The Query Pit

I wrote my first poem when I was 12 years old. Living in a strict European household, writing became my outlet, my escape. By high school, I had filled multiple diaries with poems and stories. Then life happened—I went to college, fell in love, got married, and raised three wonderful kids.

For years, my creative voice went silent. I didn’t write again until I was 50.

It started with a spark of inspiration while walking my dogs. That moment led to my first children’s book. Without much thought, I decided to self-publish it. While navigating that process, I wrote four more stories, diving headfirst into the world of kidlit.

Then I began to query.

I had no idea what I was doing. And the rejections poured in—over and over again.

Determined to figure out where I was going wrong, I joined Twitter and participated in #PBPitch. I connected with a kind woman who offered to critique one of my stories. Her feedback was thorough, but as I read her comments, my heart sank. She didn’t have to say it—I could see it. My story was awful.

It was a wake-up call. I realized I needed help if I was serious about publishing.

So, I began researching everything I could about writing and publishing. I joined SCBWI, 12x12, and enrolled in a children’s book writing course. A week into the course, I had another epiphany—my stories weren’t just bad; they needed to be completely reimagined.

I set my early attempts aside and started fresh. That’s when I wrote Cluck, Cluck! Farmer Ann Needs a Hand! I revised it endlessly until I couldn’t revise anymore. Then I started a sequel, another standalone story, and even two novels—one of which is based on my mother’s childhood, when she was taken from her home in Poland during World War II.

During this time, I dove into resources like Query Tracker, Manuscript Wishlist, and Publishers Marketplace. I studied query letters, pitches, comp titles—everything aspiring authors are told to master. My first #PBPitch contest yielded zero likes. It was discouraging, but I pressed on, taking another writing course and revising tirelessly. After all, bookstores are filled with books by writers who faced rejection. I was determined to be one of them.

Eventually, I decided Cluck, Cluck! was ready to query. I spent hours researching agents, carefully crafting my submissions, and then holding my breath as rejections rolled in. Disappointment, doubt, and defeat became familiar companions. Was I wasting my time?

Then one day, an email appeared in my inbox from an agent. I hesitated to open it, bracing myself for another form rejection. Instead, he wrote that my story made him laugh. He said it needed work but wanted to see more. What else did I have?

What else? Panic set in. I wasn’t prepared. That week, I revised my other stories furiously and asked friends and family to read them. Once I felt they were ready, I sent them off along with a cover letter.

Two weeks later, another email arrived. With shaky fingers, I opened it. It wasn’t a yes—or a no. Instead, the agent suggested I join a critique group, polish my stories, and resubmit when they were truly ready.

So that’s where I am now. I have five solid stories in various stages of critique and revision. I’m taking another writing class and running a Facebook group called The Query Pit to connect with other writers on this journey. I’m researching, learning, and improving every day.

Most importantly, I’m taking my time. I want my stories to be the best they can possibly be before I send them out again.

One thing I’ve realized through this process is how much I’ve grown as a writer. I’ve learned what makes a story work—whether it’s a picture book or a novel. It takes time, patience, and an unshakable desire to improve. When I send my stories back to that agent—or query them elsewhere—I’ll know they’re ready.