97. Querying Agents: Real Story of Getting a Big Five Book Deal
Ever wonder what the real agent querying process looks like — not the myths, not the hacks, but what actually happens behind the scenes?
In this episode of The Whole Writer, guest Kelly Kearsley shares her journey from query doubt to landing the dream traditional book deal with a Big Five publisher — from managing rejections, building literary community, shifting her mindset, and pursuing writing like a profession.
🎙 What you’ll learn:
✔ What the agent querying process really feels like (no sugar-coating)
✔ How to handle rejection and keep going
✔ Why writing is a creative transformation, not just a finished manuscript
✔ What mindset shifts helped Kelly go from nonfiction to novel debut success
If you’re drafting your novel, polishing your query, or wondering how traditional publishing works — this episode is for you.
👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
🪄 About The Whole Writer: A podcast for fiction writers exploring craft, publishing, mindset, and how to build a creative life that lasts.
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Find Kelly at her Substack (https://kellykearsley.substack.com/) and Website (https://www.kellykearsley.com/) .
Find Nicole at her Substack (https://nicolemeierwrites.substack.com/) and Website (https://nicolemeier.com/) .