Finding An Agent

[illustr8rrr]

Any advice on finding an agent in the children`s book category? It`s like swimming with sharks, and I`m chum. Help!

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Any advice on finding an agent in the children`s book category? It`s like swimming with sharks, and I`m chum. Help!

Easy question to answer. You probably can't find an agent because they don't want you. After you have a book in print and it sells well, they will find you.

An agent will represent any number of writers, but he/she works strictly on commission. He/she does not want to waste their time on an unknown, untested quantity. When you've proved yourself, that's a different story.

Welcome to the rat race.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Easy question to answer. You probably can't find an agent because they don't want you. After you have a book in print and it sells well, they will find you.

An agent will represent any number of writers, but he/she works strictly on commission. He/she does not want to waste their time on an unknown, untested quantity. When you've proved yourself, that's a different story.

Welcome to the rat race.

Correct as usual, super-star, JJ. The only way an unknown writer can beat the system is to change their name to that of some highly respected celebraty such as Oprah, Caroline Kennedy, or maybe Jenny Jackson.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Stella_Omega]

It is tough, but it might not be impossible

I'll be back with some resources if I can find them again-- regardless of Jenny's pronouncements.

 

[neonlyte]

Any advice on finding an agent in the children`s book category? It`s like swimming with sharks, and I`m chum. Help!

JJ & Rumpole - you are right. On the other hand... UK agents have been bemoaning the lack of submissions, unfortunately, I can't tell you which ones.

Whatever the state of play viz:- Agents, research using the usual tools is the way to go, or offer sex... though maybe not for a children's book.

You could seek solace in the STORY forum linked through my sig, at very least you could join a crowd seeking easier ways to acquire rejection slips

 

[R. Richard]

One thing that will ease your search.

Under no set of circumstances ever pay an agent anything but a percentage of your SALES! If there is a 'reading fee' or a 'publicity fee,' run, do not walk to the exit.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Ok, look. I've been thrumbing through Writers Market. It appears to me that of the fiction print publishers, about 40% of the books published are by "unagented authors". In the non-fiction catagory, among the large publishing houses, only about 7% are "unagented authors". Among publishers of textbooks and childrens books the unumber of "unagented authors" is even higher than fiction.

As a side note - There are a lot more non-fiction and children's book publishers than anything else. Gay/Lesbian publishers are very few (4 or 5) and erotic fiction publishers are about the same.

Fuck "self publishers"! That's just a rip off. Some E-publishers are okay, some are scams.

It's a jungle.

 

[secretme]

Easy question to answer. You probably can't find an agent because they don't want you. After you have a book in print and it sells well, they will find you.

An agent will represent any number of writers, but he/she works strictly on commission. He/she does not want to waste their time on an unknown, untested quantity. When you've proved yourself, that's a different story.

Welcome to the rat race.

Okay,
So for those of us who have a book in print... Where do you look? Is there something better than writer's market?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Okay,
So for those of us who have a book in print... Where do you look? Is there something better than writer's market?

The problem is, the publishing business is changing right now. If you are Steven King or John Grishom, you wouldn't be asking. You would already have an agent and other agents would be knocking at your door.

Look around B. Dalton. There are millions of book titles on the shelves. One or two of them may be "Best Sellers" by unagented authors. Those one or two will have agents by the end of the day.

On the other hand the rest of the millions, will still be looking for an agent.

Don't wait around. Write each book better than the last. Find a publisher and get them in print.

The story Steven King tells is, he wrote for three years before he had his first story published in a magaizine. Then it was another year before his second. Look where he is now, some 20 years later.

Writers Market recommends contests, magazines and periodicals to get your name out there. I think it's all a shooting match. Call me Annie Oakley if you want.

 

[secretme]

The problem is, the publishing business is changing right now. If you are Steven King or John Grishom, you wouldn't be asking. You would already have an agent and other agents would be knocking at your door.

Look around B. Dalton. There are millions of book titles on the shelves. One or two of them may be "Best Sellers" by unagented authors. Those one or two will have agents by the end of the day.

On the other hand the rest of the millions, will still be looking for an agent.

Don't wait around. Write each book better than the last. Find a publisher and get them in print.

The story Steven King tells is, he wrote for three years before he had his first story published in a magaizine. Then it was another year before his second. Look where he is now, some 20 years later.

Writers Market recommends contests, magazines and periodicals to get your name out there. I think it's all a shooting match. Call me Annie Oakley if you want.

Read all about King and the others. Know the basics. I've been at it a while already. Dropped out of the race for a while and I guess now I'm just trying to get back in. Really in the end I don't want to cut out any options. So advice of any kind is always helpful. You never know when you might accidentally talk to someone who knows a short cut. We'll see what happens...

 

[MagicaPractica]

Not sure where you are, but the best advice I recieved was to join the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators. Good contacts through there.

ETA: Just checked, it's international.

 

[illustr8rrr]

Thank you!

Thank you all so much for offering the advice and guidance. My head hurts!

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Not sure where you are, but the best advice I recieved was to join the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators. Good contacts through there.

ETA: Just checked, it's international.

Actually, that's good advice. The more you are known, the more you will be wanted.

 

[illustr8rrr]

I love you all

 

[sr71plt]

It's amusing to see all of the "knowledge" and advice of those who've never published anything. Typical.

Sort of a strange place to be asking this question, but here's someplace to start in getting real, useful help:

Chidren's Writing Resource Central

http://www.write4kids.com

I wouldn't suggest telling them where you got the link, though

 

[illustr8rrr]

Thank you so much!