Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Old New Castle, Del.
Yesterday I wrote about finding a treasure–a children’s picture book manuscript that a friend referred me to. It is a story filled with magic, sensory richness and adventure.
You may have guessed, after my raving about the story yesterday, that I offered representation. You would be guessing wrong. I did contact L. Stewart Marsden through my friend, but it was to ask his permission to blog about his project.
So why, if I’m crazy about this story, did I not offer to represent it?
There are a number of reasons. I thought by discussing them here you might get some insight into why agents make some of their seemingly inexplicable decisions. So, let me list a couple:
Genre mismatch-– Although I have sold some wonderful children’s picture books both in the CBA market and the ABA market, it takes a real specialist to sell children’s books these days. Someone who keeps up with the market and knows who is buying what. It would be a disservice to Mr. Marsden to take him on for this story. He needs to find a children’s agent.
Generalist Author– I looked at Mr. Marsden’s website and noted that he is in the experimental phase of his career. He has his children’s book but he also has adult fiction, poetry and other offerings. This is normal when an author is exploring, but to an agent, it is a sign that the author has not yet found his genre and his voice. When he settles, he’s going to be much more attractive to an agent. (I’ve blogged a number of times about the importance of finding your writing “home.”)
I’m sharing this so you realize that finding an agent is as much about a perfect match as it is about getting an agent to fall in love with your writing.
What can an author do to ensure that the right agent falls in love with his writing, his book?
You blogging about it is a gift in itself. 🙂
From what I’ve learned here from you and the rest of the Books & Such people:
1. Connect with those in one genre. Start with one genre.
2. Focus on one genre and platform and be ready to build in that one area if you do connect.
3. Go to writers conferences that specialize in your chosen genre so you’re meeting editors and agents in your focus.
4. Did I say focus?
5.Have your best work ready. Don’t say, “I have poetry, diet books, women’s fiction and a fantasy adventure and ….” Decide on one.
6. Pray that God leads you both to each other.
What else? How can you find your best project or genre so you can be ready for that love story? Exploring is nice, but when/how do you get down and serious with one?
By the way, I love it that you blogged about something like this because so many writers I talk to are baffled if an agent loves something that he would turn it down. These writers don’t always see the blessing in that. And I think there are agents who might be tempted by such a thing and then that agent loses her focus and might do a disservice to the clients she already has.
(Sorry about being so blabby. This was fascinating to me.)
Great couple of posts, Wendy. I like that you broke it up into two separate ones instead of giving us the whole story at once.
I perform research on whomever I decide to submit to: publisher or agent. I check the company’s website, see what types of books they represent, and what books a specific agent has represented. I only target those who are a match for what I’m writing. I figure the time spent up front will save me time later.
Thanks for sharing this story with us.
Thanks for sharing this story! You gave us an unexpected plot twist, there. More evidence that “no” sometimes simply means “not now” or “not me.”
As for getting the right agent to fall in love with my writing and my book, sounds like that’s one part excellent writing/polished manuscript–one part research/knowing what agent to pitch–and one part luck (fate, timing, God’s blessing, etc.). Work hard, educate myself and pray. Hmmm. Might work in other areas of life as well ; )
HMMM, never thought about an author being in several genres as something an agent might shy away from. I guess that might be so with new authors, but I’ve seen famous fiction writers also pen a children’s book. Good to know, when I finally whip my MS into shape, to make sure my online presence is consistent with my book – (so far it is 🙂 )
I notice my comment didn’t post – sorry
I am writing a memoir, and that may not appeal to agents because memoirs are not necessarily serial books. I also maintain a Bible study blog and love to share what I’ve learned. As a new author, I wonder how an agent would be attracted to memoir – perhaps only good writing. It seems a risk an agent takes with every new author – do they only have one good book in them.
I sure wish you did represent children’s books. I’d query you!
I’m not past using my children as an excuse to buy their books. I think it is neat that you love them too:)
It’s now March 19, and I’ve cogitated on and mulled about Ms. Lawton’s comments on my writing, the most valuable of which for me was to find someone in the correct genre.
But I also think it fair that I clarify that, at this point, I’m not seeking an agent. My blog is a depository of what I enjoy writing about. It is not Christian in nature (didn’t Solomon say “there is nothing new under the sun?”). You guys are covering that market just fine.
How I came about being noticed by Ms. Lawton is that a mutual friend suggested she read “Stinky and the Night Mare,” a story I made up for my daughter, and later put down on paper. I have, by the way, several more.
I was so excited and, frankly, humbled by Ms. Lawton’s comments in part 1 of this 2 part educational piece, that I immediately set about adding to the Stinky stories. Finding my voice. Trying to impress. Hey, look at me!
And the result was that the ensuing stories WERE STINKY! (I’ve left them on my blog as evidence).
They weren’t me. They were a production of what I thought somebody out there in Literary Land would respond to and get excited about. Maybe say, “What a voice!”
My dad, who died in 2005, was quite a guy! One thing he told me over and over was that it really didn’t matter what you did in life, as long as you enjoyed it. Yours did too, right?
Translation: do things for the right reasons.
I’m sixty-two, and just about halfway to sixty-three. I write about a lot of different subjects, and use a wide range of genres to get my ideas across. Sometimes a poem says it best for me, as with “The Bone-Pickers,” which is really about the aftermath of my mother’s death two years ago. Sometimes it’s an opinion piece, as when I recently looked at how we use words, in “What Really IS Shocking?”
The point is this: I don’t mind being the subject of a lesson, but, and this is a STRONG BUT, being picked up by an agent and consequently published (I wonder if this isn’t a whole lot like having your house listed for sale) is not the final validation of what I write. It’s really nice, don’t get me wrong, and if your gameplan is to be published . . .
In the long run, books come and books go. Words are written, some few of which are reprinted and read by the masses (I dare you to look at what really sells out there).
What you write is just as valid as what anyone else writes. Improve upon it, sure! Craft it and rewrite it until YOU are satisfied.
Writer’s write.
So, at the risk of offending all who read this particular post, I thank Ms. Lawton for her opinions. I will add that Ms. Lawton only contacted me for permission to refer to “Stinky and the Night Mare.” We never entered a dialogue that might have enlightened her as to who I am as a writer.
I will continue to write my poems, short stories, opinion pieces, and other creative musings and post them to my blog, http://www.skipmars.com, which you are welcome to visit and leave your comments.
THAT is the reason for the blog: to garner comments on my writing. Helps me improve.
And to privide me an outlet.
Have a great day, and, God Bless!
Skip Marsden