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Submissions: Agents & Editors



© Benson Shum



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.




Free Videos from The Picture Book Submissions System: Stop Sabotaging Your Submissions Check out the free videos on the following topics: Demystifying the Query Letter, Perfecting Your Pitch, and From Panicked to Published with award-winning picture book authors Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund.
 
Workshop

 

July 14, 4:00 p.m. CST The Art of Dealmaking: Understanding the Process of Contract Negotiations [PLUS, Submission Opportunity!] Online Workshop with Agent Morgan Hughes (FinePrint Literary Management), Hosted by Rosie J. Pova

 

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the contract negotiation process for picture book deals. In this eye-opening workshop, you’ll gain valuable insight into how an agent approaches these critical steps—from the initial offer all the way to the final signature—and everything that happens in between: 

  • Key deal points, essential contract language, and clauses you need to be aware of
  • The meaning and implications of grants of rights, subrights, and other important terms
  • The right questions to ask your agent or publisher to ensure you’re negotiating the best possible deal

Whether you're preparing for your first offer or looking to better understand the business side of publishing, this session will empower you with the knowledge you need to navigate the dealmaking process with confidence. ($57)

 

 


Step 1: Are You Ready to Submit?
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

Do I Need a Submission "Package" (for Picture Book Writers)





Step 2: Decide who to Submit to: Agents or Editors

7 Agents Seeking Children’s Books: Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult
An Agent’s View of the Submission Process

The Difference Between A Literary Agent And An Editor
Picture Book Publishers 101

 The Big Five U.S. Trade Publishers (infographic)

How to Smartly Evaluate a Small Publisher

 Look Into Publishers Before Submitting

 Evaluate Small Publishers Like A Pro

 21 Children's Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts 

24 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required


Submit Your Children's Book Without An Agent! New List of 100 Open Publishers (June 2023)


Step 3: If agents, scour Agent Lists

The following sites are a good starting point to find children's book agents:

Literary Rambles 


Resources Listing Literary Agents and Artist's Representatives

Monster List of Picture Book Agents (updated January 2022)



Equity Directory  - database of BIPOC literary agents
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.

Manuscript Wish List - website providing agent wish lists 

 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

Query Smart

Don't Outsource Your Agent Search

How to Stalk Publishing Professionals on Social Media in an Appropriate Way



Cautionary Posts (do your homework):


   
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 List (List of Agents/Agencies that Have Been Impersonated by Scammers)

9 Don'ts When Querying Agents

A New "Beware": Scammers Impersonating Reputable Literary Agents

The Troubling Rise of Publishing Scams (and Bad Literary Agents) (video)

Large Word Counts are More Expensive for Publishers

You're Probably Going to Annoy an Agent at Some Point (and It Absolutely Does Not Matter)


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)

Should I Tell Agents I Worked With a Writing Coach or Freelance Editor?

Two New Trends in Querying

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



 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

How to Successfully Follow Up with Literary Agents (video)

Do Agents Always Hear Back from Editors?

 7a: Rejections

What Silence in Publishing Really Means 

 Rejecting Submissions is the Worst Part of the Job

 Beneath the Ice: A Literary Agent Discusses Rejection

 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?

When to Reject Rejection


 Rejection Stories & Advice From Published Kidlit/YA Creators

Getting Past Rejection

Agent on Why She Uses Form Rejections (Twitter thread)

 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

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

Dance with the Right Partners at the Publishing Prom (an agent's advice on juggling multiple offers)

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

Why Today's Authors Are Being Scammed More Than Ever Before--And How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
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