Success Story Interview - Maya Layne

An Interview with Maya Layne (maylaywrites on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Melanie Figueroa of Root Literary.

04/10/2026

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

Maya Layne:
I was laid off in July of 2025 and found myself with an abundance of time and nothing to do. I wrote a short story inspired by the layoff and took it to a writers group. Someone in the writers group nudged me to consider making it a full-length novel, which I thought was a crazy idea! I’m not a novelist!!!! And then I mulled it over, and thought, why not try? Then I did my best to first WRITE the book, and then make it good.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Maya Layne:
My whole life on and off. It’s been the first art form I gravitated to. But I’ve written more personal essays, poems, and, very rarely, some short stories. Never novels before this one.

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

Maya Layne:
Started in June 2025, finished around September 2025.

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

Maya Layne:
No, not really. Only because the idea of finishing the book and making it good both felt within my control. I knew at minimum, I could hit 90k words (grueling though it was), and then I could spend time making it something I could be proud of. I wasn’t as focused on getting it published as I was writing; it was only after I finished and took a step back that I thought it could go somewhere.

QT: Is this your first book?

Maya Layne:
Yes.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Maya Layne:
No.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Maya Layne:
Not really. Whenever I woke up, I would drag myself to the couch, write as much as I could, and then throughout the day periodically tool around with what I’d written. I wrote this mostly at home on my couch! My next book will be more regimented, I promise.

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

Maya Layne:
It’s a bit tricky, because I do a lot of back-editing (a term I made up) where I write a chapter or a few thousand words, and I’m going back with a fine-tooth comb before writing the next bit. The book was never completely rewritten, but I’d gone over a lot of it multiple times before I queried.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Maya Layne:
Sort of? Not really? I had a beta from online who had gotten about 1/2 way through and still hasn’t finished. But I had already been querying the book by the time they had started reading.

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

Maya Layne:
No outlining, I’m afraid. I had big beats that I knew I wanted to hit, but I was discovering the book as I was writing it. I did try a notecard method for a few days to map out big scenes and character arcs, but I didn’t rely on it so much.

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

Maya Layne:
First query started in October 2025, offer in March 2026.

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

Maya Layne:
Around 45.

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

Maya Layne:
In the beginning, I looked for literary agents that were more boutique. I spent a lot of time reading people’s MS wishlists and perusing the website to see what they liked.

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

Maya Layne:
Sometimes I did, and sometimes I did not. The first round I sent out was a bit more standard, as I sent out more, I’d have a section that was like, “Agent, I’m querying you because your love of morally grey characters and shifting power dynamics is well represented in my book.” Something like that.

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

Maya Layne:
My belief in my work really buoyed me during that time. I just believed, however delusional though it may seem, that somehow, someway, there would be room for my voice in publishing. I feel like you have to have a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to writing books. Focus on what you can control and hope for the best! The people who have the audacity to keep trying and putting themselves out there in the face of rejection are rare, special flowers. Nurture that impulse.