My placement was really boring because it was a COVID safe zone so I had a lot of free time. One shift whilst avoiding all my responsibilities (if the NMC ever finds this, I was working on my practice book for hand in!) I came across the Avengers of Colour mentorship scheme created by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé for writers of colour on Twitter.
I applied, figured I'd give it a shot and didn't think much of it. Until I got an email from my would be mentor (and future NYT/Award winning author) Tammi Jahan saying she wanted to see more material from my book.
The optimist in me was like THIS IS GREAT, SOMEONE THAT'S NOT MY FRIEND WANTS TO SEE MORE. The pessimist in me screamed oh God, imagine she sees more and hates it.
But that wasn't the case so always think positively! She took me under her wing, I joined Team Phoenix and she has been the best mentor from the beginning. Her notes to my query letter alone got me all of my requests. She is a true gem to this world and I can't wait for publishing to be blessed by her work.
The avengers of colour mentorship also helped me get into the writing community properly, and without my avengers (the cutest set of authors ever) I'd be lost. (Literally, I have asked them the dumbest questions) I'm so eternally grateful for all of them, they are my rocks and again, I can't wait until publishing is blessed by their work.
In October I did my first pitching contest, DVPit and did pretty well! But I then made the mistake of letting my excitement make me send off all my queries when I don't think my MS was 100% there.
The excitement agents showed from my pitches made me feel so good inside, like they could be the one, and then the rejections poured in and I just. It was shit, a very shitty feeling.
I barely queried for the months of November-December because I didn't know how much rejection I could take. (Mind you I had only queried about 7 agents total and had only been rejected by three, so I was being a drama queen and the querying trenches later humbled me QUICK)
In December I participated in PitMad and the day was slow with agents being swamped and burnt out, then I got one really hopeful tweet which changed my MS for the better.
I sent it off, hopeful as ever but it ended up getting the sweetest personalised rejection with the most amazing notes on how to improve my MS. So I did! And I'm so so grateful for the agent who sent the rejection because she is the reason why my MS got the offer in the first place. Agents like her are so special to find, who will not only gush about your work but also help you improve even when they don't have to.
In February, I shot my shot and asked her if she'd like to see it again and she responded with a yes thankfully. Then I properly made my way into querying trenches.
I am the most impatient person on this earth, querying was agony for me. I kept myself sane by posting about my book on my BookTok and Book Twitter (I'm not gonna lie, I liked the validation when people told me they loved my concept) but it led me to bigger things!
An author, myself and my friend admire so much reached out from the video I posted about my characters and asked if I'd be willing to send them some chapters to read. Of course I said yes?? I could kiss the ground the author walks on, and they wanted to read MY WORK? So I sent that too, nervous as ever but they loved it!!! Craziest email I've ever gotten and they introduced me to an agent. The agent who gave me an offer (I should really frame the email😌).
She loved my work, gushed about it throughout the call and even talked about my MS with her family (I will forever attach to this memory).
It could've turned sideways however because I was a dummy and made my next two WIP's in different genres than my first and queried with an agent who predominantly reps romance so she wanted to sample some of my material. But thankfully two weeks later, we set up another call and she loved them, and gushed about my work some more!
I could not be happier.
And I guess... that is how I got my agent.
PHEW the secret is out. Can you believe I've had to keep this in for a month?
Queries sent: 25
(I'm not sure if timeframes are helpful or boastful and I do not mean to be the latter. Started properly querying in February after revisions with the anticipated R&R—with the occasional spread out queries sent in end of October and early November. I sent my query off to my agent early March and heard a response back in Mid March after a week. Then she took another week and a half to read my extra material. She's so speedy, I've found the perfect agent for my impatient soul. Anyways, my end date after nudging agents was my birthday—April 18th!!!)
Full Requests: 15
Partial Request: 2 (one turned to full after the nudge)
Offers Made: 1 (you only need the one)
