From Rejection to Request with January Gilchrist

A practical guide to querying and submitting your novel with strategy and confidence.

Querying agents is a craft skill — and like any craft skill, it can be learned. Drawing on a journey from 200+ rejections to four full manuscript requests, agent representation, and a significant two-book deal, January Gilchrist breaks down the submission process into its component parts. Research your target agents with precision, write a query letter that does its job, and build the resilience to keep going when the process gets hard. A practical, no-guesswork workshop for writers preparing to query, currently querying, or wondering where their last round went wrong.

Learning outcomes

As part of this workshop, you will:

• Identify and research agents strategically to build a targeted submission list.

• Construct a query letter that compels an agent to read further.

• Diagnose weaknesses in an existing query letter or submission package.

• Understand what agents are actually evaluating at each stage of the submission process.

• Develop a structured approach to managing rejections and sustaining momentum across a long submission journey.

• Distinguish between subjective rejection and addressable submission problems.

Format

This is an in-person workshop with a focus on publishing industry; it will be held at State Library of Queensland. This workshop is suitable for writers of all levels and backgrounds.

About January

January Gilchrist is a Brisbane-based author with four traditionally published novels across HarperCollins Australia and Crooked Lane Books. Her gothic horror novel Slake House recently sold at auction in a two-book deal with Berkley (Penguin Random House US) and Allen & Unwin (ANZ). She has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours), longlisted for the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers, won a spot at Varuna Writers House and is a Scarlet Stiletto Award winner.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info