Success Story Interview - Justine Teu

An Interview with Justine Teu (starcard on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Hafizah Geter of Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

02/21/2025

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

Justine Teu:
Gods of Diversion is a speculative novel about a burnt-out god discovering she's turning human, the failed pop star she meets along the way, and the creative crises they both have to navigate when they discover they share the same muse: a god of death looking to alleviate the existential boredom of immortality.

This began as a response to my own tenuous relationships to TikTok, K-Pop, and other entertainment sources while living and traveling in places like New York and Tokyo. How are we distracted from our own art when we are given infinite ways to entertain ourselves? What does it take to reclaim our lost creativity as personal godhoods?

QT: How long have you been writing?

Justine Teu:
On and off since I was seven! I didn't take it very seriously until about nine years ago though, when I turned 22.

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

Justine Teu:
About two years now, from the very first line I wrote (in a fast-casual noodle restaurant) to the end of querying.

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

Justine Teu:
Oh, constantly! It weirdly happens around the full moon (I'm not kidding). Eventually, I just started thinking, "well, if they won't want this one, I'll just have to write another book!" and that took some of the pressure off writing this project.

QT: Is this your first book?

Justine Teu:
That I've tried to query, seriously, yes. There was one novel I did finish in my early twenties about a haunted house, but I didn't really have a good grasp of the craft then, and I knew it was somewhat shaky in its foundation (sorry for the house/construction pun).

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Justine Teu:
Yes, a handful of fiction introduction courses, and then an MFA. I've also attended various workshops and have a fellowship under my belt. I'd say the biggest learning I do is through part-time teaching though - I (re)learn a lot by visiting foundational craft lessons and thinking about them in my own work.

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Justine Teu:
I have a small Hobonichi 365-day planner that I use to get in one handwritten page a day. I don't pressure myself to write specific projects in it, though. It's just a way to somewhat warm up for longer writing days, or keep the pen flowing on days I'm struggling. However, when I'm deep into a project, I'll institute a more precise writing schedule (usually 500 words a day, usually before my 9-5 job).

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

Justine Teu:
I edit in pieces and for different reasons, so this is hard to say. I feel like maybe two full passes by re-reading the whole thing? But honestly, I still feel like this work is very much in-flux - I can't wait to see this story transform by the way of further editing with my agent!

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Justine Teu:
No, and I don't recommend it. I was in a weird place in my life with less of a writing community I'm usually accustomed to, so I wrote this completely alone. The only people to have read this book in full were the agents that requested the manuscript in full. I wish I'd gotten beta readers, because I probably would've been less anxious about the viability of this project.

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

Justine Teu:
I have a vague sense of how I want the story's trajectory to go, but I surprise myself with the sequence of events. I'm not a strict outliner though.

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

Justine Teu:
Six months, give or take!

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

Justine Teu:
I mostly looked for agents who were interested in speculative fiction and represented similar novels. Also, when I started getting rejections on full manuscripts complimenting me on the prose and voice, I then re-calibrated my list to focus on agents that were looking for this more specifically as well. Don't forget to play to your strengths!

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

Justine Teu:
Yes, I personalized every single one. I combed through their site descriptions and MSWLs, and also referenced sales on Publishers Marketplace if I saw that my work was a good fit for them.

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

Justine Teu:
Don't be afraid of the synopsis. I really hated mine, and almost avoided any agencies that asked for one, but I ultimately landed at an agency that requested for one because I finally said to myself, "you know what, I know it's not perfect, but I've tried my best." At the end of the day, you simply have to go for it.