Michelle Hauck's Blog, page 79
March 21, 2015
A Little Help From Our Friends
Once again I'm trying something new to see how it turns out. Here goes...
It's come to the point where I have to reach a decision. I very much love running contests and helping authors come together with agents. You might say I'm addicted to it. It's so gratifying to have a blog that people visit when they are doing something other than writing. Interacting on twitter and meeting new writers is so much fun. There's nothing I like better than being able to help.
And speaking of help, I also love my day job working with children, specifically special needs children. I want to go on doing this forever!
Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want as the Rolling Stones said.
It's time for a decision. Due to various economic influences, I've started a donation campaign to see if I can continue doing what I love. The hard facts of life are I either have to do this or cut back on my activities. Let me lay out the facts.
As you can guess, hosting contests and doing daily posts on this blog as well as writing my own stories is very time consuming. During a submission week I can easily spend thirty hours just on contest work. Even a mini-contest like the Picture Book Party takes so much time to coordinate, not to mention answering questions and finding agents. There's no way I could manage that and still have time to write with two jobs. True, most contest host have day jobs. One I have managed. Two would be impossible.
A (very) little background information:
-I'm an aide, not a teacher.
-I don't get paid over the summer.
-My school system is in a pinch. They expect to be twenty million in the red in the next few years. We have numerous leaks in our building roof that they can't afford to fix. Needless to say, they haven't given raises in seven years. Seven years at basically the same pay.
-Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (which I support), my hours were cut back a year ago by over ten percent, reducing my pay further.
It's only fair to my Hubs and family that I do more than I am. Especially with two kids heading to college this fall. It's seek out donations to support my blog or take a second job.
Rather than require a fee of ten dollars to enter my contests, thus making helping me out mandatory, I'd rather see how a crowd funding campaign for my contests and blog goes.
What I have to offer:
-Numerous contests per year: Query Kombat, Nightmare on Query Street, New Agent, Sun versus Snow, PB Party, other mini-contests. I also take part in Pitchslam and PitchWars.
-Mentors from those contests providing feedback.
-Various giveaways of new books
-Critique workshops and Critique blog hops to help with query letters and first pitches.
-Posts with Advice for Querying Writers
-Posts with Editing Advice on such things as filtering and plot holes
-A newsletter giving early notice of submission dates for contests
-Inspirational posts from guest authors about their Call with agents
-Interviews about query slush from over thirty agents
Just in the last month, four former contest picks of mine have signed with agents. Last year's Query Kombat had almost ten success stories alone. That doesn't include all the writers who have met and found critique partners from my twitter parties.
My current contest drew 200 entries in less than a minute. The contest before that closed in under four minutes. Writers recognize the value of these contests.
I promise one hundred percent of any donations will go toward expenses that keep me working for you, such as electricity for my laptop, a roof over my head, internet to keep blogging. It will not be used for buying books or going out to dinner or anything frivolous.
This was not an easy decision, nor a happy one. If you have entered one of my contests or plan to in the future I'd love your support. If you find my blog a valuable resource and wish to see it continue in full, consider helping out. This is totally your choice. I'll do my best to continue as much as I can of my activities no matter what because I love being your cheerleader so much.
Sometimes we all need a little help from our friends.
Thank you everyone, and I hope I haven't offended anyone--but no one is perfect. Everyone is free to disagree with my choice, respectfully.
I'll add a discrete donation button in my sidebar, but until then here is the link to donate.
March 20, 2015
Getting the Call with Jadah McCoy
Publishing is usually so slow. It's great to hear a success story that works the opposite way. The suffering may be short lived, but it is just as intense! Congrats, Jadah!
Everything happened very quickly, hardly leaving any time for my brain to catch up to reality. I finished my draft of THE CULLING November 2014, let it sit for a month, did my edits and revisions (with the help of Kara Malinczak, an AMAZING editor), and began querying mid-January. Now, I had already been trolling around Agent Query Connect, Michelle's blog, and a few other blogs looking for feedback on my query LONG before my novel was even finished (because procrastination). Michelle did an awesome critique of my original query which pointed out some issues, and those issues were reiterated nearly a year later when I entered Sun versus Snow 2015.
My novel simply came off as too dystopian, and we all know agents and editors treat dystopian as the NSA would treat a person who stands up on a plane and screams that they have Ebola. Agents wouldn't touch me. Rejections rolled in like waves, and the discouragement I felt dragged me under.
In the midst of the neurotic breakdown my fantastically lovely CP had to put up with daily, I entered Samantha Fountain's Agent Match contest, and I had received a full request from a small press. I waited for a response from the press and religiously stalked the comment section of Agent Match to see if any agents requested a partial or full of my novel. No requests. None. Still none. STILL NONE. Fine, I just won't check anymore, ever!
I had swapped work with another entrant of Agent Match, and I received a DM from her in which she stated she had received a request. Joy! Much partying! Confetti and happiness and cake made from rainbows and giggles! I congratulated her then sulked back to my cave where I rocked my manuscript and told it everything would be all right one day. I turned on mood lighting and sang A Great Big World's 'Say Something' to it. My singing was interrupted by another message from her, and it read: Hey, you got one too!
Bad words came out of my mouth, but in a good way. I rushed to look, and sure enough we had both received full requests from the editor of a hybrid press, which just so happened to be a subsidiary of a BIG publisher. With shaky hands, I sent the editor my manuscript and returned to waiting.
In the meantime, I had been eyeballing Curiosity Quills. I think I read every word on their website at least three times, looked through their current published books, tried to glean what kind of manuscript they liked through osmosis. I looked through their science fiction section. There was another book which featured teens living in a sewer in a post-apocalyptic world. No, I said, no, Jadah, your book is too similar and you'll just get turned away again. But, seeing as I hardly ever listen to myself, I submitted anyway.
Less than a week later I received a request for a full from one of Curiosity Quill's acquisitions editors. 'THREE REQUESTS,' I wrote on my Facebook. 'THREE *&^%$^ REQUESTS. They like me! They really &*^%# like me!!' And a week after that, I received my first offer. Bashfully, I wrote to the acquisitions editor at CQ, who had only received my manuscript a week prior, that I'd like to come to a decision within the next ten days. She wrote back immediately, telling me it wouldn't be a problem and congrats. Swoon.
9 DAYS LATER. All my nails are chewed off. I check my email every 15.32 seconds. I wake up at 4 am every day nervous and panicked. I have nightmares that involve dancing novels, among other things. The morning of this day was no different. What if she just never emails me again? What if she forgot? What if ten days wasn't long enough?! Neuroses in overdrive!!
A few hours into the day I checked my email for the 467th time, and there it was. Shiny. Beautiful. Unopened and full of promise. The email from her. I clicked it, my eyes scanning the email: "...would love to offer you a contract..." And: "I truly fell in love with your manuscript." Tears. So many tears fell out of my face. Someone who's not me loves my book. My excitement and the unadulterated passion I could tell this editor felt for my work made my decision an easy one.
Yes. The answer was yes. And to think, I almost didn't query them at all. Just goes to show that you NEVER know which doors may or may not open for you, so always, always take that chance.
I am so happy to be with Curiosity Quills, where the staff has been so helpful and informative about the whole process.
Stats: 20 queries sent, 3 full requests, 2 offers. First query sent January 15th, 2015 and contract signed March 4th, 2015.
Blurb for The Culling, a NA sci-fi: In this Bladerunner meets Alien debut, eighteen-year-old Syl lives in the ruins of Earth's first colonized sister planet. By day she searches abandoned skyscrapers for food, but at night genetically-spliced, flesh-eating bugs--the Cull--come out for a meal of their own. When Syl is abducted and her own DNA spliced, slowly turning her into one of the Cull, she discovers the androids who destroyed her world aren't nearly as dead as everyone thought.
Jadah lives in Nashville, TN and works as a legal coordinator. When not babysitting attorneys she can be found desperately juicing her brain for creative ideas or fantasizing about her next trip out of the country (or about Tom Hiddleston as Loki - it's always a toss up when she's fantasizing). THE CULLING is her debut novel.
Visit her:
BlogTwitterFacebookGoodreadsPinterest
Everything happened very quickly, hardly leaving any time for my brain to catch up to reality. I finished my draft of THE CULLING November 2014, let it sit for a month, did my edits and revisions (with the help of Kara Malinczak, an AMAZING editor), and began querying mid-January. Now, I had already been trolling around Agent Query Connect, Michelle's blog, and a few other blogs looking for feedback on my query LONG before my novel was even finished (because procrastination). Michelle did an awesome critique of my original query which pointed out some issues, and those issues were reiterated nearly a year later when I entered Sun versus Snow 2015.
My novel simply came off as too dystopian, and we all know agents and editors treat dystopian as the NSA would treat a person who stands up on a plane and screams that they have Ebola. Agents wouldn't touch me. Rejections rolled in like waves, and the discouragement I felt dragged me under.
In the midst of the neurotic breakdown my fantastically lovely CP had to put up with daily, I entered Samantha Fountain's Agent Match contest, and I had received a full request from a small press. I waited for a response from the press and religiously stalked the comment section of Agent Match to see if any agents requested a partial or full of my novel. No requests. None. Still none. STILL NONE. Fine, I just won't check anymore, ever!
I had swapped work with another entrant of Agent Match, and I received a DM from her in which she stated she had received a request. Joy! Much partying! Confetti and happiness and cake made from rainbows and giggles! I congratulated her then sulked back to my cave where I rocked my manuscript and told it everything would be all right one day. I turned on mood lighting and sang A Great Big World's 'Say Something' to it. My singing was interrupted by another message from her, and it read: Hey, you got one too!
Bad words came out of my mouth, but in a good way. I rushed to look, and sure enough we had both received full requests from the editor of a hybrid press, which just so happened to be a subsidiary of a BIG publisher. With shaky hands, I sent the editor my manuscript and returned to waiting.
In the meantime, I had been eyeballing Curiosity Quills. I think I read every word on their website at least three times, looked through their current published books, tried to glean what kind of manuscript they liked through osmosis. I looked through their science fiction section. There was another book which featured teens living in a sewer in a post-apocalyptic world. No, I said, no, Jadah, your book is too similar and you'll just get turned away again. But, seeing as I hardly ever listen to myself, I submitted anyway.
Less than a week later I received a request for a full from one of Curiosity Quill's acquisitions editors. 'THREE REQUESTS,' I wrote on my Facebook. 'THREE *&^%$^ REQUESTS. They like me! They really &*^%# like me!!' And a week after that, I received my first offer. Bashfully, I wrote to the acquisitions editor at CQ, who had only received my manuscript a week prior, that I'd like to come to a decision within the next ten days. She wrote back immediately, telling me it wouldn't be a problem and congrats. Swoon.
9 DAYS LATER. All my nails are chewed off. I check my email every 15.32 seconds. I wake up at 4 am every day nervous and panicked. I have nightmares that involve dancing novels, among other things. The morning of this day was no different. What if she just never emails me again? What if she forgot? What if ten days wasn't long enough?! Neuroses in overdrive!!
A few hours into the day I checked my email for the 467th time, and there it was. Shiny. Beautiful. Unopened and full of promise. The email from her. I clicked it, my eyes scanning the email: "...would love to offer you a contract..." And: "I truly fell in love with your manuscript." Tears. So many tears fell out of my face. Someone who's not me loves my book. My excitement and the unadulterated passion I could tell this editor felt for my work made my decision an easy one.
Yes. The answer was yes. And to think, I almost didn't query them at all. Just goes to show that you NEVER know which doors may or may not open for you, so always, always take that chance.
I am so happy to be with Curiosity Quills, where the staff has been so helpful and informative about the whole process.
Stats: 20 queries sent, 3 full requests, 2 offers. First query sent January 15th, 2015 and contract signed March 4th, 2015.
Blurb for The Culling, a NA sci-fi: In this Bladerunner meets Alien debut, eighteen-year-old Syl lives in the ruins of Earth's first colonized sister planet. By day she searches abandoned skyscrapers for food, but at night genetically-spliced, flesh-eating bugs--the Cull--come out for a meal of their own. When Syl is abducted and her own DNA spliced, slowly turning her into one of the Cull, she discovers the androids who destroyed her world aren't nearly as dead as everyone thought.
Jadah lives in Nashville, TN and works as a legal coordinator. When not babysitting attorneys she can be found desperately juicing her brain for creative ideas or fantasizing about her next trip out of the country (or about Tom Hiddleston as Loki - it's always a toss up when she's fantasizing). THE CULLING is her debut novel.
Visit her:
BlogTwitterFacebookGoodreadsPinterest
March 19, 2015
Querying Advice: Researching Agents
You've got a finished manuscript. It's edited and polished to the best of your ability and read by a handful of critique partners and beta readers. You've gone through the same process with a query letter, giving it numerous revisions until it's enticing. You're ready to query.
Do you just fling those query letters out there to the universe?
HECK NO!
You do a little research first. You go onto Query Tracker or Agent Query to develop lists of agents who represent your genre and your age category. You watch agents on twitter to see which ones are informative, smart, and fun.
So is that enough?
HECK NO!
Now you must take your butt to the website of each and every agent on your list before you send them a query letter. Why, you ask. You got the list from a reputable source. But information can change quickly. It might not have caught up with Query Tracker or Agent Query. What these agencies have can be outdated.
Checking the agent's website lets you make sure that agent is still open to queries. Agents will often close over the summer or over holidays. It also helps you double check that agent is taking your genre. Maybe on Query Tracker it says open to fantasy. But on their website, you find they are not interested in epic fantasy. Ah ha! You've saved yourself a wasted query. Kept yourself from an automatic no.
And you can double check their email address and their query guidelines. Do they want 10 sample pages or 5? Need a synopsis? Their website can tell you for sure.
Also by checking on an agent's website, you can determine more about them. Have they worked in publishing for a while? Have they worked at other agencies? Do they seem to be legit and have sales to show for it?
Now you can query.
Then low and behold, what should appear in your inbox, but a request for pages. Or better yet, a request to talk!
When you come back down from the ceiling, what's the first thing you need to do--more research!
Now you want to know everything about that agent. You can't take for granted any agent is the best fit for you without research. So besides asking expert friends on twitter, where can you go for information?
Again you should revisit their website and get an idea of clients, sales, and that agent's past jobs and length of tenure. Then you can turn to Google and put in the agent's name and absolute write water cooler. That's the place to go to find out what other writers have to say about an agent or an agency. They really dish on any doubts or worries about an agent there.
You can also head over to Victoria Strauss and her Writer Beware website. There is tons of great information on it. She has lists of places to avoid and agent warning signs.
And absolutely, positively you want to check into that agent's sales record. Their website may have some information, but is it recent?
For that, you need to get into Publisher's Marketplace. Unfortunately, to see sales by agent, you'll need a costly subscription. (I recommend you phone a friend, if you don't want to shell out for a membership. See if you can locate someone on twitter with a membership who will do the research for you. The writer community is awesome. I'm sure someone can help.)
And if you do get an offer, you'll want to speak to clients of that agent. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for honest opinions on how that agent conducts business. Also speak with experienced writers who know about agents. BECAUSE writing is a business. There are contracts involved, and it is your future. You need to get serious and do your homework. Treat it like a job, because it is one. It's great to discover an agent is nice to talk to on the phone and loves your manuscript, but you need to know more.
Did I miss anything? What are your favorite research sites? How do you find out more about agents?
Do you just fling those query letters out there to the universe?
HECK NO!
You do a little research first. You go onto Query Tracker or Agent Query to develop lists of agents who represent your genre and your age category. You watch agents on twitter to see which ones are informative, smart, and fun.
So is that enough?
HECK NO!
Now you must take your butt to the website of each and every agent on your list before you send them a query letter. Why, you ask. You got the list from a reputable source. But information can change quickly. It might not have caught up with Query Tracker or Agent Query. What these agencies have can be outdated.
Checking the agent's website lets you make sure that agent is still open to queries. Agents will often close over the summer or over holidays. It also helps you double check that agent is taking your genre. Maybe on Query Tracker it says open to fantasy. But on their website, you find they are not interested in epic fantasy. Ah ha! You've saved yourself a wasted query. Kept yourself from an automatic no.
And you can double check their email address and their query guidelines. Do they want 10 sample pages or 5? Need a synopsis? Their website can tell you for sure.
Also by checking on an agent's website, you can determine more about them. Have they worked in publishing for a while? Have they worked at other agencies? Do they seem to be legit and have sales to show for it?
Now you can query.
Then low and behold, what should appear in your inbox, but a request for pages. Or better yet, a request to talk!
When you come back down from the ceiling, what's the first thing you need to do--more research!
Now you want to know everything about that agent. You can't take for granted any agent is the best fit for you without research. So besides asking expert friends on twitter, where can you go for information?
Again you should revisit their website and get an idea of clients, sales, and that agent's past jobs and length of tenure. Then you can turn to Google and put in the agent's name and absolute write water cooler. That's the place to go to find out what other writers have to say about an agent or an agency. They really dish on any doubts or worries about an agent there.
You can also head over to Victoria Strauss and her Writer Beware website. There is tons of great information on it. She has lists of places to avoid and agent warning signs.
And absolutely, positively you want to check into that agent's sales record. Their website may have some information, but is it recent?
For that, you need to get into Publisher's Marketplace. Unfortunately, to see sales by agent, you'll need a costly subscription. (I recommend you phone a friend, if you don't want to shell out for a membership. See if you can locate someone on twitter with a membership who will do the research for you. The writer community is awesome. I'm sure someone can help.)
And if you do get an offer, you'll want to speak to clients of that agent. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for honest opinions on how that agent conducts business. Also speak with experienced writers who know about agents. BECAUSE writing is a business. There are contracts involved, and it is your future. You need to get serious and do your homework. Treat it like a job, because it is one. It's great to discover an agent is nice to talk to on the phone and loves your manuscript, but you need to know more.
Did I miss anything? What are your favorite research sites? How do you find out more about agents?
March 18, 2015
Query Questions with Jennifer Azantian
Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
This agent has recently opened her own agency. Jennifer Azantian is now her own boss at the Azantian Literary Agency.
First off, thank you so much for having me and for asking such great questions!
Is there a better or worse time of year to query?The best and only time to query is when I'm open to submissions. If I'm open, then I'm actively looking and excited. I respond to every e-mail that follows my guidelines and is sent during that period.
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?Definitely not, but I'm also human and you never really know the psychological ramifications of things like that. An error in the first line(s) can set a less-than-stellar mental tone.
Do you look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?I do check sample pages without fail, even when I'm 98% certain the project isn't for me based on the query. I have this incredible desire to make sure the author isn't this brilliant writer that I'm going to miss out on. Because of this, I occasionally invite authors to query me with future projects for special consideration.
Do you have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all of them?I go through all of my queries first and then will reach out to second-readers or interns once I'm more sure about a project.
Do you keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?Yes, I do. It's been a very helpful tool for me to get that bit of space and also be able to go through queries more efficiently.
If the manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?Yes, I do. With that said, I encourage every writer to really evaluate if they need a prologue. I enjoy prologues and always read them in published works, but I think it's incredibly difficult to do well.
How important are comp titles? Is it something you want to see in a query?I know many agents love them, but I'm fairly neutral about them. If they are included and presented in a thoughtful way, they are fine, but too many times I just get names of obscure books or the biggest bestseller of the time. The best way to write a comp title, at least if you're sending it to me, is to choose well-known projects that aren't the mega-hits and to point to specific similarities.
Some agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might be more interested?I'm the sole agent here, but I sometimes do offer referrals to other agents who are friends if I feel something is really special and just not for me.
Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather hear about the manuscript?One or two lines of thoughtful personalization is always appreciated, but it's not necessary and anything more than that is excessive.
Most agents have said they don’t care whether the word count/genre sentence comes first or last. But is it a red flag if one component is not included?It is for me because I assume you either aren't well-versed in publishing protocols (I prefer my clients to know about the business of writing) or you are purposefully trying to hide information that I need.
Writers hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?Absolutely. I recommend keeping it to as few characters as possible. Get me hooked on those characters first and the ancillary characters will be there for the long read.
Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?I believe everything can have subtle influences. It's true that anything can change, especially titles, but it never hurts to go out on submission with a solid title and character names that reflect the world they live in.
How many queries do you receive in a week? How many requests might you make out of those?It varies greatly between as few as 100 and as many as 300. Of those, I'll request between one and five manuscripts. Sometimes I don't request any and sometimes I request more. I don't place artificial parameters on how many projects I can request.
Many agents say they don't care if writers are active online. Could a twitter account or blog presence by a writer tip the scales in getting a request or offer? And do you require writers you sign to start one?It won't tip the scale and I won't require it, but it's definitely nice to see writers be a part of the online community.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?The links in the signature don't bother me.
If a writer makes changes to their manuscript due to feedback should they resend the query or only if material was requested? Only if the material was requested, please!
What bio should an author with no publishing credits include?Honestly, I don't think they would need any, but one or two lines about any relevant background or education is fine to include if they feel their query is naked otherwise.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?Not right for me is the simplest summary of a million different micro-decisions, and I feel really badly for authors who try to analyze it. Just a few for me are: I just took on a similar project; This market feels glutted right now; The writing isn't where I want it to be; I'm not feeling some aspects of the story; I like so much about this work, but I didn't love it fiercely enough to be its champion.
What themes are you sick of seeing?I'm hesitant to say I'm sick of any theme. Good writing and fresh twists will always be winners in my book.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?I am definitely an editorial agent. I give lots of feedback and often do more than one pass with my clients before going out on submission. I think it's really important to get the most polished version out there as possible.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing you’ve seen in a query?I've seen some seriously weird stuff over the years, but can't think of one in particular that stands out. This isn't really in a query, but I've had people argue with auto-responses despite it stating at the top *This is an automated response*. It is almost always amusing.
What three things are at the top of your submission wish list?I couldn't pick just three so here is a list of some of the things I'm looking for right now: stories that explore difficult human issues against fantastic backdrops, underrepresented voices (especially in YA and SF), quirky middle grade, historical fantasy, space opera, and meticulously well-crafted/researched epic fantasy.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes?Of all the questions, this one is the hardest! I'll just list some authors that I love by age-group. The list is by no means exhaustive.
MG: Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Suzanne Collins, Roald Dahl, Gail Carson Levine, C. S. Lewis, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Brian Selznick, Bruce Coville, Madeleine L'Engle, Lois Lowry
YA: Kristin Cashore, Philip Pullman, J.K. Rowling, John Green, Laini Taylor, Kendare Blake, Suzanne Collins (again), Markus Zusak, Marie Lu, Diana Wynne Jones, Scott Westerfeld, Rick Yancey, Neil Gaiman. Anne McCaffrey, Ursula Le Guin
Adult: Patrick Rothfuss, Brent Weeks, Brandon Sanderson, Laurell K. Hamilton, John Scalzi, Douglas Adams, Chuck Palahniuk, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Neil Gaiman (again), Gillian Flynn
As for film/television I have odd and possibly irrelevant tastes. I definitely enjoy shows with speculative elements, but I have a soft-spot for weird comedies and ridiculous dramas. For films, I particularly enjoy psychological thrillers and children's animation.
-------------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Azantian began her agenting career in 2011, first as an intern and then as an assistant and associate, at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. In 2014, after working with senior agent and entertainment lawyer Paul Levine, she opened the Azantian Literary Agency specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and smart-psychological horror novels for middle grade, YA, and adult readers. She bring to her clients a passion for literature born of a writer's heart and an editorial eye honed from reviewing thousands of projects. Of particular interest are stories that explore meaningful human interactions against fantastic backdrops, underrepresented voices, literary science fiction, historical fantasy, non-dystopian/well-crafted futures, internally consistent epic fantasy, and quirky middle-grade.
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
This agent has recently opened her own agency. Jennifer Azantian is now her own boss at the Azantian Literary Agency.
First off, thank you so much for having me and for asking such great questions!
Is there a better or worse time of year to query?The best and only time to query is when I'm open to submissions. If I'm open, then I'm actively looking and excited. I respond to every e-mail that follows my guidelines and is sent during that period.
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?Definitely not, but I'm also human and you never really know the psychological ramifications of things like that. An error in the first line(s) can set a less-than-stellar mental tone.
Do you look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?I do check sample pages without fail, even when I'm 98% certain the project isn't for me based on the query. I have this incredible desire to make sure the author isn't this brilliant writer that I'm going to miss out on. Because of this, I occasionally invite authors to query me with future projects for special consideration.
Do you have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all of them?I go through all of my queries first and then will reach out to second-readers or interns once I'm more sure about a project.
Do you keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?Yes, I do. It's been a very helpful tool for me to get that bit of space and also be able to go through queries more efficiently.
If the manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?Yes, I do. With that said, I encourage every writer to really evaluate if they need a prologue. I enjoy prologues and always read them in published works, but I think it's incredibly difficult to do well.
How important are comp titles? Is it something you want to see in a query?I know many agents love them, but I'm fairly neutral about them. If they are included and presented in a thoughtful way, they are fine, but too many times I just get names of obscure books or the biggest bestseller of the time. The best way to write a comp title, at least if you're sending it to me, is to choose well-known projects that aren't the mega-hits and to point to specific similarities.
Some agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might be more interested?I'm the sole agent here, but I sometimes do offer referrals to other agents who are friends if I feel something is really special and just not for me.
Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather hear about the manuscript?One or two lines of thoughtful personalization is always appreciated, but it's not necessary and anything more than that is excessive.
Most agents have said they don’t care whether the word count/genre sentence comes first or last. But is it a red flag if one component is not included?It is for me because I assume you either aren't well-versed in publishing protocols (I prefer my clients to know about the business of writing) or you are purposefully trying to hide information that I need.
Writers hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?Absolutely. I recommend keeping it to as few characters as possible. Get me hooked on those characters first and the ancillary characters will be there for the long read.
Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?I believe everything can have subtle influences. It's true that anything can change, especially titles, but it never hurts to go out on submission with a solid title and character names that reflect the world they live in.
How many queries do you receive in a week? How many requests might you make out of those?It varies greatly between as few as 100 and as many as 300. Of those, I'll request between one and five manuscripts. Sometimes I don't request any and sometimes I request more. I don't place artificial parameters on how many projects I can request.
Many agents say they don't care if writers are active online. Could a twitter account or blog presence by a writer tip the scales in getting a request or offer? And do you require writers you sign to start one?It won't tip the scale and I won't require it, but it's definitely nice to see writers be a part of the online community.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?The links in the signature don't bother me.
If a writer makes changes to their manuscript due to feedback should they resend the query or only if material was requested? Only if the material was requested, please!
What bio should an author with no publishing credits include?Honestly, I don't think they would need any, but one or two lines about any relevant background or education is fine to include if they feel their query is naked otherwise.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?Not right for me is the simplest summary of a million different micro-decisions, and I feel really badly for authors who try to analyze it. Just a few for me are: I just took on a similar project; This market feels glutted right now; The writing isn't where I want it to be; I'm not feeling some aspects of the story; I like so much about this work, but I didn't love it fiercely enough to be its champion.
What themes are you sick of seeing?I'm hesitant to say I'm sick of any theme. Good writing and fresh twists will always be winners in my book.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?I am definitely an editorial agent. I give lots of feedback and often do more than one pass with my clients before going out on submission. I think it's really important to get the most polished version out there as possible.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing you’ve seen in a query?I've seen some seriously weird stuff over the years, but can't think of one in particular that stands out. This isn't really in a query, but I've had people argue with auto-responses despite it stating at the top *This is an automated response*. It is almost always amusing.
What three things are at the top of your submission wish list?I couldn't pick just three so here is a list of some of the things I'm looking for right now: stories that explore difficult human issues against fantastic backdrops, underrepresented voices (especially in YA and SF), quirky middle grade, historical fantasy, space opera, and meticulously well-crafted/researched epic fantasy.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes?Of all the questions, this one is the hardest! I'll just list some authors that I love by age-group. The list is by no means exhaustive.
MG: Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Suzanne Collins, Roald Dahl, Gail Carson Levine, C. S. Lewis, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Brian Selznick, Bruce Coville, Madeleine L'Engle, Lois Lowry
YA: Kristin Cashore, Philip Pullman, J.K. Rowling, John Green, Laini Taylor, Kendare Blake, Suzanne Collins (again), Markus Zusak, Marie Lu, Diana Wynne Jones, Scott Westerfeld, Rick Yancey, Neil Gaiman. Anne McCaffrey, Ursula Le Guin
Adult: Patrick Rothfuss, Brent Weeks, Brandon Sanderson, Laurell K. Hamilton, John Scalzi, Douglas Adams, Chuck Palahniuk, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Neil Gaiman (again), Gillian Flynn
As for film/television I have odd and possibly irrelevant tastes. I definitely enjoy shows with speculative elements, but I have a soft-spot for weird comedies and ridiculous dramas. For films, I particularly enjoy psychological thrillers and children's animation.
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Jennifer Azantian began her agenting career in 2011, first as an intern and then as an assistant and associate, at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. In 2014, after working with senior agent and entertainment lawyer Paul Levine, she opened the Azantian Literary Agency specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and smart-psychological horror novels for middle grade, YA, and adult readers. She bring to her clients a passion for literature born of a writer's heart and an editorial eye honed from reviewing thousands of projects. Of particular interest are stories that explore meaningful human interactions against fantastic backdrops, underrepresented voices, literary science fiction, historical fantasy, non-dystopian/well-crafted futures, internally consistent epic fantasy, and quirky middle-grade.
March 16, 2015
Submission Day for PB Party!
CLOSED.
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The Rules:
Please be a follower of this blog. You can click the "Join this Site" button in the left sidebar. Please follow myself and Sharon on twitter. I imagine we will be tweeting hints as well as partying!
You may send two entries for different manuscripts. That's two and only two, whether you have multiple pen names or multiple email addresses. THEY MUST BE SENT AS SEPARATE EMAILS. Please be honest and not send more. Only one entry will be chosen per person. If you send two, still only one will be picked. Any attempt to cheat will result in entries thrown out (and sadly it has happened in the past.)
On March 16th at 4:00 pm Eastern the submission window opens. Do not send early or your entry will be deleted. You may resend at the correct time if this happens by accident. I'm recycling an email address as I already have too many. Please send your entry to SunversusSnow at yahoo dot com.
You should receive a confirmation email. If you do not, please contact me on twitter before resending. The window will stay open until we get 111 (yes that number is because I'm a hobbit) entries. However long that takes. It could be minutes or it could be days. I'm really not sure on this one.
UPDATE: We will consider opening a second submission window at 5:30 Eastern time for an additional 50 entries. It depends on how nice everyone is to me and Sharon. Smile big!
This contest is only for finished and polished manuscripts. It has to be ready to go out to agents.
The Format:
Subject Line: PBParty: Title
Example: PBParty: Hot Tub Santa
Inside the email please bold where bolded in my example. Single space with spaces between paragraphs. Use Times New Roman or equivalent font and the size should be 12.
(Here's a trick to keep your paragraph spacing: copy and paste your entry into your email and then put in the line spaces. They seem to get lost when you copy and paste. It may look right but sending scrambles the spacing.)
Name: Sharon Chriscoe
Title: HOT TUB SANTA
Genre: (Here please tell us what type of picture book this is) Example: Board Book, Bedtime Rhyme, Nonfiction, Biography, etc. or List Chapter Book
Word Count: xxx (round to nearest ten, hundred for chapter books)
Query:
Your entire query letter here. Include your comps, bio, greeting, closing. (You may use whatever you want for a greeting. Dear Agent. Dear Michelle and Sharon.)
Here is your chance to make your entry shine and make the agent fall in love with your words. You do NOT need to include contact information in your query.
First 50 Words:
Include your first 50 words for a picture book, 100 words for chapter books. Do not stop in the middle of a sentence. You may go over by one or two words to finish a sentence but not more than five. Single space and put spaces in between paragraphs. You may center or tab if appropriate.
Comments about artwork are part of the 50 words.
For short picture books, less than 50 words may be submitted. Any count under 50 is allowed.
Also I will delete parts of entries after the contest ends, if requested. For those writers uncomfortable with their work being out there for all to see.
Bonus: You may attach one illustration to your email to show an example of your artwork. If you don't have artwork, don't worry.
Now for the twitter party fun! Visit daily under the hashtag #PBParty to meet and greet and scout out slush hints.
Monday, March 16th Tell us what genre you write and when you entered.
Tuesday, March 17th Happy Saint Patrick's Day! What would your MC do to avoid getting pinched.
Wednesday, March 18 What is your favorite picture/chapter book?
Thursday, March 19 Animal, vegetable, mineral. Tell us if your MC is human or something else.
Friday, March 20 Wish my daughter happy birthday and say how you'll celebrate spring.
Saturday, March 21 Go wild day! Tell us something random about your writing style.
Sunday and Monday, March 22-23 Hold your breathe for the results and hug everyone.
Sharon and I are so excited for the fun to start. As you've probably noticed we have seven agents and a couple of editors. You never know if this number might go up!
Good luck everyone!
March 13, 2015
Query Questions with Jess Dallow
Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
This is the first interview with someone who focuses on foreign and other subrights. Thanks to Jess Dallow from New Leaf for giving us her query opinions.
Is there a better or worse time of year to query?Around Christmas is hard because publishing shuts down, but other than that, it doesn’t really matter. We are always going through queries and looking to find new material.
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?Nah, not for me. Of course it’s something to be aware of, but if the story sounds interesting and I want to know more about the characters, then that’s all that matters to me.
Do you look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?It’s a difficult question, because query writing is such a different – and often a much harder – skill for some writers. I need something in the query to grab me, even if it’s not the best written. A couple of months ago I got a query letter I didn’t quite understand, but I was also intrigued by it, so I read the pages and requested it. Of course I would prefer for it to be strong, but if something grabs me, I’ll read the pages and check to see if I’m drawn into the world.
Do you keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?I’ve definitely gone back to a few for a second look, but generally, if it doesn’t grab me right away, I know instinctually it’s not for me.
If the manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?Yes. If there’s a prologue, I feel that the writer is including it in the novel because it’s important to the backstory. When I start that first chapter, I want a taste of that. I want to know who the character was before and where they are now.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?No, I don’t mind if it’s in the signature. If I finish reading or need a break and see them, I’ll click it to check it out. I actually love artwork about manuscripts or little extra things that aren’t included in the manuscript, so sure, add it into the email signature! What bio should an author with no publishing credits include?Tell me a little about yourself. If you’re in school, tell me what you’re majoring in. If you’re working, what you do for a living? Tell me a ridiculous fact about yourself. I like having a sense of the writer, not just the story.
Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?I think the title should still be intriguing and catchy, but there’s always a chance it’s going to change (once, twice, a few times before publication!) The first priority should always be to make sure your characters are relatable and intriguing, your pace is moving at a good speed, and your story is strong. I wouldn’t reject something because I disliked the title or a character name didn’t work.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing you’ve seen in a query?I love mysteries and serial killer characters, so my boss passed a query to me where the writer wrote the query as his character…but there were also some facts thrown in there about himself, so we weren’t entirely sure if this was a non-fiction story of a serial killer, or fiction where the person was getting creative. It was one of the ridiculous moments where we wondered if we were supposed to contact the police or just chalk it up to a weird query. It made me realize that no one should ever write their query in character!
What themes are you sick of seeing?I’m not a huge fan of the weak woman needing a man to come to her rescue. I am all about a great romance, but I’d love to see them balance each other out. I’d love to see a woman save herself.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?It usually means that I didn’t connect to the character in the way I was hoping. When I look for material, I want to get so lost in the story that I forget it’s not real. I want to come out of a novel feeling like these people are real to me and I want to miss them when I’m not with them. If I don’t connect on that level, then I know it’s not the right story for me personally.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?Yes, definitely. I love being able to delve into a story and give notes on it. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job. I have such a good time seeing that bigger picture.
What three things are at the top of your submission wish list? 1. Female-centric friendship stories! Either taking place over the course of the entire relationship or something that can show how inspiring women can be to each other. I am all about ladies supporting ladies and I would really love to see that message more in novels. It’s always interesting to me how friendships can change over the course of years, but how certain people are still there for you no matter what. The movie Beaches is my favorite example of this. Something along those lines is wonderful, but with a new and interesting side to it. 2. A great serial killer novel. If it delves into the psychology of the character, that’s even better. There’s something fascinating about how some seemingly normal people can be hiding these psychopathic tendencies. 3. The trials and tribulations of a family, something along the lines of This is Where I Leave You. There are so many intricacies in families, so many things that are hidden from the outside world, and I love seeing how an author can mold that. Even if I haven’t been through the situation, I want to feel like I can relate to it.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes? · The Scream trilogy· The Graduate· The Proposal· Legally Blonde· Enchanted· Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult· If I Stay by Gayle Forman· The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding· The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule· Heartsick by Chelsea Cain The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
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Before moving back to her home state of New York, Jess Dallow spent eight years working at a talent agency in Hollywood. Deciding books and cold New York winters were more her speed, she became an intern at New Leaf before being hired as a subrights assistant. In her spare time, Jess can be found at either Sprinkles or Chipotle, stuffing her face with cupcakes or guacamole (thankfully, not together).
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
This is the first interview with someone who focuses on foreign and other subrights. Thanks to Jess Dallow from New Leaf for giving us her query opinions.
Is there a better or worse time of year to query?Around Christmas is hard because publishing shuts down, but other than that, it doesn’t really matter. We are always going through queries and looking to find new material.
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?Nah, not for me. Of course it’s something to be aware of, but if the story sounds interesting and I want to know more about the characters, then that’s all that matters to me.
Do you look at sample pages without fail or only if the query is strong?It’s a difficult question, because query writing is such a different – and often a much harder – skill for some writers. I need something in the query to grab me, even if it’s not the best written. A couple of months ago I got a query letter I didn’t quite understand, but I was also intrigued by it, so I read the pages and requested it. Of course I would prefer for it to be strong, but if something grabs me, I’ll read the pages and check to see if I’m drawn into the world.
Do you keep a maybe pile of queries and go back to them for a second look?I’ve definitely gone back to a few for a second look, but generally, if it doesn’t grab me right away, I know instinctually it’s not for me.
If the manuscript has a prologue, do you want it included with the sample pages?Yes. If there’s a prologue, I feel that the writer is including it in the novel because it’s important to the backstory. When I start that first chapter, I want a taste of that. I want to know who the character was before and where they are now.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?No, I don’t mind if it’s in the signature. If I finish reading or need a break and see them, I’ll click it to check it out. I actually love artwork about manuscripts or little extra things that aren’t included in the manuscript, so sure, add it into the email signature! What bio should an author with no publishing credits include?Tell me a little about yourself. If you’re in school, tell me what you’re majoring in. If you’re working, what you do for a living? Tell me a ridiculous fact about yourself. I like having a sense of the writer, not just the story.
Should writers sweat the title of their book (and character names) or is that something that is often changed by publishers?I think the title should still be intriguing and catchy, but there’s always a chance it’s going to change (once, twice, a few times before publication!) The first priority should always be to make sure your characters are relatable and intriguing, your pace is moving at a good speed, and your story is strong. I wouldn’t reject something because I disliked the title or a character name didn’t work.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing you’ve seen in a query?I love mysteries and serial killer characters, so my boss passed a query to me where the writer wrote the query as his character…but there were also some facts thrown in there about himself, so we weren’t entirely sure if this was a non-fiction story of a serial killer, or fiction where the person was getting creative. It was one of the ridiculous moments where we wondered if we were supposed to contact the police or just chalk it up to a weird query. It made me realize that no one should ever write their query in character!
What themes are you sick of seeing?I’m not a huge fan of the weak woman needing a man to come to her rescue. I am all about a great romance, but I’d love to see them balance each other out. I’d love to see a woman save herself.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?It usually means that I didn’t connect to the character in the way I was hoping. When I look for material, I want to get so lost in the story that I forget it’s not real. I want to come out of a novel feeling like these people are real to me and I want to miss them when I’m not with them. If I don’t connect on that level, then I know it’s not the right story for me personally.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?Yes, definitely. I love being able to delve into a story and give notes on it. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job. I have such a good time seeing that bigger picture.
What three things are at the top of your submission wish list? 1. Female-centric friendship stories! Either taking place over the course of the entire relationship or something that can show how inspiring women can be to each other. I am all about ladies supporting ladies and I would really love to see that message more in novels. It’s always interesting to me how friendships can change over the course of years, but how certain people are still there for you no matter what. The movie Beaches is my favorite example of this. Something along those lines is wonderful, but with a new and interesting side to it. 2. A great serial killer novel. If it delves into the psychology of the character, that’s even better. There’s something fascinating about how some seemingly normal people can be hiding these psychopathic tendencies. 3. The trials and tribulations of a family, something along the lines of This is Where I Leave You. There are so many intricacies in families, so many things that are hidden from the outside world, and I love seeing how an author can mold that. Even if I haven’t been through the situation, I want to feel like I can relate to it.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes? · The Scream trilogy· The Graduate· The Proposal· Legally Blonde· Enchanted· Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult· If I Stay by Gayle Forman· The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding· The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule· Heartsick by Chelsea Cain The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
------------------------------------
Before moving back to her home state of New York, Jess Dallow spent eight years working at a talent agency in Hollywood. Deciding books and cold New York winters were more her speed, she became an intern at New Leaf before being hired as a subrights assistant. In her spare time, Jess can be found at either Sprinkles or Chipotle, stuffing her face with cupcakes or guacamole (thankfully, not together).
March 12, 2015
Giveaway for NOVA
I'm calling in a favor!
Check out this huge giveaway on Goodreads of twenty-five copies of Margaret Fortune's NOVA from Penguin DAW. The cover art is being revealed tomorrow.
The clock activates so suddenly in my mind, my head involuntarily jerks a bit to the side. The fog vanishes, dissipated in an instant as though it never was. Memories come slotting into place, their edges sharp enough to leave furrows, and suddenly I know. I know exactly who I am.
My name is Lia Johansen, and I was named for a prisoner of war. She lived in the Tiersten Internment Colony for two years, and when they negotiated the return of the prisoners, I was given her memories and sent back in her place.
And I am a genetically engineered human bomb.
Lia Johansen was created for only one purpose: to slip onto the strategically placed New Sol Space Station and explode. But her mission goes to hell when her clock malfunctions, freezing her countdown with just two minutes to go. With no Plan B, no memories of her past, and no identity besides a name stolen from a dead POW, Lia has no idea what to do next. Her life gets even more complicated when she meets Michael Sorenson, the real Lia’s childhood best friend.
Drawn to Michael and his family against her better judgment, Lia starts learning what it means to live and love, and to be human. It is only when her countdown clock begins sporadically losing time that she realizes even duds can still blow up. If she wants any chance at a future, she must find a way to unlock the secrets of her past and stop her clock. But as Lia digs into her origins, she begins to suspect there’s far more to her mission and to this war, than meets the eye. With the fate of not just a space station but an entire empire hanging in the balance, Lia races to find the truth before her time—literally—runs out.
Check out this huge giveaway on Goodreads of twenty-five copies of Margaret Fortune's NOVA from Penguin DAW. The cover art is being revealed tomorrow.
The clock activates so suddenly in my mind, my head involuntarily jerks a bit to the side. The fog vanishes, dissipated in an instant as though it never was. Memories come slotting into place, their edges sharp enough to leave furrows, and suddenly I know. I know exactly who I am.
My name is Lia Johansen, and I was named for a prisoner of war. She lived in the Tiersten Internment Colony for two years, and when they negotiated the return of the prisoners, I was given her memories and sent back in her place.
And I am a genetically engineered human bomb.
Lia Johansen was created for only one purpose: to slip onto the strategically placed New Sol Space Station and explode. But her mission goes to hell when her clock malfunctions, freezing her countdown with just two minutes to go. With no Plan B, no memories of her past, and no identity besides a name stolen from a dead POW, Lia has no idea what to do next. Her life gets even more complicated when she meets Michael Sorenson, the real Lia’s childhood best friend.
Drawn to Michael and his family against her better judgment, Lia starts learning what it means to live and love, and to be human. It is only when her countdown clock begins sporadically losing time that she realizes even duds can still blow up. If she wants any chance at a future, she must find a way to unlock the secrets of her past and stop her clock. But as Lia digs into her origins, she begins to suspect there’s far more to her mission and to this war, than meets the eye. With the fate of not just a space station but an entire empire hanging in the balance, Lia races to find the truth before her time—literally—runs out.
PB Party Editors
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So not only do we have seven great agents to check out the entries on March 24th, but we have a special surprise. There will be some editors reading the entries too!
We have one ninja editor who wishes to remain anonymous for now. Watch for Ninja Editor Dragonfly. And another editor Sharon and I can announce!
Katherine Hall of Arbordale Publishing
Katie Hall has shown a knack for the publishing industry since she read an advance review copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at age 7 and predicted its future popularity. Her journey into the editorial world has taken her through internships in children’s book publishing and two years of academic publishing with the Journal of the American Academy of Religion before she finally found her home as a children’s book editor at Arbordale Publishing. Katie loves working in children’s book publishing, where she helps create books that inspire new generations of book-lovers and ignite their passion for learning.At Arbordale, Katie focuses on integrating fun-to-read stories with non-fiction science or math elements. She balances fun children’s stories with serious research and educational resources. Katie is currently seeking fiction stories that introduce an elementary-level science or math concept. If you would like to submit a manuscript to Katie, please check Arbordale’s submission guidelines.
You can find the rules and format for entries here. And the list of agents are here. See you on Monday, March 16 for the submission window!
March 11, 2015
Querying Advice: Exclusives
My contests have put me in a sort of spotlight, being a high profile writer on twitter. I've done my share of querying and have heard just about everything. I've learned even more for watching and listening, and I tend to get asked for advice when writers just don't know. I thought I'd do a series of posts on topics that writers have asked me about. One of those topics is agent exclusives.
While I don't feel there are right or wrong ways to approach this subject, I do feel a little advice might help people make an informed decision. What follows is my opinion only. The answer to this decision will certainly vary depending on who you ask, but here are my thoughts. The best thing you can do is research the topic and go with your gut.
An exclusive is when an agent asks to be the only person to have your material. In other words, they would like first shot at it and want to have it all for themselves. While an exclusive may be a very exciting offer, there are a few downsides you should consider.
Existing Requests- First of all, you might already have a number of fulls and partials outstanding as well as unanswered query letters. If this isn't your first round of querying, chances are an agent already has your work. Does an exclusive mean you have to withdraw those?
I would consider withdrawing partials and fulls already sent to be rude. It's like a take back. Opps, I got a better offer, can you trash that sample I sent you? In the small world of publishing, it's burning your bridges. You're just not going to do that if you want to work in this business. Not without an actual offer on the table.
So no, you should not withdraw outstanding requests. And you'll have to tell the exclusive agent that. Likely they won't expect you to act in any other way and consider the exclusive to be on future requests.
New Requests- Just about every writer queries in batches. Say you sent a batch of ten query letters and one of the agents has come back with the request for an exclusive. The next day a fresh agent may request pages, or a query from three weeks ago comes back with a request, then what do you do?
Without naming names, you'll have to tell the new agent you have an exclusive with another agent and you can't send at the moment. Would it be all right if you sent when x time period is up? Then you hope they are still interested and don't pass right away. In other words, they may say no thanks.
It will look something like this:
Dear Agent B:
I'm so happy to recieve your request for pages of TITLE. Unfortunately I just granted another agent an exclusive until the end of April. May I send TITLE to you when my exlusive expires?
Thank you so much,
Name
Or maybe there is a big contest coming up that you really wanted to enter. If you grant an exclusive, you have to kiss contests goodbye until that exclusive is over. You'll be cheering from the sidelines.
The person losing out is the writer.
Timing- The length of time requested for an exclusive by an agent can vary from two weeks to a month. You might even be asked only for a week if you are lucky. I'm guessing the usual time period will be a month.
Be very careful if no time period is mentioned. You do not want to give an open-ended exclusive with no close date in sight. You do not want to be waiting and wondering three months from now and unable to send out fresh queries.
It's generally considered that two weeks is long enough and a month is being too generous. Some people even opt for just a week. I'd say the standard is two weeks.
Again, the person losing out is the writer because your hands are tied for however long you agree.
Power- An exclusive gives the agent all the cards. Normally when a writer receives an offer, they go to every agent with their query letter or pages and let them know. This is a way for a writer to get multiple offers, and hopefully, gives the writer a choice of agents to sign with. That gives you as a writer a stronger position.
If you grant an exclusive, you've pretty much cut out the chances of receiving offers from more than one agent. Especially if the time period on the exclusive is longer. No one else will have your query letter, and there will be less likelihood of having other outstanding material. Basically your choices are down to one. You've made the exclusive agent the only game in town.
Again, the person losing out is the writer. In most cases, an exclusive benefits the agents unless you are certain of an offer to follow.
The good thing is most exclusives are rare nowadays. I queried four different manuscripts and got asked for an exclusive only once. It's very likely the agent will ask for an exclusive simply because it is their company policy. That was the case in my instance. That agent always asked for an exclusive. It was their procedure.
So what can you do?
First, consider the agent. While you don't want to go about using the term "dream agent," (If you don't know about this, it's basically because word tends to spread in publishing. People get to know each other. If you mention on twitter that you love Agent A, Agent B may not be too thrilled and may consider you already spoken for.) you do want to consider the source. Is this a powerful agency with a lot of top sales? Is this agent someone you believe you'd mesh well with? Does this agent have high profile sales?
You may have followed this agent on twitter and really like their style. Or you may be excited by how much they want to have your book all to themselves.
If that is true, your gut is going to lean toward allowing the exclusive. You might want to craft an answer something like this:
Dear Agent A:
Thank you so much for requesting to read TITLE. I'm excited to work with you. I do already have x partials and x fulls outstanding just to let you know. I don't feel comfortable granting an exclusive for a month, but would be happy to send no future query letters or requested material for two weeks. I hope this works for you.
I've attached TITLE as a Word document. Thank you again. I look forward to hearing from you.
Name
Most agents are used to negotiating on contracts. It's what they do. Odds are they are going to be fine with two weeks or only a week for an exclusive. If they are serious about the exclusive, then it will be at the top of their reading list already anyway. This limits the time your hands are tied, but still gives them what they want.
If, however, you just don't believe an exclusive is in your best interest, then you should speak up. Say your query letter is red hot and you are getting tons of requests. Maybe you've been in a contest and got many requests. Or maybe there's a contest coming up you want to enter. It's not something you have to accept, though most writers are usually willing to grant some time period.
Then your answer would look something like this:
Dear Agent A:
Thank you so much for requesting to read TITLE. I'm excited to work with you. I don't feel comfortable granting an exclusive at this time as I don't think it is in my best interests (Or as I plan to enter X contest), but I would be happy to send the material. I hope this works for you.
I've attached TITLE as a Word document. Thank you again. I look forward to hearing from you.
Name
In my case, I granted a two week exclusive instead of the month requested. The agent did not get back to me within the two weeks and I nudged gently. They responded quickly to my nudge saying they were still reading and I could query again. After about a month, the agent passed for subjective reasons. But we parted as friends, and the agent was most gracious and understanding. She completely understood my desire to hold it to two weeks. When the exclusive period was up, I nudged with something like this:
Dear Agent A:
I wondered if you had time to finish reading TITLE? Our two week exclusive is ending and I look forward to your thoughts.
Thanks,
Name
So there is my advice on exclusives. Agents are wonderful and I love them, you'll want to do whatever they suggest, but consider your position also. Be polite, but do what is best for you. Make sure you have an end date and two weeks is a good standard.
Feel free to share your own opinion in the comments and tell us if it has ever happened to you. How did you react and how did your exclusive turn out? I'm curious if anyone's exclusive led to an offer.
Also if you have other questions for future posts, please shout out to me on twitter or in the comments.
While I don't feel there are right or wrong ways to approach this subject, I do feel a little advice might help people make an informed decision. What follows is my opinion only. The answer to this decision will certainly vary depending on who you ask, but here are my thoughts. The best thing you can do is research the topic and go with your gut.
An exclusive is when an agent asks to be the only person to have your material. In other words, they would like first shot at it and want to have it all for themselves. While an exclusive may be a very exciting offer, there are a few downsides you should consider.
Existing Requests- First of all, you might already have a number of fulls and partials outstanding as well as unanswered query letters. If this isn't your first round of querying, chances are an agent already has your work. Does an exclusive mean you have to withdraw those?
I would consider withdrawing partials and fulls already sent to be rude. It's like a take back. Opps, I got a better offer, can you trash that sample I sent you? In the small world of publishing, it's burning your bridges. You're just not going to do that if you want to work in this business. Not without an actual offer on the table.
So no, you should not withdraw outstanding requests. And you'll have to tell the exclusive agent that. Likely they won't expect you to act in any other way and consider the exclusive to be on future requests.
New Requests- Just about every writer queries in batches. Say you sent a batch of ten query letters and one of the agents has come back with the request for an exclusive. The next day a fresh agent may request pages, or a query from three weeks ago comes back with a request, then what do you do?
Without naming names, you'll have to tell the new agent you have an exclusive with another agent and you can't send at the moment. Would it be all right if you sent when x time period is up? Then you hope they are still interested and don't pass right away. In other words, they may say no thanks.
It will look something like this:
Dear Agent B:
I'm so happy to recieve your request for pages of TITLE. Unfortunately I just granted another agent an exclusive until the end of April. May I send TITLE to you when my exlusive expires?
Thank you so much,
Name
Or maybe there is a big contest coming up that you really wanted to enter. If you grant an exclusive, you have to kiss contests goodbye until that exclusive is over. You'll be cheering from the sidelines.
The person losing out is the writer.
Timing- The length of time requested for an exclusive by an agent can vary from two weeks to a month. You might even be asked only for a week if you are lucky. I'm guessing the usual time period will be a month.
Be very careful if no time period is mentioned. You do not want to give an open-ended exclusive with no close date in sight. You do not want to be waiting and wondering three months from now and unable to send out fresh queries.
It's generally considered that two weeks is long enough and a month is being too generous. Some people even opt for just a week. I'd say the standard is two weeks.
Again, the person losing out is the writer because your hands are tied for however long you agree.
Power- An exclusive gives the agent all the cards. Normally when a writer receives an offer, they go to every agent with their query letter or pages and let them know. This is a way for a writer to get multiple offers, and hopefully, gives the writer a choice of agents to sign with. That gives you as a writer a stronger position.
If you grant an exclusive, you've pretty much cut out the chances of receiving offers from more than one agent. Especially if the time period on the exclusive is longer. No one else will have your query letter, and there will be less likelihood of having other outstanding material. Basically your choices are down to one. You've made the exclusive agent the only game in town.
Again, the person losing out is the writer. In most cases, an exclusive benefits the agents unless you are certain of an offer to follow.
The good thing is most exclusives are rare nowadays. I queried four different manuscripts and got asked for an exclusive only once. It's very likely the agent will ask for an exclusive simply because it is their company policy. That was the case in my instance. That agent always asked for an exclusive. It was their procedure.
So what can you do?
First, consider the agent. While you don't want to go about using the term "dream agent," (If you don't know about this, it's basically because word tends to spread in publishing. People get to know each other. If you mention on twitter that you love Agent A, Agent B may not be too thrilled and may consider you already spoken for.) you do want to consider the source. Is this a powerful agency with a lot of top sales? Is this agent someone you believe you'd mesh well with? Does this agent have high profile sales?
You may have followed this agent on twitter and really like their style. Or you may be excited by how much they want to have your book all to themselves.
If that is true, your gut is going to lean toward allowing the exclusive. You might want to craft an answer something like this:
Dear Agent A:
Thank you so much for requesting to read TITLE. I'm excited to work with you. I do already have x partials and x fulls outstanding just to let you know. I don't feel comfortable granting an exclusive for a month, but would be happy to send no future query letters or requested material for two weeks. I hope this works for you.
I've attached TITLE as a Word document. Thank you again. I look forward to hearing from you.
Name
Most agents are used to negotiating on contracts. It's what they do. Odds are they are going to be fine with two weeks or only a week for an exclusive. If they are serious about the exclusive, then it will be at the top of their reading list already anyway. This limits the time your hands are tied, but still gives them what they want.
If, however, you just don't believe an exclusive is in your best interest, then you should speak up. Say your query letter is red hot and you are getting tons of requests. Maybe you've been in a contest and got many requests. Or maybe there's a contest coming up you want to enter. It's not something you have to accept, though most writers are usually willing to grant some time period.
Then your answer would look something like this:
Dear Agent A:
Thank you so much for requesting to read TITLE. I'm excited to work with you. I don't feel comfortable granting an exclusive at this time as I don't think it is in my best interests (Or as I plan to enter X contest), but I would be happy to send the material. I hope this works for you.
I've attached TITLE as a Word document. Thank you again. I look forward to hearing from you.
Name
In my case, I granted a two week exclusive instead of the month requested. The agent did not get back to me within the two weeks and I nudged gently. They responded quickly to my nudge saying they were still reading and I could query again. After about a month, the agent passed for subjective reasons. But we parted as friends, and the agent was most gracious and understanding. She completely understood my desire to hold it to two weeks. When the exclusive period was up, I nudged with something like this:
Dear Agent A:
I wondered if you had time to finish reading TITLE? Our two week exclusive is ending and I look forward to your thoughts.
Thanks,
Name
So there is my advice on exclusives. Agents are wonderful and I love them, you'll want to do whatever they suggest, but consider your position also. Be polite, but do what is best for you. Make sure you have an end date and two weeks is a good standard.
Feel free to share your own opinion in the comments and tell us if it has ever happened to you. How did you react and how did your exclusive turn out? I'm curious if anyone's exclusive led to an offer.
Also if you have other questions for future posts, please shout out to me on twitter or in the comments.
March 10, 2015
Fan Conventions for Authors
Not everyone is lucky enough to attend fan conventions. Susan Sipal is here to tell us a little about what it is like and how an author can benefit. Sounds like fun!
There comes a time in many newly-published authors' careers when they have to choose – am I going to attend the same writers' conference that I've been going to for years? Or, am I going to break out and sign up for that crazy fan convention I've been hearing so much about?
For authors, making this break and attending a fan conference for the first time can be like stepping into one of the alternate dimensions we create. Whereas a writers' conference will be filled with other writers like yourself, intent on making connections and learning how to craft a book, fan gatherings are filled (quite often) with young readers who are all about living those books…making the fantasy come alive (if only for one weekend).
As an analyst of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, I've attended numerous fan gatherings over the last decade, both in the US and London. My first experience was with a Harry Potter fan symposium held in Salem during the month of October in 2005. To be in Salem in October was enough of a culture shock for this Southern girl, but adding a Harry Potter fan conference on top…incredible.
Since then, I've been to many more. Some more academic and some totally for fans. A couple have been based around major release parties (I was lucky enough to present at one in London for the release of Deathly Hallows!), and one around the opening of the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. While each had its own flavor, they still had a lot in common.
I'd like to share some of what I've learned about how to attend and enjoy these special events. Note, although my experience comes from (mostly) Harry Potter gatherings, there are all sorts of fan gatherings, some that incorporate many fandoms.
Shift Your POV- As I said above, a fan convention is a unique experience. You need to brace yourself for a totally different atmosphere. Don't think professional. Think fun. Loads of it. The more you're able to get into the spirit of the festivities, the more benefit you'll get from the conference. I'm not saying be unprofessional, just don't be uptight. If they have a midnight ball…go and dance. If they're teaching defensive wand techniques…pick out a wand and give it a wave.
Dress the Part- Forget the pantsuit. Many fan conferences are all about the cosplay. If you really want to get to know the fans and participate, you're going to need to dress the part. Of course, you shouldn't be forced into something that's totally not you, but perhaps a Gryffindor scarf could liven up your otherwise boring pantsuit. Better yet, pick out an unusual character, plan a smashing outfit, and participate in the costume contest.
Bling Your Swag- For a fan convention, ditch the paper (probably a good rule for a writer conference as well). Marketing material that's just a piece of paper is probably going to end up in the recycling bin. Instead, check out simple personal items that you can brand with your book title and website. Perhaps a colorful wristband or a sticker for cell phones or buttons jackets and backpacks. Whatever will appeal to your target reader group. Usually, the more colorful or with something eye-catching, the better.
Know the Fandom and Contribute- Fans will be able to sense if you're just there to promote a new release or if you really get the fandom. Try your best to target fan gatherings where you can…you know…be a fan. Then, find a way to contribute to the conference experience. Many fan conventions also include a writer's track. It makes sense – book lovers are often book writers. You'll have to apply early, but offer to present a workshop. Or, you can organize a panel, volunteer for programming, or provide critiques for young writers. The more you participate the more fans you'll get to know and the more they'll get to know you.
Booksigning or Vendor Table?- Some conventions open with a major book signing that you'll want to sign up for months in advance. If this is not an option, almost all will have a market area where you can rent a vendor booth. If the conference is large enough, and within your target audience, this can be quite profitable.
Above all, Have Fun! - Fan conferences are fun conferences. But only if you participate.
Bottom line -- if you want to let loose and have fun with people who may actually read your book, a fan conference is the way to go. If you're more interested in making connections with other writers and pitching to agents and editors, then writers' conferences are great. But if you're at the stage where you're ready to get your book into the hands of readers and connect with fans…make the break! And send me a picture of your cosplay!
-----------------------------------
S.P. Sipal (Susan) is an author, editor, and Harry Potter analyst. Author of A Writer's Guide to Harry Potter, she's presented dozens of workshops at fan conferences in the US, UK, and online. Her upcoming release, Southern Fried Wiccan, a YA contemporary, will be released from BookFish Books on March 24.
Susan tweets at @HP4Writers , blogs at SPSipal.com , and is Craft Editor at AdventuresinYAPublishing.com . She will be teaching Harry Potter for Writers starting March 16 at SavvyAuthors.
Book Blurb:
Cilla Swaney is thrilled to return stateside, where she can hang up her military-brat boots for good. Finally, she’ll be free to explore her own interests—magick and Wicca. But when she arrives at her grandma’s farm, Cilla discovers that life in the South isn’t quite what she expected. At least while country hopping, she never had to drink G-ma’s crazy fermented concoctions, attend church youth group, make co-op deliveries...or share her locker with a snake-loving, fire-lighting, grimoire-stealing Goth girl…
…Who later invites her to a coven that Cilla’s not sure she has the guts to attend. But then Emilio, the dark-haired hottie from her charter school, shows up and awakens her inner goddess. Finally, Cilla starts believing in her ability to conjure magick. Until…
…All Hades breaks loose. A prank goes wrong during their high school production of Macbeth, and although it seems Emilio is to blame, Cilla and Goth pay the price. Will Cilla be able to keep the boy, her coven, and the trust of her family? Or will this Southern Wiccan get battered and fried?SOUTHERN FRIED WICCAN is available for pre-order on Amazon. You can also find a preview on Goodreads.
There comes a time in many newly-published authors' careers when they have to choose – am I going to attend the same writers' conference that I've been going to for years? Or, am I going to break out and sign up for that crazy fan convention I've been hearing so much about?
For authors, making this break and attending a fan conference for the first time can be like stepping into one of the alternate dimensions we create. Whereas a writers' conference will be filled with other writers like yourself, intent on making connections and learning how to craft a book, fan gatherings are filled (quite often) with young readers who are all about living those books…making the fantasy come alive (if only for one weekend).
As an analyst of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, I've attended numerous fan gatherings over the last decade, both in the US and London. My first experience was with a Harry Potter fan symposium held in Salem during the month of October in 2005. To be in Salem in October was enough of a culture shock for this Southern girl, but adding a Harry Potter fan conference on top…incredible.
Since then, I've been to many more. Some more academic and some totally for fans. A couple have been based around major release parties (I was lucky enough to present at one in London for the release of Deathly Hallows!), and one around the opening of the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. While each had its own flavor, they still had a lot in common.
I'd like to share some of what I've learned about how to attend and enjoy these special events. Note, although my experience comes from (mostly) Harry Potter gatherings, there are all sorts of fan gatherings, some that incorporate many fandoms.
Shift Your POV- As I said above, a fan convention is a unique experience. You need to brace yourself for a totally different atmosphere. Don't think professional. Think fun. Loads of it. The more you're able to get into the spirit of the festivities, the more benefit you'll get from the conference. I'm not saying be unprofessional, just don't be uptight. If they have a midnight ball…go and dance. If they're teaching defensive wand techniques…pick out a wand and give it a wave.
Dress the Part- Forget the pantsuit. Many fan conferences are all about the cosplay. If you really want to get to know the fans and participate, you're going to need to dress the part. Of course, you shouldn't be forced into something that's totally not you, but perhaps a Gryffindor scarf could liven up your otherwise boring pantsuit. Better yet, pick out an unusual character, plan a smashing outfit, and participate in the costume contest.
Bling Your Swag- For a fan convention, ditch the paper (probably a good rule for a writer conference as well). Marketing material that's just a piece of paper is probably going to end up in the recycling bin. Instead, check out simple personal items that you can brand with your book title and website. Perhaps a colorful wristband or a sticker for cell phones or buttons jackets and backpacks. Whatever will appeal to your target reader group. Usually, the more colorful or with something eye-catching, the better.
Know the Fandom and Contribute- Fans will be able to sense if you're just there to promote a new release or if you really get the fandom. Try your best to target fan gatherings where you can…you know…be a fan. Then, find a way to contribute to the conference experience. Many fan conventions also include a writer's track. It makes sense – book lovers are often book writers. You'll have to apply early, but offer to present a workshop. Or, you can organize a panel, volunteer for programming, or provide critiques for young writers. The more you participate the more fans you'll get to know and the more they'll get to know you.
Booksigning or Vendor Table?- Some conventions open with a major book signing that you'll want to sign up for months in advance. If this is not an option, almost all will have a market area where you can rent a vendor booth. If the conference is large enough, and within your target audience, this can be quite profitable.
Above all, Have Fun! - Fan conferences are fun conferences. But only if you participate.
Bottom line -- if you want to let loose and have fun with people who may actually read your book, a fan conference is the way to go. If you're more interested in making connections with other writers and pitching to agents and editors, then writers' conferences are great. But if you're at the stage where you're ready to get your book into the hands of readers and connect with fans…make the break! And send me a picture of your cosplay!
-----------------------------------
S.P. Sipal (Susan) is an author, editor, and Harry Potter analyst. Author of A Writer's Guide to Harry Potter, she's presented dozens of workshops at fan conferences in the US, UK, and online. Her upcoming release, Southern Fried Wiccan, a YA contemporary, will be released from BookFish Books on March 24.
Susan tweets at @HP4Writers , blogs at SPSipal.com , and is Craft Editor at AdventuresinYAPublishing.com . She will be teaching Harry Potter for Writers starting March 16 at SavvyAuthors.
Book Blurb:
Cilla Swaney is thrilled to return stateside, where she can hang up her military-brat boots for good. Finally, she’ll be free to explore her own interests—magick and Wicca. But when she arrives at her grandma’s farm, Cilla discovers that life in the South isn’t quite what she expected. At least while country hopping, she never had to drink G-ma’s crazy fermented concoctions, attend church youth group, make co-op deliveries...or share her locker with a snake-loving, fire-lighting, grimoire-stealing Goth girl……Who later invites her to a coven that Cilla’s not sure she has the guts to attend. But then Emilio, the dark-haired hottie from her charter school, shows up and awakens her inner goddess. Finally, Cilla starts believing in her ability to conjure magick. Until…
…All Hades breaks loose. A prank goes wrong during their high school production of Macbeth, and although it seems Emilio is to blame, Cilla and Goth pay the price. Will Cilla be able to keep the boy, her coven, and the trust of her family? Or will this Southern Wiccan get battered and fried?SOUTHERN FRIED WICCAN is available for pre-order on Amazon. You can also find a preview on Goodreads.
