Dear all,

I'm new to the site, in need of a writing community because I live in Italy and feel quite isolated at times!

I finished my children's manuscript in August and started looking for an agent in September.

I have started with five 3-chapter submissions, and am now sending out another five - but have noticed that I am rapidly running out of agents for children's books (going by Writers' & Artists' lists). So far I have had one standard rejection, one personal rejection, and one request for a full (subsequently rejected with notes) which I take to be encouraging, but I'm worried about reaching the end of the list of agents.

Are there any other good sources of agent names out there, or is there a a view that one should move on to direct submission to publishers for children's writing?

Would appreciate any comments!

I have a list of about 15-20 childrens agents and agencies whom I submit work to.
I wouldn't bother submitting to agents who do not specialise in childrens because they are very unlikely to read past the covering letter, (with the possible exception of stories for older teens which might crossover into other genres eg. Sci-fi or Chick-lit).
Once a story has done the rounds then I shelve it and move on to the next one. I would not re-submit unless it had had a very fast turnaround, in which case I would re-write the covering letter and resubmit; or if it had had a major re-write (always best to change the title too); or it was a few years down the line when I could gamble on a turnaround in personnel, so someone fresh would be reading it.

In Scotland, however, publishers are used to recieving submissions direct from the author because there are fewer Agents based up there. I heard a figure, somewhere, that 50% of submissions to Scottish publishers are un-agented.

There is also the US market you can send query letters to (as opposed to covering letters - ie. without the chapters; but outlining the story and asking if you can send them sample chapters).
Some accept submissions via email from foreign writers.
There are several free websites with details of US agents and publishers (sorry I don't have the website addresses) - but I remember reading on some publishers' websites that they only accept submissions certain times of the year (eg. October) so it's worth doing an online search now.


- NaomiM

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Yes, you could try submitting direct, eg. Usborne books. Some of the smaller publishers run competitions to find new authors - I believe there is one running at the moment for Chicken House?? And Long Barn Books has recently opened its submission lists to childrens authors.

A propos US publishers, would it be worth submitting a question to Editorial Anonymous' blog, as she's a children's editor?

Naomi, would you agree with Miss Snark's principle that even with a query letter you should send 3-5 pages of the script, just to prove you can write?

Emma

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Oops, sorry, meant to say Welcome to the Site, crimson petal!

Thanks NaomiM and Emma, feeling a bit less isolated now!!

Naomi, would you agree with Miss Snark's principle that even with a query letter you should send 3-5 pages of the script, just to prove you can write?

Good suggestion, Emma.
Definately try the email route for US Agents - it'll save a lot on postage costs.

And of course, welcome to the site, Crimson Petal. Hope to see you in one of the Children's forums

- NaomiM

Welcome to the site, Crimson Petal

I'd say the responses you have had so far are very, very encouraging - well done!



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responses to your submissions,that is!

Welcome Crimson Petal and well done with your positive responses! You think you feel isolated, try living in El Salvador!!
Are you working on a second book, while trying to sell the first?

Hello Antartic, saluti da Roma!! I got my full back with notes yesterday from the only agent who has seen it all, which has inspired me to get stuck in with revisions instead of starting on another just yet! However, I am thinking about starting on a sequel(got to be positive, haven't we!) as it will help me sew more seeds in the first book for its potential counterpart, if you know what I mean...

The disappointing part about the rejection of the full was that she said she liked lots of things about it, but hated the ending! I thought you could deal with / revise issues like that further down the line?? Anyway seems like the MS really does have to be in a perfectly publishable state before many agents will touch it.

There is a wonderful website for agents in the US, which also includes some UK agencies. On this site you can specify what sort of work you want to submit, and it will give you a list of agents who take that genre and give you their contact details, submissions requirements, tell you whether they're taking on new clients and whether they take e-mail queries. The site is www.agentquery.com.

Thanks for that Transatlantic I'll make sure I bookmark that site.


- NaomiM

Hi Crimson Petal and welcome.

It is true that the Children's Writers and Artist Yearbook does have far fewer Agents listed than those for adults. But a bit of surfing the net can turn you up agents that aren't listed in there.

Have a look at the Bloomsbury Site who list all Agents and then check the websites of the ones you're interested in, some of them do children too. It's just a matter of searching them out.

Also the Directory on here has a lot of good information. And even just Googling Literary Agent children can throw up some new results.

You have done extremely well so far, I doubt you'll run out of Agents before you find a match.

Any agent I turned up with a Google search I would check out with Preditors and Editors...

Emma

Of course - sorry Emma, I forgot about that.

Thanks everyone - There are some brilliant tips here! I'm going to try and have a productive October and do something proactive every day.

Good luck - you really just have to keep trying. You have to be persistent in this business.

I had a meeting with a childrens Agent yesterday who's actively looking for writers. I'll WW mail you the details.