Ah, yes, the dreaded query process. This is what it comes down to, what you've been waiting for, your last step before fame and fortune. Well, that's not entirely true, unfortunately. Many things go into querying, publishing, and editing, and it can be tough to stick with it.
So, I have a few suggestions to keep your fire lit in the torrential downpour of disappointment and grief almost every writer faces with rejections and the like. However, First: I really, really, really hope that you have a story that you can stand behind and fight for. If you don't have that, this process might get really ugly for you, really quick.
1. Creating a Website
Something that I found myself loving/hating would be finding out about website creation. I started in WordPress with a small blog and some random yada, yada, yadas that held no shape of organization. Honestly, when I look back, I am horrified to think that my site ever experienced user un-friendliness.
Then, I tried Wix (my current website). I discovered that it was a little bit easier for me and came with everything I wanted.
Disclaimer: You might have a hard time finding certain things on the page editor.
Whatever you choose, just know that I mostly enjoyed creating my website. It made me delve a little deeper into what I wanted to have for my book. For example, I like fun things outside of the book realm—stuff like bookmarks, bumper stickers, canvas prints of character sketches, etc. The list goes on and on (if you don't see these items on my website's store, it's because I haven't put them there yet, or they haven't been created. Hang tight, they will be on here eventually).
2. FAN STUFF!!!!!!!
Okay, who doesn't love fun little trinkets, as mentioned above?! Seriously, I got so excited when I ordered my first product from the local print shop down the road. Something about holding my first batch of bumper stickers helped me realized that what I had done was something to be proud of. I always knew that it was something to be proud of, but I didn't KNOW know until I held those stickers. Not only that, I got to take the stickers that I paid for (around 25 USD) and give them to my family and friends who had been supporting me from the get-go. There's nothing like it, trust me.
Try it! Go get yourself a logo, or something you can slap on anything physical, take it to your local print shop, and get yourself a trinket. You don't have to give anyone your product if you don't want to. This is about you and keeping yourself motivated.
3. Artwork
Now, some of you may be talented enough to do this kind of thing on your own, but I'm not, so I paid someone to do it for me. The picture of Kinara on the Facebook page; I got that drawn for 60 dollars from some guy on Fiverr. I don't even know his real name. All I CAN say is that the work was incredible, and I'm super happy with how it turned out. Yes, yes, some might say, "Her hair is too long!" or "She looks too animated," but that's not the point. The drawings are an interpretation of the character, not a hard sketch of what they look like. Your reader will picture them how they want, and that's fine (so long as they get the basic gist of the character).
4. Music
Okay, so this is kind of a bonus round kind of thing. IF you are musically inclined, try making a song for a scene in your book. Why not? It's kind of nice, and that's all I'm really going to say about that.
Here's one I did for a scene in my second book. I thoroughly enjoyed making it, and it just adds another layer somehow.