Success Story Interview - Lynn D. Jung

An Interview with Lynn D. Jung (peachy_cola on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Laura Crockett of Triada US Literary Agency.

07/24/2024

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

Lynn D. Jung:
My book, which is nicknamed MOTHS, is a dark academia adult fantasy set at a graduate school for alchemists in modern-day Paris.

I am currently studying education, and while the core of this book is the main character’s journey of self-discovery and reclamation, I also wanted to take a hard look at academia, particularly ‘prestige’ institutions. Why do we put so much stock in institutions (for example, Ivy Leagues) that have been founded on pillars of racism, sexism, and classism, and largely continue to perpetuate inequity to this day? What happens when a marginalized individual—in the case of MOTHS, a queer Korean-American woman—buys into this myth and almost destroys her life while trying to fit into a space that was designed to keep people like her out? These are some questions I was interested in exploring.

QT: How long have you been writing?

Lynn D. Jung:
I’ve been writing stories since I was very young. I even finished my first full-length ‘novel’ in grade school, which I printed out and passed around my 4th grade classroom for reviews (my crush at the time gave the story an 8/10, and I’m still a little salty). However, I didn’t start taking my craft seriously until I got to college, which was when I signed with my first agent.

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

Lynn D. Jung:
It’s been in the back of my mind for about five years, but I didn’t buckle down and start drafting it in earnest until a little bit into the pandemic. Honestly, the timeline gets kind of fuzzy!

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

Lynn D. Jung:
Yes. With this book, I ended up scrapping what I had and starting over at least a dozen times. Nothing really clicked until I figured out why the main character’s journey and experiences mattered to me. Once that fell into place, I realized that a lot of the little things I’d been fiddling with and obsessing over, like the minutiae of the magic system, weren’t as critical as I thought they were.

QT: Do you have any formal writing training?

Lynn D. Jung:
None! My background is in science. However, I have learned quite a bit over the years by reading articles online and watching AuthorTube videos—and I have my own AuthorTube channel now, too!

QT: Do you follow a writing routine or schedule?

Lynn D. Jung:
Not really. I’m a full-time student at the moment, so I kind of just have to make it work whenever I can.

QT: Did you have beta readers for your book?

Lynn D. Jung:
Not for this one! However, my close friends have all read the first 50 pages or so probably a hundred times while I was workshopping different openings.

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

Lynn D. Jung:
I was very fortunate in that I only queried this book for a few weeks before I received my first offer. I’ve had literary representation before, however, which definitely makes a difference.

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

Lynn D. Jung:
I sent out sixteen query letters.

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

Lynn D. Jung:
I primarily queried agents from agencies with good track records for adult speculative fiction. Other than that, I wasn't very discerning. I queried brand new agents and very established agents alike, knowing I would be happy with either as long as they understood my vision for the book!

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

Lynn D. Jung:
Do your research and ask around! Also, don’t spend too much time trying to make your book ‘perfect.’ It's more important that you write a book that matters to you, because your unique voice and perspective are what makes the story you've written unreplicatable.