Young Adult books are a popular genre to write for. I think many writers enjoy the YA age group because the upper teenage years are filled with a lot of conflict and questions. Many of the readers in this category are figuring out who they are and trying to find their place in the world. These kinds of questions and struggles create the perfect spark for stories, whether it’s an adventure fantasy or a contemporary romance. I’m not going to give advice for specific genres like fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, historical, etc. Those all require separate posts to do them justice! Instead, I’m going to give general advice for writing for a YA audience. The focus is on who your audience is and what’s important to them. So, if you want to write for YA, are on the fence about it, or already write it on a regular basis, I hope you learn something new that you can add to your writer’s toolbox. 1. Characters should be diverse. Diversity can mean a lot of different things in fiction. It can mean including different races, genders, disabilities, etc. The world around us is diverse and made up of many different kinds of people with varying experiences. Fiction can reflect that, and readers want to be able to identify with your characters. An important thing to keep in mind is to avoid classic stereotypes. Every now and then the handsome jock or beautiful princess has his or her place, but YA provides the opportunity to explore more complex characters. What questions are your characters struggling with? What has shaped them into who they are and are they happy with who they are? If not, how will the story shape them into more of who they want to be? Don’t be afraid to try different characters or break out from the archetypes commonly seen in your specific genre of YA. 2. Culture is key. The culture we live in plays a significant role on our worldviews and beliefs. Many young people are becoming more vocal about their opinions and beliefs, especially when it comes to politics. In fiction, culture is still important, even if you’re making it up for a YA fantasy. The inner workings of our culture and society can provide a lot conflict, both individually and corporately. As you approach culture in your YA story, remember that it doesn’t have to mirror our own exactly, but should have snippets that ring true for the reader. You can’t create characters separate from culture. Everyone is influenced by the people around them, the places they live, and the governing bodies that have authority over them. The more you dive into culture, the more you’ll unearth the depths and complexities of who your characters are. 3. Think about adaptation. It’s becoming more and more common for TV and movie companies to adapt popular novels, especially YA novels, for the screen. If you watch Netflix or any other streaming service, you can get an idea of what’s trending and think about where your story might fit in. It’s always helpful to know who your competition is and in what way your book will stand out. It’s not guaranteed that your book will be produced into something for the screen, but it’s helpful to know what stories work well for that medium. The YA market is highly competitive, and as with any genre, you need to know what trending. It’s not impossible to break into, but the writing and story itself have to incredible for a publisher to take a risk on it. But that’s no reason to give up; it just means you have to keep working to put out your best writing. I think the YA market will only continue to grow as adaptations continue to permeate the TV/movie industry. We all love good stories, and no matter what genre you write for, it comes down to telling a good story. For teens and young adults, as they navigate the world and finding their place in it, they need stories that wrestle with these topics because it ultimately reminds them that they are not alone in whatever they are dealing with. Books can do that, and it’s part of the magic of storytelling. Until next time,
|
agent_query_template.docx | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: | docx |
You've just hit send on your submission, and you heart is pounding. Somewhere, a few miles or a time zone away, an email notification pops up in an agent's inbox. Your submission waits in line with countless others to be reviewed by the gatekeeper. You can't help but wonder who this mythical gatekeeper really is and whether or not there's a real person behind all the form responses you seem to be getting.
Such is the life of a querying writer. One thing I can assure you of is that real people exist behind the looming gate into the publishing industry. I think people often see gatekeepers as people standing in their way--attempting to keep them out of somewhere they'd like to be. However, I think this gives gatekeepers a bad reputation and a negative connotation. What they're trying to do is keep the bad writing out and let the good writing through. Just because you've been rejected though, doesn't mean you're a bad writer they're trying to keep out. There are lots of reasons for rejection, but know that gatekeepers exist in this industry to hold writing to a high standard.
If anyone could write something and get published, why would you spend countless hours pouring your heart and soul into a novel or another work? It's nothing special if everyone does it. I think writing loses its magic and meaning when we lower our standards. All that to say, gatekeepers serve an important role in the publishing industry, and hopefully by meeting a few of them here you'll be able to better understand how to navigate the industry and make good relationships.
Meet the Interns:
Both agents and publishing houses have interns to help them comb through the submissions pile. Submissions never take a break or holiday, and the reality is that it's always piling up. Agents and editors are busy people who have book projects, clients, and contracts to deal with on a daily basis. For how slow the industry may seem, there's certainly never a lack of things to be done.
Most interns are upper high school or college/20 somethings who want to get experience in the publishing world. They're told what to look for and given responses to send to authors. But here's the secret: no matter what guidelines they've been given, interns just want to read a captivating story. If they like what they read or see potential in it, they will pass it on to someone above them. The key is to make their job hard. They want to find gems they can recommend to their superiors. And remember, most interns aren't paid, but they're doing this because they love writing and reading. Show them something worth their unpaid time. Tell a great story, and chances are pretty good you can make it past the first gate.
Meet the Agents:
The second gate is the agents themselves. If an agent has received a submission from an intern, he can be sure the writing is good, the platform is good, or both. Once again, I want to stress how important it is to respect gatekeepers' time. Agents are busy, and most of them have a day job while agenting is their "side hustle." Make sure your submission is ready because first impressions are vital. Gate two goes beyond just your writing abilities. An agent is going to look at your submission from a business standpoint.
Can he sell your book? Do you have a platform and an established audience? Will this be a good investment? I know this seems kind of cold, but it's easy to forget that the book industry is indeed a business that needs to think about making money. Be prepared when you submit to show an agent you mean business. Do your research and spend time reaching out to people online. Build a platform/brand to show people you have something of value to offer them. There are lots of great websites that offer courses on building platform as a writer. Remember, you want to make the agent's job hard. Great writing and great platform make the double-edged sword that gets you through gate two.
Meet the Editors:
This brings us to gate three: editors. After getting an agent, it's pretty easy to get your work in front of editors. Editors and agents build relationships, and this means when an agent submits your manuscript to an editor, it goes right to the editor's inbox rather than the publishing house's slush pile. You may decide to forego the first two gates and submit to editors at publishing houses, but it's becoming harder to submit to traditional houses without an agent.
The thing is, editors want agented submissions because those manuscripts have already been through at least one if not two, three, or four gatekeepers. That means the submissions they receive from agents will be quality work, and editors will keep relationships with agents that regularly send them top notch clients. This industry is all about who you know, and trying to make a go of it on your own without the gatekeeper system is hard. It's possible, but it's a lot of time and money on your part.
I hope this helps you understand the gatekeeping system better, and though it's not perfect, it helps us become better writers by holding us to a higher standard. Gatekeepers remind us that revision is vital to the writing process, and writing is as much about the community as it is about the individual work. Gatekeepers are real, but they don't have to be your enemies. They can be friends, mentors, and colleagues who keep pushing your writing to reach that next level.
What other questions do you have about "gatekeepers"? I'd love to answer them in the comments!
Such is the life of a querying writer. One thing I can assure you of is that real people exist behind the looming gate into the publishing industry. I think people often see gatekeepers as people standing in their way--attempting to keep them out of somewhere they'd like to be. However, I think this gives gatekeepers a bad reputation and a negative connotation. What they're trying to do is keep the bad writing out and let the good writing through. Just because you've been rejected though, doesn't mean you're a bad writer they're trying to keep out. There are lots of reasons for rejection, but know that gatekeepers exist in this industry to hold writing to a high standard.
If anyone could write something and get published, why would you spend countless hours pouring your heart and soul into a novel or another work? It's nothing special if everyone does it. I think writing loses its magic and meaning when we lower our standards. All that to say, gatekeepers serve an important role in the publishing industry, and hopefully by meeting a few of them here you'll be able to better understand how to navigate the industry and make good relationships.
Meet the Interns:
Both agents and publishing houses have interns to help them comb through the submissions pile. Submissions never take a break or holiday, and the reality is that it's always piling up. Agents and editors are busy people who have book projects, clients, and contracts to deal with on a daily basis. For how slow the industry may seem, there's certainly never a lack of things to be done.
Most interns are upper high school or college/20 somethings who want to get experience in the publishing world. They're told what to look for and given responses to send to authors. But here's the secret: no matter what guidelines they've been given, interns just want to read a captivating story. If they like what they read or see potential in it, they will pass it on to someone above them. The key is to make their job hard. They want to find gems they can recommend to their superiors. And remember, most interns aren't paid, but they're doing this because they love writing and reading. Show them something worth their unpaid time. Tell a great story, and chances are pretty good you can make it past the first gate.
Meet the Agents:
The second gate is the agents themselves. If an agent has received a submission from an intern, he can be sure the writing is good, the platform is good, or both. Once again, I want to stress how important it is to respect gatekeepers' time. Agents are busy, and most of them have a day job while agenting is their "side hustle." Make sure your submission is ready because first impressions are vital. Gate two goes beyond just your writing abilities. An agent is going to look at your submission from a business standpoint.
Can he sell your book? Do you have a platform and an established audience? Will this be a good investment? I know this seems kind of cold, but it's easy to forget that the book industry is indeed a business that needs to think about making money. Be prepared when you submit to show an agent you mean business. Do your research and spend time reaching out to people online. Build a platform/brand to show people you have something of value to offer them. There are lots of great websites that offer courses on building platform as a writer. Remember, you want to make the agent's job hard. Great writing and great platform make the double-edged sword that gets you through gate two.
Meet the Editors:
This brings us to gate three: editors. After getting an agent, it's pretty easy to get your work in front of editors. Editors and agents build relationships, and this means when an agent submits your manuscript to an editor, it goes right to the editor's inbox rather than the publishing house's slush pile. You may decide to forego the first two gates and submit to editors at publishing houses, but it's becoming harder to submit to traditional houses without an agent.
The thing is, editors want agented submissions because those manuscripts have already been through at least one if not two, three, or four gatekeepers. That means the submissions they receive from agents will be quality work, and editors will keep relationships with agents that regularly send them top notch clients. This industry is all about who you know, and trying to make a go of it on your own without the gatekeeper system is hard. It's possible, but it's a lot of time and money on your part.
I hope this helps you understand the gatekeeping system better, and though it's not perfect, it helps us become better writers by holding us to a higher standard. Gatekeepers remind us that revision is vital to the writing process, and writing is as much about the community as it is about the individual work. Gatekeepers are real, but they don't have to be your enemies. They can be friends, mentors, and colleagues who keep pushing your writing to reach that next level.
What other questions do you have about "gatekeepers"? I'd love to answer them in the comments!
When I first began as an intern with a literary agency, I was thrilled to get to look through the submissions inbox. I was tasked with the ultimate quest: find the diamond in the rough. The gem among rocks and stones. It was a scavenger hunt extraordinaire.
Being a writer myself, the very notion of reading through other writers' manuscripts was a dream come true. But I quickly realized that I needed some new glasses, not because I couldn't see well enough to read, but because mine were rose-tinted and not at all prepared for the reality of the slush pile.
"For every ten submissions you read, you might find one good one," Cyle Young told me when I first started working with him. That may not seem like much of a surprise, but when the agency receives hundreds of submissions, that number starts to feel pretty discouraging.
Yes, that's right. I get discouraged by that. It's so hard sending rejections to writers and authors. We agents, junior agents, and interns want you to succeed, but I know it may not seem like it when the form rejections keep coming in one after another.
So what makes a diamond in the rough? Here are a few tips on making your submission stand out among the masses.
1. Write Well (Please!!!)
I know this is a given, but you have no idea how many submissions I've read where the writer simply doesn't understand the basics of the English language or storytelling. I've seen stream of consciousness with no punctuation or paragraph breaks. I've seen cringy cliches and blocks of dense prose with no dialogue (help!). I've seen typos and verb tense switches. And then, just when I think I've seen it all, something else pops into my inbox that makes me say, "Well, that's new." And not in a good way.
So please, read your work carefully and have several people who aren't your mom or best friend take a look at it. All I ask is that you hook me from line one and take me on an adventure with complex people struggling through conflict toward change. No need to show off with fancy prose or rip off every classic that you know. Be authentic and make me care about your story. For more tips on grabbing a slush pile reader's attention check out this post on Shimmer Magazine's site.
2. Don't Tell Me Yours is a Future Bestseller
Of course, you should have some confidence in your abilities as a writer, but please, none of that "my book will sell millions and you'd be stupid not to take it." Seriously, people say this stuff. Let the writing speak for itself. The whole "my book is the next Harry Potter" is not going to fly. Arrogance gets you nowhere with agents. There's room for improvement in every writer. If you need to, repeat Ernest Hemingway's words to yourself every morning: "We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master." Lead with that.
"I am an apprentice."
"I am a quick learner."
"I am teachable."
These are the things that show an agent you're easy to work with and ready to do the hard work to get published. Your writing may be good, but being willing to learn will make you a great writer.
3. Platform: Have Something!
Saying you don't have platform basically tells an agent that you have no readership and no audience. Your writing may be excellent, but nothing sells without an audience. Yes, platform building is hard work, and we all just want to sit inside away from people and write. I get it. It's scary to put yourself out there, but you owe it to your readers. They don't know it yet, but they need to hear the message or story you have.
Writers don't send their manuscript to an agent before it's ready. Consider platform as part of that process of being ready. Don't pitch your story until you have a baseline to work with. A baseline is better than nothing. And if you only have 3 followers on Twitter, please just leave that out. Give an agent your best work. At the very least, make sure you show up when he or she googles your name.
This is just scraping the surface when it comes to the things I see happen in the slush pile. If you take at least one of the things I said to heart, then it means you're already one step closer to being that one in ten.
Stay tuned for more Slush Pile Stories in the future! If you have any questions about the slush pile, I'd be happy to answer them in the comments or dedicate another blog post to them.
Being a writer myself, the very notion of reading through other writers' manuscripts was a dream come true. But I quickly realized that I needed some new glasses, not because I couldn't see well enough to read, but because mine were rose-tinted and not at all prepared for the reality of the slush pile.
"For every ten submissions you read, you might find one good one," Cyle Young told me when I first started working with him. That may not seem like much of a surprise, but when the agency receives hundreds of submissions, that number starts to feel pretty discouraging.
Yes, that's right. I get discouraged by that. It's so hard sending rejections to writers and authors. We agents, junior agents, and interns want you to succeed, but I know it may not seem like it when the form rejections keep coming in one after another.
So what makes a diamond in the rough? Here are a few tips on making your submission stand out among the masses.
1. Write Well (Please!!!)
I know this is a given, but you have no idea how many submissions I've read where the writer simply doesn't understand the basics of the English language or storytelling. I've seen stream of consciousness with no punctuation or paragraph breaks. I've seen cringy cliches and blocks of dense prose with no dialogue (help!). I've seen typos and verb tense switches. And then, just when I think I've seen it all, something else pops into my inbox that makes me say, "Well, that's new." And not in a good way.
So please, read your work carefully and have several people who aren't your mom or best friend take a look at it. All I ask is that you hook me from line one and take me on an adventure with complex people struggling through conflict toward change. No need to show off with fancy prose or rip off every classic that you know. Be authentic and make me care about your story. For more tips on grabbing a slush pile reader's attention check out this post on Shimmer Magazine's site.
2. Don't Tell Me Yours is a Future Bestseller
Of course, you should have some confidence in your abilities as a writer, but please, none of that "my book will sell millions and you'd be stupid not to take it." Seriously, people say this stuff. Let the writing speak for itself. The whole "my book is the next Harry Potter" is not going to fly. Arrogance gets you nowhere with agents. There's room for improvement in every writer. If you need to, repeat Ernest Hemingway's words to yourself every morning: "We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master." Lead with that.
"I am an apprentice."
"I am a quick learner."
"I am teachable."
These are the things that show an agent you're easy to work with and ready to do the hard work to get published. Your writing may be good, but being willing to learn will make you a great writer.
3. Platform: Have Something!
Saying you don't have platform basically tells an agent that you have no readership and no audience. Your writing may be excellent, but nothing sells without an audience. Yes, platform building is hard work, and we all just want to sit inside away from people and write. I get it. It's scary to put yourself out there, but you owe it to your readers. They don't know it yet, but they need to hear the message or story you have.
Writers don't send their manuscript to an agent before it's ready. Consider platform as part of that process of being ready. Don't pitch your story until you have a baseline to work with. A baseline is better than nothing. And if you only have 3 followers on Twitter, please just leave that out. Give an agent your best work. At the very least, make sure you show up when he or she googles your name.
This is just scraping the surface when it comes to the things I see happen in the slush pile. If you take at least one of the things I said to heart, then it means you're already one step closer to being that one in ten.
Stay tuned for more Slush Pile Stories in the future! If you have any questions about the slush pile, I'd be happy to answer them in the comments or dedicate another blog post to them.
How can I build a readership if I haven't published a book yet?
I've asked this question; you've asked this question. We've all asked this question.
Publishers tell you to get a bigger platform so you can sell your book. But how can you get that platform/readership without a book contract first? Many people call this the publishing paradox, and it frustrated me for a long time. It still does. I don't have a book published yet, and I'm working hard to grow my platform numbers while I shop some projects around.
The problem with the publishing paradox is that it gives us the wrong mindset. It tells us that in order to have a following (or tribe), we need something to sell. But that's not true. If you've spent any amount of time on social media, you've probably come across people who only talk about their books and how you can buy them. That gets annoying real fast.
In reality, if you're new to this social media game and have no book ready to publish, you actually have the advantage. Why? Because you can make genuine connections with others. So, whether you have a book out or not, here are three tips to authentically growing a following that will stick with you no matter what part of the writing journey you're on.
1. Find Your Audience
Think about who your audience is. Are you trying to reach other writers? Young adults? Fantasy readers? Non-fiction readers? Parents? This is the first step to establishing your platform. You have to target your methods to the audience who will one day buy your book. Are those people on Twitter? Instagram? Facebook? Then that's where you want to start. Get on those platforms and start connecting with your tribe.
2. Contribute Relevant Content
Once you've set up the accounts you decided on, now it's time to start producing content. Every social media site is going to be a little different on this. Instagram is highly visual with pictures being the primary content. Twitter tends to focus on quotes, witty remarks, daily life happenings, and memes/gifs. Whatever sites you're on, look at what other people are posting about. Do they share blogs or helpful industry tips? Do they share pictures of the latest books they're reading?
Contribute to the conversation. If you're not sure what to post about, then share what other people post with some comments of your own. Remember that it's not all about you. Readers want something to take away, and when you provide them with good content, they'll keep coming back for more. It's about quality of the content, not the quantity of it.
3. Interact
Social media is meant to be (surprise!) a social activity. You're supposed to interact with others, and yes that's super time consuming, especially when you're trying to keep up with multiple sites. When you interact through commenting on posts, re-blogging, retweeting, or sharing a post to your feed, others will notice. They'll comment back or maybe share something you wrote.
I can't emphasize this point enough. When I started interacting with other writers on my Twitter account, my following started growing DAILY. It's incredible what happens when you start investing in relationships, not sales.
This can seem like a lot to take in all at once, so my advice is to find the social media site that works for you and invest your time in that. When you gain a baseline following, move on to the next site and invest time in that one.
Remember, it's about making friends and developing relationships. Then, when you eventually have a book get contracted, you'll have a faithful group of people who are the right audience for your book and who are excited about it because they know you.
What other questions do you have about platform? I'd love to see some in the comments.
Publishers tell you to get a bigger platform so you can sell your book. But how can you get that platform/readership without a book contract first? Many people call this the publishing paradox, and it frustrated me for a long time. It still does. I don't have a book published yet, and I'm working hard to grow my platform numbers while I shop some projects around.
The problem with the publishing paradox is that it gives us the wrong mindset. It tells us that in order to have a following (or tribe), we need something to sell. But that's not true. If you've spent any amount of time on social media, you've probably come across people who only talk about their books and how you can buy them. That gets annoying real fast.
In reality, if you're new to this social media game and have no book ready to publish, you actually have the advantage. Why? Because you can make genuine connections with others. So, whether you have a book out or not, here are three tips to authentically growing a following that will stick with you no matter what part of the writing journey you're on.
1. Find Your Audience
Think about who your audience is. Are you trying to reach other writers? Young adults? Fantasy readers? Non-fiction readers? Parents? This is the first step to establishing your platform. You have to target your methods to the audience who will one day buy your book. Are those people on Twitter? Instagram? Facebook? Then that's where you want to start. Get on those platforms and start connecting with your tribe.
2. Contribute Relevant Content
Once you've set up the accounts you decided on, now it's time to start producing content. Every social media site is going to be a little different on this. Instagram is highly visual with pictures being the primary content. Twitter tends to focus on quotes, witty remarks, daily life happenings, and memes/gifs. Whatever sites you're on, look at what other people are posting about. Do they share blogs or helpful industry tips? Do they share pictures of the latest books they're reading?
Contribute to the conversation. If you're not sure what to post about, then share what other people post with some comments of your own. Remember that it's not all about you. Readers want something to take away, and when you provide them with good content, they'll keep coming back for more. It's about quality of the content, not the quantity of it.
3. Interact
Social media is meant to be (surprise!) a social activity. You're supposed to interact with others, and yes that's super time consuming, especially when you're trying to keep up with multiple sites. When you interact through commenting on posts, re-blogging, retweeting, or sharing a post to your feed, others will notice. They'll comment back or maybe share something you wrote.
I can't emphasize this point enough. When I started interacting with other writers on my Twitter account, my following started growing DAILY. It's incredible what happens when you start investing in relationships, not sales.
This can seem like a lot to take in all at once, so my advice is to find the social media site that works for you and invest your time in that. When you gain a baseline following, move on to the next site and invest time in that one.
Remember, it's about making friends and developing relationships. Then, when you eventually have a book get contracted, you'll have a faithful group of people who are the right audience for your book and who are excited about it because they know you.
What other questions do you have about platform? I'd love to see some in the comments.
Until next time,
megan lynne
So, you're looking for an agent. And...you're not sure where to even begin. I've been there. It feels like a maze or labyrinth that is constantly shifting the closer you think you are to your goal.
Well, let me make the path a little clearer for you by providing a list of the three most common avenues to landing an agent.
1. Conferences (and Contests)
Finding the right agent on the internet is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. There are hundreds of agencies out there, and the submissions email is always impersonal. Most likely, it will go to a junior agent or intern--not even the agent himself (or herself).
You want to meet an agent face-to-face and make a personal connection. The best way to do this is by attending writer's conferences. These are the watering holes where industry professionals gather to teach, take pitches, and find new talent. Talent like you!
Find a conference near you that has agents listed on the faculty. Be sure to set up a meeting time with that agent to pitch your story. If the agent is booked or unavailable, try to catch him or her at a meal during the conference, or better yet, make them come to you.
Most writer's conferences have a contest where you can enter your writing into a variety of categories, and the entries will be judged with the winners being announced at the conference. Sometimes, there's even a fancy dinner with the awards following. If you win a contest, industry professionals will notice. They may even come up to you afterward and congratulate you on your win. Get your name out there. Agents want to know they're getting the best of the best, and contests at conferences are a great way to do just that.
2. Twitter Pitch Parties
You may be unfamiliar with this avenue, but that's okay. Twitter pitch parties are events hosted on Twitter that allow writers to pitch their books in 280 characters or less. Also included in the pitch is hashtags for genre and age group of the book. Agents and editors come on throughout the day and "heart" pitches that they want to see. If your pitch is hearted, you read the agent/editor's guidelines for submission and submit your book.
This is your chance to bypass the slush pile and submissions email to get your work directly in front of the agent. I've seen many writers land agents from Twitter pitch parties. There are so many opportunities for pitch parties throughout the year. Google them and you'll find some specifically for children's picture books or for the science fiction and fantasy genres. Twitter is truly a growing platform for writers, and you should definitely join the writing community there.
3. Work for an Agent
If you are serious about writing and want to improve your craft, what better way than by working or interning for an industry professional? You can learn inside tips and get personal feedback on your writing. You'll also understand the submissions process better and learn how to query like a pro. Honestly, it all comes down to networking. Who you know in this industry matters. If you can work with an editor at a publishing house or with an agent, they can mentor you and provide you with future opportunities.
If you prove your work ethic and commitment to the craft of writing, your work will find its perfect home. The writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience is highly rewarded.
So don't beat yourself up if you don't have an agent yet or haven't had a book published. Your avenue may look different than others and that's okay. Perhaps one of the above avenues will work for you, or maybe you'll make your own way.
Writers are stubborn, if nothing else. Don't give up!
What other questions do you have about agents? I'd love to answer them for you!
Well, let me make the path a little clearer for you by providing a list of the three most common avenues to landing an agent.
1. Conferences (and Contests)
Finding the right agent on the internet is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. There are hundreds of agencies out there, and the submissions email is always impersonal. Most likely, it will go to a junior agent or intern--not even the agent himself (or herself).
You want to meet an agent face-to-face and make a personal connection. The best way to do this is by attending writer's conferences. These are the watering holes where industry professionals gather to teach, take pitches, and find new talent. Talent like you!
Find a conference near you that has agents listed on the faculty. Be sure to set up a meeting time with that agent to pitch your story. If the agent is booked or unavailable, try to catch him or her at a meal during the conference, or better yet, make them come to you.
Most writer's conferences have a contest where you can enter your writing into a variety of categories, and the entries will be judged with the winners being announced at the conference. Sometimes, there's even a fancy dinner with the awards following. If you win a contest, industry professionals will notice. They may even come up to you afterward and congratulate you on your win. Get your name out there. Agents want to know they're getting the best of the best, and contests at conferences are a great way to do just that.
2. Twitter Pitch Parties
You may be unfamiliar with this avenue, but that's okay. Twitter pitch parties are events hosted on Twitter that allow writers to pitch their books in 280 characters or less. Also included in the pitch is hashtags for genre and age group of the book. Agents and editors come on throughout the day and "heart" pitches that they want to see. If your pitch is hearted, you read the agent/editor's guidelines for submission and submit your book.
This is your chance to bypass the slush pile and submissions email to get your work directly in front of the agent. I've seen many writers land agents from Twitter pitch parties. There are so many opportunities for pitch parties throughout the year. Google them and you'll find some specifically for children's picture books or for the science fiction and fantasy genres. Twitter is truly a growing platform for writers, and you should definitely join the writing community there.
3. Work for an Agent
If you are serious about writing and want to improve your craft, what better way than by working or interning for an industry professional? You can learn inside tips and get personal feedback on your writing. You'll also understand the submissions process better and learn how to query like a pro. Honestly, it all comes down to networking. Who you know in this industry matters. If you can work with an editor at a publishing house or with an agent, they can mentor you and provide you with future opportunities.
If you prove your work ethic and commitment to the craft of writing, your work will find its perfect home. The writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience is highly rewarded.
So don't beat yourself up if you don't have an agent yet or haven't had a book published. Your avenue may look different than others and that's okay. Perhaps one of the above avenues will work for you, or maybe you'll make your own way.
Writers are stubborn, if nothing else. Don't give up!
What other questions do you have about agents? I'd love to answer them for you!
Until next time,
megan lynne
Author
I'm spilling the ink on all you need to know on the publishing industry. Stay tuned for more posts!
Archives
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019