Finding a Literary Agent: Four Things I Learned

Literary agents are fantastic creatures. They get your manuscript into the hands of top editors, which is important since a lot of publishers don’t accept unagented work, and the ones that do can take a long (really long) time to respond. Agents negotiate contracts, not just the dollar amount, but rights issues and other clauses that you may not know much about. Agents have the connections needed to sell foreign rights and to make sure you’re actually paid for these rights. Getting an agent might be hard—they work on commission, so they’ll only take on manuscripts they think they can sell—but becoming a successfully published writer without one is even harder.

If you’re a writer in search of a book deal, it makes sense to look for an agent first. Here are four things I’ve learned from my own agent quest.

1.      Research queries. For those of you who don’t know, a query is a letter you send to agents in an attempt to pique their interest in representing your manuscript. A bad query can ruin your chances of ever getting to the next stage. Luckily, there are websites devoted to helping you. I like Query Shark and the Query Letter Hell section at Absolute Write. I’d like to point out that the names here are rather telling. I’ve never heard of a query puppy or a query letter heaven.

2.      Research agents. There are a lot of fabulous agents out there, but there are also some dishonest and incompetent ones. Look for agents with a solid sales record. If you’re going with a new agent, look for one with publishing experience or connections at an established agency. Also, make sure the agents you query actually represent the genre you write; otherwise, you’re wasting everyone’s time. Once again, Absolute Write has a great section—Bewares, Recommendation, & Background Check—to help you. Literary Rambles is a blog that does informative spotlights on children’s agents. Query Tracker makes it easy to find agents who represent your genre.

3.      Pace yourself. If you query all the agents on your list at once, you won’t be able to tweak a letter that doesn’t get a good response. On the other hand, querying one agent at a time could take you the rest of your life, especially since some agents never reply. I suggest sending your query out in small batches of about five to ten.

4.      Don’t be desperate. For many unpublished writers, getting an agent can seem like a daunting obstacle, and it’s easy to settle for anyone willing to offer representation. The truth, though, is that a bad agent is worse than no agent. Don’t query anyone who looks shady. Don’t sign anything you’re not comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

©Trent Black
 
Laurel Gale lives in the desert with her husband and a band of furry monsters that might actually be ferrets. She enjoys reading novels, playing board games, and learning about everything from history to science to grammar. Her debut middle grade novel, Dead Boy, comes out September 29, 2015, from Random House/Crown Books for Young Readers. 

You Say It's Your Birthday

By Natasha Sinel

Today is July 23^rd. My birthday. I know exactly what you’re thinking: Hey! Happy birthday, hope it’s a great year! Also, You’re aging quite gracefully!

This is what I’m thinking: Thanks! Also, Thanks!

A year ago today, I was celebrating. Big time.

The day before, I'd gotten the call from my agent. The editor who’d shown interest in my manuscript had managed to jump through all the hoops on her end, and made an offer for THE FIX. Honestly, the first thought I had was: Tomorrow, I actually get to celebrate. For real. The last four birthdays had been bittersweet—happy to have another birthday, a chance to eat cake, get cards and presents and such, but mixed with that other thought, too—another year without a book deal. It would've been my fifth birthday wishing for that one thing.

But on July 23, 2014, there was much to celebrate. There was cake, cards, presents, hugs from the kids, and champagne for the book deal.

And then everything happened so fast.

Contract, announcement, joining a debut group and getting up to speed on what it meant to be a debut author—all the things I’d have to do. There were the things I’d expected: edits, cover, blurbs, bio, etc. But also so much more: social media, blog posts, self-promotion, postcards to libraries, bookmarks. ARCs. Planning launch parties. Media. Bookstores. So. Much. To. Do. I got sucked into it all.

On June 23, 2015, exactly one month ago and nearly a year after the offer, my agent asked me, “So, how’s writing going?”

I laughed. “Um, it’s okay. I’ve been side-tracked with all the promotion stuff for THE FIX, so I haven’t written a ton, but I will. I mean, I’m writing, don’t worry…but…” Cue nervous laughter. Was I making excuses? About writing?

A tough love speech followed (emphasis on the love). It included a much-needed reality check that went a bit like this, “You need to prioritize your writing. This is your job. You are a writer. You write books. So, write another book.” And then the follow-up question, “When can you get a first draft to me?”

As authors (debut authors, at least), we do the bulk of our own marketing and promotion. More than you can even imagine, actually. And while I’ve been having a great time on social media, ordering bookmarks, designing cute stickers, and planning launch parties, those aren’t the things I’d signed up for. Somehow, I found myself working nonstop all day, yet not adding a word to my new manuscript.

Along the way, I’d lost focus.

This focus—I write stories about teenagers. That’s what I love to do. I’m a writer, and writers must write. Right?

My agent waited quietly while I thought. I made quick calculations in my head.

“August 15^th,” I said, as my heart started to pound.

“Great,” she said. “That’s great.”

So, I’ve been writing. After I make my word count goal for the day, I work on the other stuff, which is also important, but the writing has to come first.

A year ago today, I was celebrating my first book deal. Today, I’m anticipating the release of my debut novel in less than six weeks. And I’m confident, thanks to my agent, that in less than four weeks, I’ll be sending the first draft of my new manuscript to her.

Natasha Sinel writes YA fiction from her home on a dirt road in Northern Westchester, NY. She drives her kids around all afternoon, but in her head, she's still in high school, and hopes that no one near her can read minds. Her debut YA novel THE FIX will be out from Sky Pony Press on September 1, 2015.

Agent Interview - Katherine Boyle of Veritas Literary

I've always liked reading blogs that interviewed agents and editors; the information gleaned taught me so much about writing and publishing.  I thought I'd pay it forward for any aspiring writers out there by interviewing my own agent and editor. For today's post, I'm talking with my agent, Katherine Boyle, founder of Veritas Literary Agency. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

 I majored in English and Psychology in college, due to a compelling interest in what literature calls character and psychology calls personality or, more classically, psyche. After school I worked for several small presses and agencies in the Bay Area before establishing Veritas in 1995. The name means “truth,” of course, but I’ve always loved Emily Dickinson’s quote “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” Sometimes the deepest truth is found in fiction.

What genres do you represent?

There are two of us at the agency; Michael Carr represents the adult genre categories: thrillers, fantasy & sci fi. He also does a lot of women’s fiction, whereas most of the serious nonfiction titles are mine, which is not the standard assumption of authors who submit to us. I also handle most of the memoir, narrative nonfiction, MG and YA.

Where do you see the YA market heading in the next year or two?

I hate to make predictions because YA trends are so frustrating for authors; so many write good novels that just happen to be out of fashion or victims of a glutted marketplace. Personally I love nuanced stories with strong character development.

What words of wisdom would you give to an aspiring writer?

Stay inspired by reading, and read as much as you can. Find a few critique partners who are working at your level and rigorously evaluate each other’s work. Send stories to some of the most competitive literary journals you know of, and keep stretching. Writing is not easy, and I commend everyone who has the patience to spend years perfecting their prose. That’s what it takes.

What kind of YA books are on your wish list? (What kind of projects would you love to receive a query for?)

I’m a sucker for an unusual voice and contemporary scenarios with just a hint or suggestion of the supernatural. I like realistic yet eerie stories, whether the dark element is coming from plot or something psychological.

How much time do you spend each week reading?

Around 30 hours.

How many queries do you get a week?

Hundreds, and during certain hectic periods we just can’t answer them all. I regret that, because I know how hard it is for authors.

How many new clients do you sign a year?

Somewhere between eight and ten. We never want more than we can reasonably develop at one time.

What turns you off in a query and what instantly draws you in?

Clichés, or any kind of hard sell turns me off. A beautifully written (not overwritten) query can charm me into asking for something that’s a little far afield.

What are your favorite YA novels (please say mine, please say mine, please say mine)?

Of course I love everything I’ve signed, including Lynn Lindquist’s The Secret of the Sevens, which was a bulls-eye in terms of personal taste.  E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars is one I read recently that blew me away.

What are the top three things a new author needs to know or do to survive in publishing?

Stay informed. The publishing world of today is very different from the scene a decade ago. I don’t encourage authors to chase trends, but it doesn’t serve you to write in a vacuum either. It all comes back to reading—read as much as you can.

Describe your typical day:

The first two hours usually go to urgent emails and calls, and in the remaining time before lunch I face rest of the email pile-up. Longer talks with authors and editors fall in the afternoon and, if I’m lucky, a block of time for submission and editing. 

Thank you for your time, Katherine. As I've said a hundred times, you're the best! 

Katherine Boyle can be found at www.veritasliterary.com.

"...it's impossible to put the book down. Conspiracy, loyalty, secrets, oaths, lies, and riddles flourish, making this the perfect book for readers who love to untangle mysteries by puzzling things out."  -BOOKLIST 

"At the end of the day, it’s Talan and his endearing combination of bravado and vulnerability, coupled with the crackling chemistry he shares with Laney, that will keep readers turning the pages. A satisfying read for secret-society fanatics and romantics alike."   -KIRKUS REVIEWS

Lynn Lindquist (Chicago, IL) lives with two overly social sons who provide fodder for her young adult novels and growing anxiety disorder. Her contemporary thriller Secret of the Sevens is set for release on June 8, 2015 from Flux Publishing.  To learn more, follow Lynn on lynnlindquist.com or on Twitter at @LynnLindquist.