Success Story Interview - Chezza Lee

An Interview with Chezza Lee (chezzalee on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Alex Brown of Mad Woman Literary Agency.

04/28/2025

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

Chezza Lee:
The book is a non-linear feminist reimagining of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, which is the legend behind the Qixi Festival. It’s a love story first and foremost, but also deals with internalized misogyny, generational trauma, and the significance of friendship—and there’s a Diyu (underworld) arc I absolutely adore. I grew up with tales from Chinese mythology (Nezha was a fave) and relished the idea of putting my own spin on such a well-loved tale, especially in a way that addresses concerns around female agency.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Chezza Lee:
Since childhood, when I used to write [very derivative] fairytales for my younger cousin to read. I wrote creatively a little in high school but stopped for a long time after that thanks to some very poorly handled feedback. But I kept writing over the years in different forms—articles for newspapers and magazines, blogs, and for each job I’ve been at, which have all involved some form of copywriting. I started writing fiction seriously again with my first querying book, which I finished in early 2024. I also started writing short stories again around the same time and started submitting them to literary magazines in January 2024.

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

Chezza Lee:
The idea stuck in my mind in early 2024, I drafted it in the summer (over a 2.5-month frenzy), and then it was accepted into the SmoochPit Mentorship Program in October 2024. From October to December 2024, I worked with my fabulous mentor, T.R. Moore, on a few more revisions and then started querying it in February 2025 after the SmoochPit showcase.

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

Chezza Lee:
No, because I fully believe writers have more than just one story in them. I started writing this book (my second) when I was querying my first and it helped redirect my focus to something productive. And once I finished the first draft, it was no longer the end of the world if the first book didn’t get picked up, because I knew I could write another. Publishing can be difficult, subjective, and demoralizing, and all we can really do is put ourselves out there while learning, growing, and striving to improve our craft.

QT: Is this your first book?

Chezza Lee:
This is my second fiction book! I wrote a non-fiction book a few years back that I’ve decided to set aside for now. And my first fiction book is still lingering in the corners of my mind, begging to be revised.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Chezza Lee:
Not in the creative sense. I have a BA and MA in Literature, and both of those helped in my ability to analyze stories (but not necessarily my ability to write them). I think frequent writing—in all forms—is one of the best ways to find your voice and develop your prose, and I also think reading is essential. I’m a voracious reader of many genres, and it helps narrow down what my own preferences are in a story.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Chezza Lee:
No. I have a mentally demanding day job, so I write when I can in the evenings, although sometimes I simply don’t have the brainpower. I work best in the mornings, so often on the weekend I will sit down and not move from my desk for eight hours. I need a good chunk of time to dedicate to writing in one session, though—I can’t do short bursts.

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

Chezza Lee:
I don’t think I’ve done a significant rewrite of this book. I edited it once after beta reader feedback, made some revisions to fill it out a bit more during SmoochPit (I’m a classic underwriter), and then did some final line edits after that.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Chezza Lee:
Yes, and I will live and swear by them. I have the most excellent critique partners and I’m so grateful for them! I had four beta readers/critique partners read the whole thing and provide feedback, as well as my mentor, a couple of others who read partials, and a few who did positivity passes.

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

Chezza Lee:
I wrote from the hip for my first book and I don’t want to do that ever again. I outlined this one and then tweaked the outline as the story evolved. I find that I can write faster if I have a strong outline. Even if it takes me 3-4 months to draft a book from start to finish, that isn't taking into account the 1-2 months I spend outlining and letting the story ideas sit in my mind before I ever put anything down on a page.

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

Chezza Lee:
I queried this book for one month after the SmoochPit showcase. I queried my first book for four months until I got into SmoochPit with this book, after which I withdrew all fulls and queries from my first.

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

Chezza Lee:
71

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

Chezza Lee:
If they represented fantasy, with a preference for agents seeking non-western myth retellings and feminist takes. I also made sure to only query agents who wouldn’t be against themes/topics from my first or subsequent books (my first book has pirates, and some agents have this on their anti-MSWL).

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

Chezza Lee:
I barely personalized any queries; I only added brief personalization if it was a solicited query/submission. I researched each agent thoroughly to make sure they would be a fit, but I don’t like personalizing for the sake of personalizing, so I just got straight to the point with my metadata.

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

Chezza Lee:
Finding excellent beta readers (and writer friends) was a game changer for me. We get so deep into our own writing that we often can’t pinpoint when things aren’t working, and beta readers are crucial for helping clarify those pieces. And people always say this, but it still holds true—don’t rush to query. Let the work sit for a while. When you can’t possibly think of another thing to change to make it stronger, then it’s ready.