Success Story Interview - CC Foster

An Interview with CC Foster (ccfoster on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Alex Brown of Mad Woman Literary Agency.

12/11/2024

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?

CC Foster:
I've always been drawn to books that walk the line between genres, so gothic fantasy was a natural draw for me. I really enjoyed blending notes of horror, fantasy, romance, and mystery together to create a heart pounding story. The project is actually a retelling of Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, so I drew a lot of inspiration from his work and from gothic literature in general. There are even some quotes scattered throughout the prose for fun.

QT: How long have you been writing?

CC Foster:
I've been writing fiction since I could hold a pencil, but I didn't consider pursuing it seriously until I was in high school. I received a lot of encouragement from my mom. Our shared love of writing and books pushed me to earn my Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. I then joined Writing With The Soul in 2021 and wrote multiple books before really discovering and understanding my voice and the stories I wanted to tell. Finding my community really helped me blossom and understand more about the publishing industry.

QT: How long have you been working on this book?

CC Foster:
I got the initial inklings for this book written down around October of 2023. I went through a variety of edits and drafts from then through July of 2024 with a break for beta readers in-between.

QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?

CC Foster:
Imposter syndrome is an inevitable part of the author package for me and for a lot of writers, I think. I'm very lucky to have a community of incredible authors to guide me along the way. I would not have started querying if not for their encouragement and feedback. Having people to lean on and support you during this process makes all the difference. Also, I think it's important to remember why we're doing this and how much we love to write.

QT: Is this your first book?

CC Foster:
It's the first book I've ever queried but not the first book I've written. I've actually gotten quite a few under my belt during the past few years, but I never felt like I was ready to query them. I focused a lot on developing and honing my craft with every book, and I'm so glad I took the time to do that.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

CC Foster:
I have a Bachelor's in Creative Writing and I also pursued an editing and proofreading certification while I was finishing my degree! I had some incredible mentors guide me through the process of understanding craft, but I really think evolving as a writer comes from repetition and persistence. If you want to develop as a writer, you have to keep writing.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

CC Foster:
I don't have a strict schedule, but I do tend to follow a routine when I'm deep into drafting. A lot of my writing happens late at night and over the weekends. I try to create space for breaks, but when the passion for a book takes over I find myself glued to the project until I'm done.

QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?

CC Foster:
This book has gone through multiple edits. I think 8 drafts in total from January - August with time for readers in-between. While I'm in the developmental stage of a book, I usually rewrite from scratch using the previous draft as a foundation. It helps me cut and change things without being too attached. Once I'm past the developmental stage and my structure is more or less set, I dive into revisions and utilize reader feedback to polish things off.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

CC Foster:
I did! I pitched this story to my amazing writing group and was blown away by how many of them wanted to read it. The feedback was incredibly helpful and conducive to my success with querying, I think.

QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?

CC Foster:
I'm both an outliner and a discovery writer. I have a very strange process in that I usually start from the end and work backwards. Once I have my ending, midpoint, and major plot points to cap the acts of a story, I "discovery write" my way there from the beginning. Sometimes those points change a little, but usually my endings stay exactly as intended. I can't sit down to begin a draft until I know where I'm heading, so I like to set goal posts!

QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?

CC Foster:
This is my first time querying! I started in August and received my first offer at the beginning of November.

QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?

CC Foster:
I sent out 48 queries total. Some of those were direct referrals within agencies or from pitch events!

QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?

CC Foster:
I focused a lot on agents looking for genre blends, speculative fiction, retellings, and anything spooky. I was also mindful of people's wish lists as I know some agents looking for fantasy aren't comfortable with horror. I think August was the perfect time to query this book because lots of people were prepping for Halloween. I also did a little research into their sales/agency to make sure they seemed like a good fit for me and my values before submitting.

QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?

CC Foster:
I personalized all of my queries before I sent them. When I had time, I would research and look at interviews or their bios, but mostly I utilized their MSWL to showcase why I thought we'd be a good fit.

QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?

CC Foster:
Find your people. Writing can be very solitary and querying even more-so. Having someone to talk to during this process helped keep a lot of my anxiety in check. I also recommend making a seperate email for querying that you can log into when you're mentally prepared to face rejection. Protect your peace however you can and celebrate every win. One of the most important things to remember is that you're trying to find your champion and it's better to find the right person than to sign with someone who doesn't align with your vision or values.