How do you get an agent for your children’s book? Well, first you need an elephant…
Okay, I’m kidding about that part. But Bob, the elephant you see above, has become the mascot for my middle grade novel, Whistling for Elephants.
I found Bob at the SCBWI SpringMingle, a conference for children’s writers and illustrators that’s held each year in Atlanta. He’s made by the talented Michelle Nelson-Schmidt, who also wrote a book about him.
Bob thinks he’s a unicorn, although his friends don’t see that at all. Then he finds someone who believes in him. Check out the trailer for Michelle’s picture book here on YouTube: Bob Is A Unicorn.
Landing an agent is a lot like finding someone who sees past your elephant-ness into your glittery, magical unicorn-ness. Agents share your dreams for the manuscript you’ve written, and believe it can be more than just a stack of paper. Like you, they see it as a published book children will love to read.
I’m excited that I’ve just received an offer of representation from Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. My agent loves middle grade fiction, and he’s encouraging me to get my story up to around 35,000 words (it’s about 26K now). Once I’ve given my characters a little more time on stage, so to speak, he’ll start circulating it to publishers. I feel so fortunate to have someone with his knowledge and experience in my corner.
So here’s what I learned, as I set out to find an agent:
1. Do your research. I used the SCBWI online catalog of children’s book publishers (you must join SCBWI to access it, but the membership fee is very reasonable, and there are lots of other benefits). Once you find an agency that’s open to the kind of work you’re doing, visit the agency’s site. Read about the agents who work there, and pay attention to what they’re looking for. You’re wasting your time to submit a Y/A novel to someone who only wants picture books. You may also want to Google the agent’s name, to find the books and authors he or she currently represents.
2. When you write your query letter, make sure the agent’s name is spelled correctly. Misspellings are a real turn-off, and suggest you’re a careless or sloppy writer.
3. Personalize your query, if you can. Don’t go overboard; you want to present yourself in a professional and businesslike way. But if the agent mentions he likes a certain book because of its strong voice or sense of place, and you like that, too, mention it. Just be genuine. If you don’t share his enthusiasm, don’t fake it. But little touches like that can show you’ve done your homework and you’re really trying to find a great match between what you can offer, and what the agent can represent with real heart.
4. Add a brief and pertinent bio to your query. If you’ve published in the kids’ field or you’re a much-requested storyteller at your library or school, lead with that info. Not published? Mention writing courses you’ve taken, to show you’re studying and practicing your craft. Agents like to find writers who are SCBWI members, because that means you really care about children’s literature.
5. Follow the directions on the agency’s website and send only what is requested. If they want sample chapters pasted into your email, don’t send an attachment (most won’t open them). If they ask for 5 pages, there’s no need to send 15; it’s risky to annoy the person who’s reading.
6. Be patient. If the agency says their typical reply time is 2 months, don’t nudge them before then. When the time is up, it’s okay to send a short, respectful note asking if they need more time to consider your submission.
7. Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing. Continue to read, study, and perfect your work. Consider joining a critique group; your family probably loves everything you’ve written, but that’s because they love you. And having a supportive team behind you is great. But you also need unbiased readers, so you can discover what’s working, and what needs improving.
It feels magical when you finally connect with a great agent. Good luck on finding one who sees your inner unicorn!
