Submissions: Agents & Editors
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| © Sarah LuAnn Perkins |
Where do I go from here?
Ready to start the submission process with your awesome manuscript?
For all things related to subbing your manuscript check out the links below.
For all things related to subbing your manuscript check out the links below.
Purple Crayon News and Updates
Sub It Club
The Ultimate Guide to Picture Books Submissions
From Manuscript to Bookshelf: How a Book Gets Published
The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2019-2020
Manuscript Submissions -Questions and Answers
From Manuscript to Bookshelf: How a Book Gets Published
The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2019-2020
Manuscript Submissions -Questions and Answers
Literaticast and Literaticat - podcast and blog of agent Jennifer Laughran with great advice (e.g. Interview with agent Molly O'Neill and query tips)
Step 1: Are You Ready to Submit?
Is Your Manuscript Ready for the Submission Process? Parts 1 and Part 2.
How to Make Editors Eager to Read Your Picture Book
24 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required
10 Tests to Prove Your Manuscript is Ready for Submission
An EPIC POST on the Submission Process, from an Agent's POV
How to Research a Literary Agent
What an Editor Does (actually, tips on writing a great book)
How do I Find an Agent?
Landing the Right Literary Agent and The Journey to Get There
What Does a Literary Agent Do?
How to Find a Literary Agent in 109 Easy Steps
Mid-Career Querying and Other Stuff We Don't Talk About
Creating a Compelling Book Title
Dare I Submit During a Pandemic
Do I Need a Submission "Package" (for Picture Book Writers)
Step 2: Decide who to Submit to: Agents or Editors
An Agent’s View of the Submission Process
The Difference Between A Literary Agent And An Editor
The Big Five U.S. Trade Publishers (infographic)
How to Smartly Evaluate a Small Publisher
Look Into Publishers Before Submitting
30 Children's Book Publishers Seeking Picture Books
Evaluate Small Publishers Like A Pro
21 Children's Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts
24 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required
Step 3: If agents, scour Agent Lists
The following sites are a good starting point to find children's book agents:
Literary Rambles
Agents on Twitter- List by Heather Ayris Burnell
Agents on Twitter - List by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Literary Agents on Twitter
Agents on Twitter - List by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Literary Agents on Twitter
Literary Agent Contact Sheet
Picture Book Agents
Literary Agents of Color
SCBWI's The Book: Essential Guide to Publishing for Children (must be SCBWI member)
Step 4: Research Your Preferred Agents
After you've found a few agents, check for their likes, dislikes and response times at Agent Query and Publishers Marketplace and read as many interviews and articles as you can. Google their clients and check out their work.
Query Tracker is also another great source of information about agents and publishers and offers a way to track your queries.
Agent Query Connect A huge online community where you ask questions and get answers.
MSWL - agents post their manuscript wish lists using the hashtag #MSWL on Twitter which are aggregated on this website
How to Research Literary Agents and Publishers Before Sending Materials
Agent Research 101: Mining Deal Data
The Straight Dope on Publisher's Marketplace
Advanced Tips for Querying Agents
Some cautionary posts (do your homework):
Agents Wave the Red Flags
Bad Agent
Agents Wave the Red Flags
Bad Agent
8 Ways to Know if You Have a Good Agent
Writer's Beware: Agents
Knowing When to Walk Away from a Publishing Deal
When Agents Wave the Red Flag
10 Things We Hate About Agents (and 10 Things They Hate About Us)
The Impersonation Game
Writer's Beware: Agents
Knowing When to Walk Away from a Publishing Deal
When Agents Wave the Red Flag
10 Things We Hate About Agents (and 10 Things They Hate About Us)
The Impersonation Game
Step 5: Query Your Preferred Agents
How do you write a query? Go to our Query Letters section for a long list of resources and articles
Agent Tips: From Querying to Accepting an Offer
A Guide to Literary Agent Etiquette
Tracking Your Queries
Exclusive Submissions or Simultaneous Submissions?
The Best Way To Query Your Book | Successful Query Strategy (video)
Step 6: Submit Your Best Work
Submission Tip Checklist: Double Check These 16 Things Before Sending Your Book Out
Picture Book Submissions- Art Notes/Text
Agent Monday: Twenty Turns Offs
The Acquisition Process
A Guide to Literary Agent Etiquette
Agent Research 101: Mining Deal Data
What an Agent Does & Does Not Do
How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?
The Rules of Re-Querying
Submissions 101: Tracking Queries
Step 7: Follow Up/ Patience
5 Things to Do When You Haven't Heard Back from an Editor or Agent: The Art of Following Up
Would You Please Quit Assuming Stuff Already?
Response Times, Guest Post by Juliet Mushens
How Publishers Make Decisions About What to Publish: The Book P&L
Going on Sub (What Happens when an Agent Submits Your Work)
Exclusive Requests from Literary Agents--What Are They and How do They Work?
When "I Have an Offer" is a Red Flag
Somewhere Between Yes and No: R&Rs
How to Nudge an Agent Who Has Your Full MS
7a: Rejections
What Silence in Publishing Really Means
Why Don't Agents Explain their Rejections
Rejecting Submissions is the Worst Part of the Job
Beneath the Ice: A Literary Agent Discusses Rejection
Why Don't People Want to Rep My Book?
What Does "I Didn't Fall in Love with It" Mean?
Rejections in Tough Times
Pulling the Plug on Querying Agents?
"Can't Connect" Rejections?
Step 8: Take the Call
How do you write a query? Go to our Query Letters section for a long list of resources and articles
Agent Tips: From Querying to Accepting an Offer
A Guide to Literary Agent Etiquette
Tracking Your Queries
Exclusive Submissions or Simultaneous Submissions?
The Best Way To Query Your Book | Successful Query Strategy (video)
Submission Tip Checklist: Double Check These 16 Things Before Sending Your Book Out
Picture Book Submissions- Art Notes/Text
Agent Monday: Twenty Turns Offs
The Acquisition Process
A Guide to Literary Agent Etiquette
Agent Research 101: Mining Deal Data
What an Agent Does & Does Not Do
How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?
The Rules of Re-Querying
Submissions 101: Tracking Queries
Step 7: Follow Up/ Patience
5 Things to Do When You Haven't Heard Back from an Editor or Agent: The Art of Following Up
Response Times, Guest Post by Juliet Mushens
How Publishers Make Decisions About What to Publish: The Book P&L
Going on Sub (What Happens when an Agent Submits Your Work)
Exclusive Requests from Literary Agents--What Are They and How do They Work?
When "I Have an Offer" is a Red Flag
Somewhere Between Yes and No: R&Rs
How to Nudge an Agent Who Has Your Full MS
7a: Rejections
What Silence in Publishing Really Means
Why Don't Agents Explain their Rejections
Rejecting Submissions is the Worst Part of the Job
Beneath the Ice: A Literary Agent Discusses Rejection
Why Don't People Want to Rep My Book?
What Does "I Didn't Fall in Love with It" Mean?
Rejections in Tough Times
Pulling the Plug on Querying Agents?
"Can't Connect" Rejections?
Step 8: Take the Call
The CALL- What do you do when you get it? Find the answers at Casey McCormick's site, Literary Rambles
Beyond the Basic Questions for the Agent's Call
What to Do Before & After “THE CALL” from an Offering Literary Agent
Questions to Ask Your Prospective Agent
Beyond the Basic Questions for the Agent's Call
What to Do Before & After “THE CALL” from an Offering Literary Agent
Questions to Ask Your Prospective Agent
All About the Offer Etiquette (And How to get a Fast Pass!)
5 Things Writers Should Ask Potential Agents
10 Questions to Ask When Offered Representation
Janet Reid: The Engagement Period
Real Talk: Six Figure Book Deal$
So You Got an Offer of Rep. . . (advice on notifying other agents)
Jim Suggests Questions to Ask a Prospective Agent
Tip Time: Talking to Agents on the Phone (with an offer)
Step by Step: Handling an Offer of Representation
How to Choose an Agent Among Competing Offers
Best of Ask the Agent: How Do You Put a Number on Success?
So You Got an Offer of Rep. . . (advice on notifying other agents)
Jim Suggests Questions to Ask a Prospective Agent
Tip Time: Talking to Agents on the Phone (with an offer)
Step by Step: Handling an Offer of Representation
How to Choose an Agent Among Competing Offers
Best of Ask the Agent: How Do You Put a Number on Success?
Step 9: Understand Your Contract
Congratulations! You have a contract. Now it's time to understand your contract and be aware of the important issues. Head on over to Legal Resources for Creatives for some articles to help get you started. Consider hiring a good attorney to help you with your contract review & negotiation
CONGRATS! YOU HAVE AN AGENT, NOW WHAT?
Some articles answering questions you might have about the agenting process and life with an agent:
On Being On Submission
An EPIC POST about the Submission Process, from an Agent's POV
Working with Editors
What Authors and Editors Wish They Could Say to Each Other
Sometimes things don't work out. . .
How to Approach Literary Agents After Parting Ways With Your Previous Representation
"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Jennifer Laughran
What Makes an Agent Crazy? When Clients Leave Badly
Switching Literary Agents: Two Agents Offer Advice
Publishing Secrets: Having More Than One Agent
Publication Industry Info
The Truth about Publishing
Everything You Wanted to Know About Book Sales (But Were Afraid to Ask)
How to Make a Living as a Children's Book Author- Hannah Holt
What About No Advance Publishing?
How I Stay Grounded: 7 Realities of Traditional Publishing