HYW: What was your process for getting traditionally published? Did you query?
Maxie Dara: I did query and was lucky enough to receive a few full manuscript requests, though I ultimately went about the publication process a little backwards. I ended up getting a publishing contract first, thanks to Berkley’s first open submission call, and then went back to my dream agent with the book deal already in hand and signed with her.
HYW: At what stage was your manuscript when you started to query?
MD: I was probably about three drafts in before I started to query. It was as squeaky clean as I could make it without professional editorial guidance. The first few passes I did on my own, but the last was with the help of beta reader feedback. I cannot recommend beta readers enough! It can be so easy to stop seeing the forest for the trees with your own work, so having other sets of eyes (say between 5-10, ranging from other writers you trust to readers in your target demographic) is invaluable when it comes to revisions.
HYW: Did you have a portfolio to query? And what would you recommend a young writer have if they want to start querying?
MD: I’d been a working journalist and playwright for several years before querying, so I did have a number of published credits to my name, but I truly don’t think it’s a make or break part of the querying process at all. If someone is just starting out and has never seen their name in print, that will absolutely not count against them. The main thing agents look for is quality work that will sell, and that can come from anyone!
My biggest querying tip would be to make sure your query package is super tight. Polish the heck out of your first three chapters and make sure your query letter does what it’s supposed to: lays out your story in a compelling way, highlighting the stakes, plot, and central characters. Check out queryshark.com for a brutal but invaluable dissection of queries from other authors in your shoes and learn as much from them as possible.
And make sure you’re querying the right agents for you! Manuscript Wishlist is a website database where you can get a really good sense of what individual agents are actually looking for, who they rep, and whether you’d be a good match. It’s like dating! Swipe right only on those you can see a future with.
HYW: What was your favorite part of the publishing process?
MD: I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy so much of the process, and I think a lot of that boils down to having such a wonderful team. So much of any experience is shaped by the people involved in it, so pairing up with the right editor, agent, and publisher, who are as excited about your book as you are will make such a difference. But if I had to pick, I’d say I’ve really loved in-person author events, which is very out of left field for my introverted self. Getting to meet so many wonderful new folks and chat about books has been such a joy!
HYW: What were you looking for when choosing which publisher you wanted to work with?
MD: First and foremost, I knew I really wanted to debut with one of the Big Five if I could swing it. A debut novel is such a big step in an author’s career, and I wanted to set myself up with the greatest chance for continuing in this line of work. Having a book under the Penguin Random House umbrella felt like a great way to achieve that. I also really value Berkley’s willingness to open their doors to unrepresented writers. This industry can feel so heavily gate-kept at times, so I really appreciated that they’ve come up with a way around it through their open submissions program.
HYW: What was the inspiration for A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer?
MD: As a life-long mystery fan, I knew I wanted to attempt something I hadn’t seen done before. I started with a ‘what if’ question, which is the way my process typically works. In this case, it was “what if death itself had to solve a murder?” From there I had to fill in the blanks (who is Death? Why do they have to take this mystery on? Who’s been murdered?) and it all just snowballed into the weird word baby known as A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer from there.
HYW: How did you get into writing?
MD: To be honest I don’t really remember a time before I was into it. Storytelling has always been very much a part of my makeup as a person. I remember, as a kid, I’d keep myself entertained wherever I was by making up elaborate backstories and character arcs for any inanimate object I happened to be in the proximity of. Instead of drawing with my markers, each color was a different character and their family dramas were immense. Don’t mess with Orange!
HYW: Any tips for young writers?
MD: These are going to sound very cliche but stay with me here because I swear they work!
First and most importantly, you are your target demographic. The second you start writing for the market, or for a book trend, or for what you think your future readers will want, it becomes so easy to lose your authentic voice and what makes your writing unique and special. When you write for yourself first, you’re not only going to find people (agents, publishers, readers) who appreciate what only you can bring to the table, you’re also going to enjoy the process so much more, which means you’ll actually finish your projects—something that’s often easier said than done.
Secondly, get yourself a writing group! Whether it’s already established (check your library, school, or community centers) or one you start yourself with your friends, having a group of people in the creative trenches with you is a fantastic way to stay on track and accountable.
HYW: Any teasers for your forthcoming sequel, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death?
MD: Absolutely! Cheating Death will introduce a new cast of characters in the same world of S.C.Y.T.H.E. While Catching a Killer was a meditation on insecurity and what it means to let yourself truly live, Cheating Death explores the challenges of living with anxiety, and of difficult family dynamics. It’s very much a love letter to anyone struggling with their mental health. Plus there’s a series of attempted murders, a creepy hidden town at the edges of Nova Scotia, and a swearing bird. Just another day at the death office!
Maxie Dara is a writer and actor originally from Ontario, Canada and currently living in Edinburgh, Scotland. Maxie knew she wanted to be a writer at the age of seven, when she first fell in love with the written word. She also wanted to be a mermaid but has mostly focused on the writing side of things.
Featured image by Chuttersnap on Unsplash.
