Query. Sign. Submit. with Elizabeth LaBan

 

Elizabeth is a Young Adult author and her debut novel, THE TRAGEDY PAPER, is available now from Alfred A. Knopf! She is represented by Uwe Stender of TriadaUS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connect with Elizabeth . . .

Website
Goodreads
Twitter
Facebook
Get THE TRAGEDY PAPER on Amazon or B&N

 

Now for Elizabeth’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

What advice would you give to querying writers?

The best advice I can give is to try not to feel discouraged with each rejection, and don’t ever give up. I have not admitted this too many times, but I queried about 50 agents before I connected with my amazing agent Uwe Stender. Most of those 50 rejected my work pretty quickly, a handful were initially very interested but then fell away, and one or two were still lingering when I signed with Uwe – so there is the chance they might have offered representation. But that number isn’t even the point – it could be 100 or 150 – and the thing querying writers should try to keep in mind is that it takes only one person to fall in love with their work. That leads me to my next bit of advice. When choosing an agent, it is so important to try to find someone who sees you as a writer with a whole career ahead of you, not just one book that, if it doesn’t sell right away, he or she will drop you. I didn’t even realize how important this was when I was trying to find an agent – I was so eager to just find one! But I was lucky enough to sign with someone who believes in my work so much that if we hit a bump in the road with one project, he gently nudges me toward another one, all the while promising to never give up.

What resources and websites did you use when querying?

The one resource I used (other than asking EVERYONE I knew for help!) is the website agentquery.com. It is an amazing resource that tells you what type of writing each agent is looking for, and if they are accepting new clients at the time. That is how I found my agent. I always think it is smart to tell an agent you are reaching out to where you found his or her name – whether it was through a friend or through a website. A lot of people don’t do that, but I think agents appreciate that and it takes away some of the mystery.

SIGN

Did you sign as a client of a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

This goes back to my point above – I signed as a client with the hope that my agent would help with my writing career, and not just with one book. As it has turned out, that has definitely been the case, and for me that has made all the difference. At the time, I would have done it either way because I was so eager to get my book out there. I don’t think I even realized how important that distinction can be. For me, it would have been a mistake to sign on a book-by-book basis and I am so glad I didn’t have to make that choice. I think it is much better to be taken on as a writer and not just that one book you are focusing on at the moment.

What is the revision process like between you and your agent?

I am choosing this question, but sort of combining a few others in my answer. What I really want to address is how hands-on my agent is – with the editing, revising, and even brainstorming phases of my writing. He is VERY involved in all those stages, but also leaves me alone if I want to be left alone. I feel very lucky to have such a perfect give and take – again, something that I didn’t even know to ask about when deciding to sign with my agent. At different times during the writing of my draft I will ask him to read it. Usually he’ll say – great, keep going. Sometimes he will carefully steer me in another, much-needed direction!

SUBMIT

Do you see the feedback from editors?

Yes! At least I think I see all of it. My agent cuts and pastes the note from the editor into the email he sends updating me on the status of a submission. Actually, in that case it is almost always a rejection because if there is good news he calls! But I find that feedback from the editors very helpful. It is often more positive than I would expect from a rejection, but it is usually very thoughtful.

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

Something I don’t do enough but try to – write the next book or project and try not to think about it! You know what they say about a watched pot…

How much contact do you have with your agent when you are out on submission?

Now that we’ve been working together for seven years, I know that my agent will contact me immediately if there is any news. When I can’t stand it anymore and ask him how long he thinks it will be, or if he has had contact with the editor, he is always reassuring. But I have come to realize that no matter how many times I ask him, there is nothing he can do to speed up the process. Still, if I am anxious I do reach out to him, and he is always willing to talk me off that ledge.

Thank you, Elizabeth!

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Query. Sign. Submit. with Karen Grencik

Karen represents everything from picture books to young adult. She’s not a fan of high fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, or very dark stories.

Karen is closed to submissions except for conference attendees and referrals. She responds to everything that comes to her through the proper channels.

 

To connect with and learn more about Karen . . .

Red Fox Literary

 Now for Karen’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

What is your process for reading a query and sample pages?

I read the bio first, then start on the pages. As soon as I know that something is not for me, I stop reading and send off my response. If I like what I've read, then I'll go back and read the query letter, think on it a bit, then request a partial if I'm interested but not convinced, a full if I think it looks very promising, or a phone chat if I'd like to commit to the project.

How do you tackle your inbox? Do you go in order or jump around?

I take submissions in order. I love to clean out my inbox so I will send responses right away on things that aren't my cup of tea. I put the ones I am interested in into my "To Do" folder and usually read them several times before I respond. I sat on one submission for a month before I offered representation, then received an excellent offer within two hours of submission from the very first editor to whom it had been sent. And I was the first agent to whom the author had ever submitted. I was very happy I said, "Yes!"

Is it okay for a writer to nudge concerning queries or partial/full requests?

I think it's okay for an author to nudge, say, two months after a partial or full request. I am very well organized and don't have a procrastinating bone in my body, so if an author nudges me too early they are likely to get a "no". And I prefer not to nudge my editors because I believe everyone is working at full capacity and will be sure to get in touch if they are genuinely interested in a manuscript. As for queries, I definitely want to hear from an author if I have not responded within a month. It means that it was lost in cyberspace, and I never want an author to feel ignored.

SIGN

Do you sign a client as a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

I work on a book-by-book basis. I want to love all the manuscripts my clients write, but unfortunately I don't always. I have found it very, very hard to submit manuscripts that my heart is not into, no matter how commercially viable they might be. And in my first phone chat with an author I let them know that I will always be completely honest and timely in my communications, but that I feel my first responsibility is to myself and my own heart. That I cannot send out anything in which I don't believe 100%. But that I understand they will be heartbroken when they get that news and that they are either welcome to send it out on their own, so long as they keep me apprised of where it's going, or that they are free to find an agent who does connect better with their work. The best case scenario is when an agent is completely behind an author's entire body of work, but that has not been the case for me. Some authors stay and some leave. I am not controlling. I simply want everyone to be happy with what they're doing, me included.

How do you put together a list of editors to send to?

I have a very extensive database that I have been creating based upon editors' interviews, their response letters to me, Harold Underdown's wonderful Purple Crayon website, SCBWI conference workshops and bulletins, Publishers Marketplace, and anywhere else I can find out what an editor's tastes are. The first thing I do is look for editors who publish the genre of the material I'm getting ready to submit. Then I check their personal tastes. I will ask the author if she has any editors in particular to whom she'd like to have the manuscript sent. Then I will check a different database to be sure the selected editors don't already have a manuscript on their desk from me. If something would be a perfect fit for an editor, I will send it as an exclusive. If not, I will start with anywhere from three to five editors to see how the manuscript is received. If there is a consensus in the responses, I will ask the author to address the issue. If the responses are positive but don't work for an editor for a particular reason, I will continue my quest. If the responses are very negative, I will usually set the manuscript aside and hope the author writes something new.

Does the writer have input on the pitch to editors or do you take care of that?

Because I'm not a creative writer, I do have my authors write their own descriptive blurbs, and then I will modify them with my own thoughts. I find that they can describe their projects much better than I can. My authors receive all sub letters and all responses so that they know where their work is at all times. I am only able to do this because I do not have children or a significant other. It takes a great deal of time to keep authors in the loop. I don't know how agents with families can get everything done!

SUBMIT

What is the next step if an editor shows interest?

If an editor expresses interest, I will let the other editors know that. Editors keep me posted throughout the process as to how the rest of their colleagues are responding to a manuscript. It's a very, very exciting time for the editor, the author and for me. Editors will tell me when they are taking it to Acquisitions, and I usually hear very shortly thereafter whether it's good or bad news. This is the best part of the job!

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

I want my authors to have a great life first and to write second. I do not like it when authors worry while waiting for responses to come in. Best to keep busy writing or doing something else to keep their mind off this stage of the process. I recognize the desire to be published, but I encourage my authors to keep in mind that the rest of their life is just as important as the writing component.

Is it okay for a client to check in if there hasn’t been any news in a while?

It is absolutely fine for an author to check in periodically. I like my authors and do not work with any overly demanding people, so I like to hear from them.

Thank you, Karen!

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Posted June, 2013 – Always check for current info and guidelines.

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Query. Sign. Submit. with Alison Cherry

Alison Cherry is a Young Adult author. Her debut novel, RED, is coming from Delacorte Press on October 8th, 2013! She is represented by Holly Root of the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.

To connect with and learn more about Alison . . .

Website
Blog - click “Blog”
Twitter
Goodreads
Pre-order RED on Amazon or B&N

 

 Now for Alison’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

What was your method for querying? Small batches? Query widely? Wait for feedback?

I queried in batches of four or five, then waited to hear from everyone before I sent out another round. If several agents had the same complaint about my manuscript, I took a closer look at that aspect before I sent it out again. This method slowed down an already painfully slow process, but it also meant that when an agent I queried in May finally got around to asking for a full in November, I had a vastly improved manuscript to send her!

How did you keep track of your queries?

I'm one of those people whose bedroom is total chaos but whose data is color-coded and organized within an inch of its life. So when I started researching agents, I compiled everything I learned into a spreadsheet. (I mean, come on, who doesn't love a good spreadsheet?) I listed each agent's name, agency, contact information, submission guidelines, notes about their taste (which I gleaned from their AgentQuery profiles, their agency websites, and any blogs and interviews I could find,) and any general impressions I had about them. Then I sorted them into color-coded tiers based on who I thought would be the best fit for me. When I sent a query or received a response, I made note of the date and the content of the emails. When I got a rejection, I highlighted that agent's entire row in red.

What advice would you give to querying writers?

1) DON'T GIVE UP. This process can take a really, really long time, but that doesn't mean you won't succeed. I know people who queried 50+ agents before they found the right ones.

2) It's not personal. No matter how much it may feel this way, you are not your book. If someone rejects your manuscript, they are not rejecting you as a human being—they just don't think they're the best person to sell your work.

3) If an agent says she isn't the right fit for this particular project but wants to see the next thing you write, she's serious—agents don't say stuff like that just to boost your confidence. My agent, Holly Root, thought the first project I sent her was unmarketable, but she saw something she liked in my writing and asked me to contact her again as soon as I had finished something else. Six months later, I did, and she signed me within the week.

4) Find some other writers to commiserate with you. Your friends who work in other industries will be supportive, but nobody GETS IT like other writers do. Joining SCBWI is a great start.

SIGN

Once a writer has signed with an agent, what’s the next step?

The next step is for your agent to send the book out on submission! You might have to do some edits on your manuscript first, but not all agents are super editorial, so this may not be the case for you. My pre-submission edits were incredibly minimal.

Do you have input on the pitch to editors or does your agent take care of that?

I had no input at all. Holly wouldn't even let me see the pitch letter she sent—she said she didn't want to reveal all her tricks.

At what point do you share new story ideas with your agent? Do you send sample chapters or wait until the manuscript is finished?

Holly once told me I should run ideas by her if I can't decide whether it's the best idea in the world or the worst idea in the world, but if it's somewhere in the middle, it's fine to just start writing. I'll often send her a manuscript after I've written about fifty pages, just to make sure she doesn't hate the voice. Then she won't see it again until I've finished it and revised it with two different rounds of critique partners. She's an absurdly busy person, and it makes no sense for me to waste her time with things I can fix by myself.

SUBMIT

How much contact do you have with your agent when you are out on submission? Can you check in if there hasn’t been any news in a while?

The first time I went on sub, I asked Holly to tell me everything that happened, as it happened. That was a TERRIBLE PLAN. Since I knew bad news could arrive at any moment, I was nervous ALL THE TIME. I developed a Pavlovian panic response to the email alert sound on my phone, and I'm pretty sure I didn't eat at all for the entire submissions process. I'm on sub again now with my third book, and this time, Holly and I are using a weekly check-in method, which is working much better for me. I still have to be nervous for a couple hours every Friday, but if I hear from her during the rest of the week, I can be assured the news is good. Yes, it's okay to check in if you haven't heard anything for a while, but rest assured that if there's good news, your agent will tell you immediately. If you haven't heard anything, there's likely nothing to tell.

Do you see the feedback from editors?

You can if you want to. I did the first time around, and I was amazed by how incredibly kind the feedback was, even in rejections. This time, I've asked Holly not to forward editors' emails to me. If someone says something important, I trust that she'll tell me.

What do you suggest a writer does while out on submission?

Write something else! Do not spend your days staring at your inbox! Honestly, I think 97% of the reason I'm not freaking out over my current submission is that I'm in the middle of revisions on my second book, so my brain is occupied with other things. My other advice is to remain cautious with your optimism. Even if an editor loves your book, she'll probably need to get second reads on it, then present it at an acquisitions meeting. At a lot of imprints, everyone needs to be on board in order for her to acquire it, including sales and marketing. Manuscripts get turned down at the last minute for all kinds of reasons, and it hurts a lot more if you've already tattooed your dream editor's name over your heart. Wait to celebrate until you have a contract in your hand!

Thank you for joining us, Alison!

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Query. Sign. Submit. with Linda Epstein

Linda represents . . .

Adult Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and select Non-fiction
See guidelines here.

She responds to all queries. Check “Query Status” tab on her blog for updates.

To connect with and learn more about Linda, visit . . .

The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency 
The Blabbermouth Blog 
Twitter

Now for Linda’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!

QUERY

What advice would you give to querying writers?

Do your research and query agents who represent what you write. Be professional in your letter. There are so many books and places online that give great instruction as to how to write a query letter. Follow those instructions and follow the agent’s submission guidelines. Expect that you’re going to get rejected, because you most certainly will. Mostly though, don’t take anything personally.

Do you always read a query all the way through? If not, what would make you stop reading?

I don’t. I stop reading when it’s a query for something I don’t represent; when it’s just plain not interesting to me; when it’s on a topic I’m bored of, or I’ve seen five million times; when the writing in the query is full of grammatical and spelling errors. If I were to read each and every query that I received all the way through I wouldn’t actually have time to do the rest of my work.

What does it take for you to offer representation?

First of all, it takes a great story. Then, the author and I have to click and we have to have the same vision for their work and their career.

SIGN

Do you sign a client as a career agent or on a book-by-book basis?

I have to fall in love with their manuscript, for sure, but I don’t just represent one book. I represent an author in building their entire career.

Once a writer has signed with you, what’s the next step?

Basically, we just work on their manuscript until it’s ready to be sent out to editors. That can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months or more. I also ask my clients to write up a bio, let me know of any awards or honors they’ve received for their writing, and sometimes I ask for input on a short, sweet paragraph about their manuscript, which I help to craft my pitch and write my submission letter. If they or their manuscript has had previous contact with editors, I make sure I know where it’s been sent or who they know. And all the while, I’m thinking about where I’d like to send their work.

How do you get to know editors and what they’re looking for?

First of all, I do my research. I use Publisher’s Marketplace to follow who’s buying what. I follow editors’ blogs and interact with editors on Twitter. When I read or hear about books I make sure I know who edited them. I go to conferences and meet editors and make a point of getting to know them a little, or at least introducing myself. That way I can call them up when we’re back in NY and have coffee or lunch or just a quick meeting. I’ve also just gone ahead and emailed someone I wanted to meet to set up an appointment. Getting to know editors and finding out what they’re looking for is one of the most important parts of being a good agent. It can be time consuming, but ultimately it pays to know who is right for my client’s work.

SUBMIT

Can a client make suggestions or share a wish list when it comes to editors/imprints to submit to?

Of course! But clients also need to understand that ultimately I’m the one who’s going to do the submitting. Sometimes an author can have an editor or imprint on their wish list that just isn’t appropriate for their work, and my clients just have to trust me on that. Personally I don’t mind input but my clients also know that in order to do my job sometimes they have to leave it to me and just let me do my job!

Do you forward editor feedback to writers?

I don’t forward editor feedback to writers unless we’ve gotten passes from all the editors on a submission list. I don’t see the point in sharing that information initially, and I think it can make a stressful situation (waiting to hear back) even more stressful. For example, if there are 10 editors on a submission list and the first 7 say “no thanks,” and tell me why, but #8 says “I want it!” and #s 9 and 10 never respond, what would have been the point of sharing the first 7 editors’ feedback? On the other hand, if I get 8 passes, with 6 of them telling me something useful regarding why, and 2 no responses, then before I send the manuscript out for another submission round I’ll go over the responses with my client. That way we can decide whether the manuscript needs to be revisited (i.e. revised, tweaked, massaged, etc...) or if a different strategy for submission is called for (i.e. different types of houses or imprints; pitching the story differently, etc...)

Is it okay for a client to check in if there hasn’t been any news in a while?

For me, always. I like hearing from my clients. Not to the point that they’re emailing every day or I’m holding their hand whilst they worry and whine, but a friendly, “Hey, what’s up?” is always fine with me.

Thank you for sharing, Linda!

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Posted June, 2013 – Always check for current info and guidelines.

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From Pitch to Offer – My Agent Story

Now you might be thinking, “Wait, what? I thought she already had an agent.” Yup, I did. Then I didn’t. Now I do again.

Let me start with this. I love my first agent and we worked great together, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. She knows I’m grateful. I know she’s happy for me.

I made the choice to jump back into querying again and search for the right match for me, but this time around was different. I queried a very select list of agents who I had some connection to, whether I’ve worked with them in contests or auctions, know their clients, or have met them at conferences. And I made sure every one of them was a potential fit as far as genres go. I was so happy with the interest in the story, the positive feedback, and the personal responses from everyone on that list- thank you!

Now, here’s the part you’re probably waiting to hear . . .

FRIDAY:

I went to the Pennwriters conference a couple weeks ago with my writing buddy & bestie Adrienne. We happened to be in the room when they announced there were extra slots for pitches, so I figured I might as well give it a shot. A tiny little decision that would set everything in motion.

SATURDAY:

The next day, I pitched my middle grade story Truth Heist to Uwe Stender. He loved it and asked for the full. When the ten minutes ran out, he wanted to chat more later.

Adrienne and I ended up going to the luau (drinks & appetizers) because someone gave us a ticket. (Yet another thing that let this story continue!) We talked and laughed for hours with Uwe and some of our new writer friends. He was excited about the book and told me to send him the full that night and he'd read it during the week.

SUNDAY:

The next morning, after sending him a DM on twitter, he responded with a not-so-cryptic message that let me know he was already reading the book. Let me say that again- HE WAS ALREADY READING THE BOOK! A little while later, he responded with another mention of the story, this time a Seinfeld reference, so you know, double bonus points. Sunday night after I got home, a friend of mine saw that he had put #truthheist in one of his tweets. Holy cow, right?

TUESDAY:

Tuesday morning, a wonderful little email was hanging out in my inbox. He loved the manuscript and wanted to work with me. :) Cue happy dance.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

After the notify-the-other-agents emails and days of having my manuscript in the hands of some fabulous agents, which is quite an honor all on its own, I found myself very ready to accept Uwe’s offer. So I did.

Querying writers, I hope you get the kind of email I got back from him, including lots of happy capital letters and a whole slew of exclamation points. After reading that enthusiastic email, I thought to myself, yup, THIS is the person I want pitching my story to editors.

I'm very excited to be moving forward. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to every single one of you who gave me the encouragement I needed along the way. You know who you are and I am forever grateful.

A BIG thank you to my hubby who took care of everything while I was off at conferences last month. Thank you to everyone who read Truth Heist, some of you multiple times. And thank you twitter, for the days when I needed my writing buddies and you were all more than happy to jump in and chat. :)

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