Read everything. If you admire something and wish you’d written it, read it again–for style, for word choice, for thought, for construction, for how it makes you feel.
Quotes
Do not query before you have a) finished writing your book, b) revised your book, c) shown your query to someone unfamiliar with your work who can point out confusing bits.
Do not query before you
Comparing yourself to others can suck joy out of creating. Find your own pace, savor the journey.
Comparing yourself to others can
When writing backstory, make sure the details are absolutely critical to character development AND the plot. If you have either element but not both, reevaluate whether the backstory is even relevant.
When writing backstory make sure
The writer distills, the illustrator expands.