Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Danielle Niv

Success Story Interview - Danielle Niv

An Interview with Danielle Niv (Danielniv on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Maria Brannan of Greyhound Literary.

10/03/2025

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Danielle Niv:
I was taking a creative writing class in magical realism and was asked to write a short story. On my way home on the bus, I wished my fingers could move on their own across the keyboard and create the most beautiful story, requiring no effort from me. Wouldn’t that be amazing? I tried to imagine a story with this idea, but suddenly, a vivid vision struck me.

At the time, I was listening to violin music for hours every day, especially while writing. In my vision, I saw a man with his violin on a grand stage, playing the most divine music. But he had a secret—his hands moved on their own. What I first took for a blessing, I soon began to question. Yes, he had fame, but he wasn’t experiencing the process of creating. He reached the destination without walking the journey. And what if… he had to choose between the two? That question became the central theme of my book.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Danielle Niv:
I knew I wanted to be an author when I was 13, so I’ve been writing ever since. I’m soon turning 28.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Danielle Niv:
It started as a short story in the summer of 2023. My teacher told me it was just the beginning of something larger. Soon after, I realized he was right and began drafting the book. I’ve been working on it on and off for the past two years.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Danielle Niv:
I’m grateful that I wasn’t tempted to start a new project because this one completely swept me away. Every time I thought about the scenes I wanted to write, I got so excited. I could picture everything in my mind so clearly, like seeing a movie. The hardest part was simply showing up to write. Once you fall out of the flow, it’s incredibly difficult to get back in. I had to create a routine and stick to it, again and again. I even wrote a contract with deadlines, signed it, and had a friend hold me accountable. It also helped to meet other writers and work alongside them. For example, I went on a writing retreat where I spent a few days producing my “zero draft.” Having a supportive group is incredibly helpful.
QT: Is this your first book?: Danielle Niv:
Yes.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Danielle Niv:
I took literature and creative writing for my BA, but the best training comes from reading and writing a lot, and getting feedback that helps you improve.
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Danielle Niv:
I write first thing in the morning with my coffee, before the day “officially” starts. Whenever I push it to later, it rarely happens. I stick to this routine four times a week. Any writing outside this time is welcome, but usually not part of my planned schedule. On certain days off, I do "writing marathons," dedicating entire days to writing as much as possible. These marathons were especially productive before the deadlines I set for myself.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Danielle Niv:
Even now, after landing an agent, I’m still editing before she submits it to editors! I started with a zero draft that was terribly written but contained all my ideas at the time. Then I opened a new document and rewrote everything, improving the prose and finding my voice. By now, I’ve edited it more times than I can count. I only feel comfortable sharing it with others once I can read it multiple times without wanting to change anything.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Danielle Niv:
So, about that… I did something I don’t recommend. I finished a draft I was comfortable sharing, and within days, I began querying agents. I also sent it to a few trusted friends, thinking that by the time agents got to my query, I would have some feedback. But things moved so quickly that after three weeks, I received my first offer of representation.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Danielle Niv:
I outlined using the three-act structure. I also wrote my query letter and elevator pitch before writing the book. Once I had a strong hook and a tight plot, I began writing. Of course, the plot evolved as I wrote, often with twists I didn’t even see coming, but the core of the story remained intact.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Danielle Niv:
This is my first time querying a book. I started at the beginning of August 2025, received an offer after three weeks from the only agent who requested the full manuscript, and asked for three weeks (due to travel) to respond. Then, I nudged all the other agents and let them know. During that time, I received 13 more requests, three of which turned into offers—two of them coming in on my last day! One of those agents was new to QueryManager and didn’t even realize I had other offers and was on a deadline. Another agent who requested the full missed my deadline but still liked it. I'm really grateful for the positive responses, though the entire time I was on a rollercoaster of emotions and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I genuinly have the greatest admiration in the world for querying authors, especially those who persist querying for months or years.
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Danielle Niv:
If I remember correctly, it was initially around 30-40. I had a few days before my scheduled call with the offering agent, and though I worried it might not turn into an offer, I wanted to query all the agents on my list just in case. In the end, I doubled the number of agents I queried. I even went to a bookshop, looked at the shelves for books I envisioned alongside mine, then checked one by one who represented them and queried those agents. It was fun, but because of the time limit, it was also nerve-wracking.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Danielle Niv:
I considered agents at all career stages. I focused on their wishlists, keeping in mind potential future projects I might want to pursue later on, as well as statistics on QueryTracker, like response time and acceptance rate. On the day of my deadline, I had to make an incredibly tough choice. But I realized my ideal agent is perhaps someone with fewer clients who can give me more attention and personal guidance, someone who shows the most passion for my book, and whose editorial vision aligns with mine. Maria was my second call, and from her very first request email, I was amazed by her enthusiasm. The way she spoke about my book during our call and in the emails she sent afterward gave me so much confidence that she would advocate for it with all her heart.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Danielle Niv:
Only sometimes I personalized the opening. I don’t think it made much difference; I received offers from both personalized and non-personalized queries.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Danielle Niv:
Make sure you have a proper query letter, let others read it and observe their reactions, and allow it to sit for a while before sending it to agents. The same applies to your manuscript, it must be extremely polished. Before querying, I read my manuscript in a different format (on Kindle), which really helped me notice issues I needed to fix at the line level.

While querying, take care of your mental health. You will face rejections, and it’s never personal. You might receive mixed feedback, so only take what aligns with the heart of your story because no one knows it better than you. If you’re on a call with an agent, ask all the questions that matter to you. It’s a big decision.

Persistence is key. I dream that others would read and love my book, but I also accept that it might never happen. I kept asking myself: Would I still have written this book, knowing that no one would ever read it, like it, or want to publish it? For me, the answer was always yes. I had to write this book for myself, to answer the questions that burned within me, and for the immense pleasure it gave me. I chose the journey regardless of the destination. Wouldn’t you? If the answer is yes, then you are already incredibly lucky to be pursuing your passion. Keep writing, growing, improving, falling in love with new ideas, and hopefully, one day, you’ll attract the right advocate for your work!
QT: Would you be willing to share your query with us?: Danielle Niv:
Yes. I will also add that, whenever possible, I attached or shared a link to a visual agent’s guide to catch attention.

Success Story Interview - Danielle Niv

Query Letter: