Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Arianna Siddiqui

Success Story Interview - Arianna Siddiqui

An Interview with Arianna Siddiqui (percy0901 on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Penelope Burns of Gelfman Schneider.

11/25/2024

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Arianna Siddiqui:
So the book that Penelope offered on is called THE ROMANTIC EDUCATION OF YASMINE DAR. Like I told her on the call, I was diagnosed at 17 with bipolar 1 disorder. It was scary, isolating, and kind of traumatic. To make it worse, my parents didn't believe it. In Pakistani culture, and South Asian culture in general, mental illness is something that can be really taboo and misunderstood. In fact, it was suggested to my mother, in all seriousness, that she should perhaps consider an exorcism (which inspired my second book, but more on that later.)

When I finally got help at 21, my quality of life radically changed for the better, but it took years of deconditioning from the desi mindset that mental illness was something never to be mentioned. I remember wishing that there was a joy-driven book about teenagers that features bipolar disorder and other mental health rep. So I wrote one!
QT: How long have you been writing?: Arianna Siddiqui:
I've been writing seriously for about a year and a half! I've written creative nonfiction on and off for much longer (mostly of the journaling variety).
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Oh man, I wrote THE ROMANTIC EDUCATION OF YASMINE DAR in a month, got my first agent within two weeks, and left after three months. Now, I'm looking at completely rewriting large parts of THE ROMANTIC EDU with Penelope's guidance and making it the best it can be.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Arianna Siddiqui:
When I first left my agent I wanted to delete Scrivner, Canva, and Twitter, and never hear the word 'query' again. But my mom. There are so many times I wanted to pull the plug on what felt like an impossible dream, but she'd stick her heels in the ground and (metaphorically) shake me. She genuinely thinks I am the Ann Liang of Pakistani writers. (Spoiler — I'm not, but the confidence is definitely inspiring!)

Also my two best writer friends, Emma Ilene and Kate Pockett. I could never live letting them down!!

And of course, T.R. Moore, who was the first person to pull me out of a bad situation and gave me hope that I could write something even better.
QT: Is this your first book?: Arianna Siddiqui:
No actually! THE HEADCASES was my first book, written four months before I started THE ROMANTIC EDU. It had a request rate of 0%. Mostly, I think, because it started with the MC crapping her pants (I stand by it).
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Arianna Siddiqui:
I'm in an MFA program at Cambridge now, but I got in using THE HEADCASES (take that agents! Cambridge loved my crappy story! (get it? LOL))
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Arianna Siddiqui:
I write my books in five weeks or less. It's horrible and I don't recommend it. It's just the way my brain works : /
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Yes! One actually. My lovely friend Srishti. Shoutout Srishti! I like to keep a small circle of betas, so I'll probably stick to Srishti and my agent (if Srishti is okay with that, of course!)
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Arianna Siddiqui:
I outlined chapter by chapter.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Five months.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Reputation, sales history, mentorship structure (if they were newer agents).
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Only for the ones I really felt a connection with. I find that if you have to manufacture a connection to their MSWL it comes off as disingenuous. But that's one person's opinion!
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Don't jump at the first offer you get. It's going to be so much more painful when you have to leave that agent because they weren't a good fit. Take your time, people turn down offers — they just don't really talk about it.
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: Arianna Siddiqui:
Sure thing!

Success Story Interview - Arianna Siddiqui

Query Letter: