tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post228561152027768419..comments2023-10-30T01:01:11.772-07:00Comments on Neverending Stories: Ask the Agent!Neverending Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-10012431254135989312017-03-08T21:57:37.542-08:002017-03-08T21:57:37.542-08:00Thank you for taking time for our comments and rev...Thank you for taking time for our comments and reviews, we love your blog stories.<br /><a href="https://www.easymeetandgreetluton.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">cheap luton airport parking</a><br />DaisyParkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714982658570403101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-33106687357688055772017-03-08T21:18:49.008-08:002017-03-08T21:18:49.008-08:00Thank you for giving us time, should be appreciate...Thank you for giving us time, should be appreciated.<br /><a href="http://www.bestmeetandgreetluton.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">cheap luton airport parking</a><br />Luton Airport Parkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05094949594174748503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-35718221165558189242015-11-24T10:15:48.479-08:002015-11-24T10:15:48.479-08:00Thanks Christa! I took your advice and ordered the...Thanks Christa! I took your advice and ordered the book.<br /><br />Thankfully the MC is a German girl, whereas my MC is an American boy. Unfortunately both stories involve having family divided by the wall, and a heroic struggle to get people over to the West. <br /><br />Hopefully the other differences I find will be broad enough the differentiate between the two books.<br /><br />Fingers crossed!<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />HPAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262577327638396060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-2435091055544636552015-11-24T10:11:10.929-08:002015-11-24T10:11:10.929-08:00Thank you for the response. I haven't tried su...Thank you for the response. I haven't tried submitting my text alone, in part because I love to illustrate. People who write think you have an ultimate "in" if you illustrate too, but it's just not worked out that way in my case.<br /><br />Again, thank you for the feedback, I'll test our you suggestion and see what happens!TheSmitlyJotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05664331976295243424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-10872926605386445112015-11-23T18:09:19.350-08:002015-11-23T18:09:19.350-08:00Thank you! It was wonderful to get an agent's ...Thank you! It was wonderful to get an agent's insight into my questions as well as those posted by others. (Yes, there was a special circumstance in regard to the manuscript mentioned and only one house has it.) Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08029489684153212017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-45190047442491862672015-11-23T16:10:19.099-08:002015-11-23T16:10:19.099-08:00Thank you for your response and for hosting this h...Thank you for your response and for hosting this helpful "ask the agent."Lauren Kersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12966294812719195655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-7252462855696556552015-11-23T14:07:46.066-08:002015-11-23T14:07:46.066-08:00So this agent already has a project from you? She ...So this agent already has a project from you? She didn't reject it? If she is still considering the first project I wouldn't send her a second. Most agents want one at a time unless we specify otherwise or ask you for more work. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-61007373602671429702015-11-23T14:06:11.270-08:002015-11-23T14:06:11.270-08:00It depends, but usually 2-3. It depends, but usually 2-3. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-1595200847666226292015-11-23T14:05:42.615-08:002015-11-23T14:05:42.615-08:00And labeling a project as upper MG doesn't hur...And labeling a project as upper MG doesn't hurt your chances. As soon as we start reading it we'll be able to tell what part of the MG audience it would fit with. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-35023585648877291882015-11-23T14:04:46.345-08:002015-11-23T14:04:46.345-08:00I don't think social media is going anywhere a...I don't think social media is going anywhere anytime soon, but also be mindful of a manuscript that relies too much on pop culture and current trends. It will feel dated quickly as a result and most agents and editors want something that can stand the test of time so a kid 10 years from now can still relate to it. <br /><br />As for how long to spend on revisions...it's different for everyone, but never send a first draft. Join a critique group and get other writers who write for your age group to give you their honest feedback and apply what feels right to you. You're likely going to go through a few revisions before the manuscript is ready to go out. Don't send a manuscript that you know is rough and needs more work, but at the same time it also doesn't need to be perfect. Make sure there aren't gaping plot holes or major character issues. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-44448683596413946232015-11-23T14:00:30.106-08:002015-11-23T14:00:30.106-08:00To go with sending out your text alone, there are ...To go with sending out your text alone, there are plenty of agents who represent picture book texts on their own and don't expect that person to also illustrate. Most of my picture book authors only do the text. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-70952265443983873012015-11-23T13:59:25.034-08:002015-11-23T13:59:25.034-08:00Meaning these agents only rep author/illustrators ...Meaning these agents only rep author/illustrators and no one else? Have you tried just submitting your picture book text on it's own and seeing if you get any bites? Breaking in as an author illustrator is tricky as you need to be really good at not only writing but illustrating too. If you're good at one but not as good at the other you might get rejections as that agent might think that you aren't open to doing just one or the other but are only a package deal. I think almost every agent has gotten a strange gift or note at some point. Definitely do NOT send gifts. Let your writing speak for itself. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-35253136584576444152015-11-23T13:55:19.125-08:002015-11-23T13:55:19.125-08:00Did it sell well? If so mention it, if not, you do...Did it sell well? If so mention it, if not, you don't need to at the querying stage in my opinion . Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-30705479937406640122015-11-23T13:54:47.408-08:002015-11-23T13:54:47.408-08:00And do these agents that saw your Adult Romance, a...And do these agents that saw your Adult Romance, also rep YA? Make sure they do! I generally wouldn't suggest submitting two different projects to a different set of agents at the same time. It can complicate things. I'd send to agents who look for both YA and romance. Send out your strongest project first and mention the other one in the query. If they like your writing they very well may ask to see your other project even if the first wasn't quite a fit. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-67346760561405941822015-11-23T13:52:04.290-08:002015-11-23T13:52:04.290-08:00I almost always read both the query and the sample...I almost always read both the query and the sample pages unless the project is similar to something I already rep or is in a genre I don't represent. I think a lot of people focus too much on the query being perfect and sometimes don't revise as much or send their strongest writing to accompany it. The writing is the most important part, but make sure the query letter is professional and know your hook! If the story hooks me that's what matters. I wouldn't reject a story I liked based on a lackluster query.Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-20820552703569135302015-11-23T13:49:10.596-08:002015-11-23T13:49:10.596-08:00First things I'd do is read this book you saw....First things I'd do is read this book you saw. How similar is it really to yours? You often will see multiple books on similar topics or dealing with similar subject matter especially when it comes to history. There are many books set in WWII for example. So unless the characters and story are very similar, you should be fine! Likely this author went in a different direction than you!Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-82970091432153946152015-11-23T13:47:13.039-08:002015-11-23T13:47:13.039-08:00Frequency varies but communication is important to...Frequency varies but communication is important to me so I'm never going to disappear and always try to be very responsive when a client emails me. I check in even if there's nothing pending at the moment. As far as preference, that depends on the author. Some are more comfortable with email, others prefer phone. But there definitely are certain conversations that are better suited for the phone such as the always exciting "we have an offer on your book" call and more in depth editorial revision discussion. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-293809438077921592015-11-23T13:44:14.890-08:002015-11-23T13:44:14.890-08:00I look that you follow our submission guidelines a...I look that you follow our submission guidelines and did your research. Tell me why you're querying me. Why is your work a fit for me? I actually have a post on query letters on my blog. Check it out!Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-63420656102131317652015-11-23T13:43:04.831-08:002015-11-23T13:43:04.831-08:00Yes, I'd mention you're going through an e...Yes, I'd mention you're going through an edit with an editor. Generally, I'd say find an agent first before doing any submitting to editors (unless it's a special circumstance--an editor critiqued you at a conference and requested the manuscript etc.). Part of an agent's job is matching a project with the perfect editor. This is not to say that you can't get an agent after you have an offer from a publisher. It works out that way sometimes and most publishers are ok with giving you the time to find an Agent after making an offer. As far as 3), that probably depends on the Agent. I am looking at the quality of the writing and strength/uniqueness of the premise and voice. If you have that, it doesn't matter to me if you were agented or not. The only time I really see it as an issue is if you bounce from agent to agent and don't part ways amicably...or that agent sent out your work widely. If that's the case, my options for submission are very limited. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-78369894656200891202015-11-23T13:37:21.297-08:002015-11-23T13:37:21.297-08:00Oh and I read the entire revision when I ask for o...Oh and I read the entire revision when I ask for one, unless it's really not working and I feel it would be best to pass. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-89305851867405649272015-11-23T13:36:24.770-08:002015-11-23T13:36:24.770-08:00I can't speak for all agents, but I find a red...I can't speak for all agents, but I find a redlined manuscript distracting for an R&R in earlier stages (when it's big picture revising). When it comes down to later revisions for a client and we're working on smaller sections I liked red lining and comment bubbles, but this is just my preference. I'd ask the agent how they'd prefer the revision!Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-73116722137247097022015-11-23T13:34:43.502-08:002015-11-23T13:34:43.502-08:00I wouldn't say jealousy, but more of "the...I wouldn't say jealousy, but more of "the one that got away" type of feeling. It happens to every agent at some point or another where a project we offered on lands with another agent. I'm always happy for the author no matter what they chose and often end up buying it when it comes out. I support books and authors whether or not they're a client of mine :)Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-74335337064608373132015-11-23T13:32:51.351-08:002015-11-23T13:32:51.351-08:00Meaning you have queried widely and haven't ha...Meaning you have queried widely and haven't had any agent interest or you haven't started querying and aren't seeing any great fits based on agents' wish lists? I wouldn't mention those conference findings. Agents are going to be on top of what editors are looking for, so I don't think it would affect their decision to look at your work. Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-41739012712208574282015-11-23T13:29:42.908-08:002015-11-23T13:29:42.908-08:00Did this agent ask for a revision or ask to see fu...Did this agent ask for a revision or ask to see future work? Typically if an agent did not say either of these things they might not be interested, but you can always ask if they're open to it. Explain that you did a complete overhaul. I think it's fine to send paginated picture books. I can't imagine an agent passing based on that, so it shouldn't be a problem, even if it's not their preference!Neverending Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07208372391002820746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141942869492849095.post-83556285993434422422015-11-23T13:28:56.653-08:002015-11-23T13:28:56.653-08:00How many picture books do you typically like to se...How many picture books do you typically like to see (or need to like) from a writer before signing them. Thanks. rena traxelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984425188567295761noreply@blogger.com