Dashboard Literary Agents Success Story Interviews Abigail Wadlington

Success Story Interview - Abigail Wadlington

An Interview with Abigail Wadlington (Abigailwadlington on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Rebecca Williamson of Sheldon Fogelman Agency.

03/28/2025

QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? What inspired you to write it?: Abigail Wadlington:
My book is a YA cozy fantasy that feels like a mix between Anastasia and Tangled, where an orphan girl competes in a festival to regain lost memories and remember her family. I was largely inspired by a trip to Europe in 2016, where I visited Switzerland and fell in love with the beautiful scenery! Not only is the story’s setting inspired by Switzerland, but it is also threaded with Swiss folklore.
QT: How long have you been writing?: Abigail Wadlington:
I’ve been writing for a little over a decade now.
QT: How long have you been working on this book?: Abigail Wadlington:
I originally came up with this idea in 2016, but in five drafts, I never once finished writing it over the years. I picked it up again late November 2024 and finished polishing it late January 2025.
QT: Was there ever a time you felt like giving up, and what helped you to stay on course?: Abigail Wadlington:
More times than I can count, though mainly about querying. After my previous project died in the trenches, I was concerned I wasn’t good enough to get an agent, which really dampened my motivation and confidence. I was able to find it again with my renewed love for writing while drafting this project, though there were certainly still ups and downs along the way. Mainly, friends and family helped me stay on course.
QT: Is this your first book?: Abigail Wadlington:
It isn’t! I’ve drafted about a dozen books, and before this one, I queried a different project that collected over a hundred rejections.
QT: Do you have any formal writing training?: Abigail Wadlington:
I have a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and mentored under Ridley Pearson back in 2017!
QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?: Abigail Wadlington:
Not really! I do however make sure I write at least 500 words a day, and keep a journal tracking how many words I write per day to encourage keeping the habit.
QT: How many times did you re-write/edit your book?: Abigail Wadlington:
After finishing the first draft in 2024, I only completely rewrote it once, though I went through countless editing and revision passes afterwards.
QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?: Abigail Wadlington:
I did! I had roughly nine people look at this book in its varying stages.
QT: Did you outline your book, or do you write from the hip?: Abigail Wadlington:
I outline religiously, though I find myself often straying from the outline.
QT: How long have you been querying for this book? Other books?: Abigail Wadlington:
I queried for this book for a little over a month. For my past project, I queried from July to December of 2024, racking up over a hundred rejections and just three requests (all of which turned quickly into rejections).
QT: About how many query letters did you send out for this book?: Abigail Wadlington:
I sent out 107, which I don’t recommend doing in a single month! If I had to do it again, I’d definitely take more time and space out my queries.
QT: On what criteria did you select the agents you queried?: Abigail Wadlington:
Using Manuscript Wishlist, I looked for agents who listed some of my comparison titles as their favorites. Certain phrases also helped me pick, such as ‘cozy fantasy’ or ‘Studio Ghibli vibes.’ It’s worth noting that not all the agents I queried had these keywords or comparison titles, and were queried on a whim.
QT: Did you tailor each query to the specific agent, and if so, how?: Abigail Wadlington:
At first, I tried to tailor to each agent. I mentioned things I noticed in their wishlist that aligned with my project. As I continued sending out queries, though, I ended up personalizing less.
QT: What advice would you give other writers seeking agents?: Abigail Wadlington:
Above all, never give up. I know firsthand how discouraging the querying process is. After my first failed project, I was crushed by its failure. If I had given up then, I never would’ve ended up with the wonderful agent I have now. No matter how dark things seem, keep pushing through! You never know when good news will come your way and change your life.

Success Story Interview - Abigail Wadlington

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