Comments on: How To Send Things to Editors and Agents

By: Kidlit.com · When is a Manuscript Finished? When to Query?

Kidlit.com · When is a Manuscript Finished? When to Query? — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:46:22 +0000

[...] when you should ask trusted readers for feedback and revise again. Speed benefits nobody in publishing, which is a notoriously slow business. You might as well take that time to really, really, really polish and perfect your [...]

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:21:31 +0000

Kristen — You’d be really well-positioned to write something because you read so much, and reading a lot is absolutely crucial to being able to write good books for kids! I’m so excited for you!

Whitney — If this little post keeps you from sending out something too early, I have done my job. Seriously, seriously, publishing will be here next month, despite all the doom and gloom, it really will. Work on your manuscript until you are so sick of it, you can’t work on it one more time. Then put it aside for two weeks and work on it again. Patience pays off.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:12:48 +0000

Ah, it’s so true. Some days I have to tie bricks to my hands just to keep myself from sending off my MS prematurely. Then there are days that I think I will never send it off, if only to keep the dream of the little nibbles of interest alive and well. To reinforce your point, I’ve heard agents say over and over “If I ask you for your MS, do not send it to me next week or even next month. I want to know you did the work. There is no rush.” Now, what did I do with those bricks?

By: LSmith

LSmith — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:56:56 +0000

Ooh, I didn’t even know you could email the manuscript. For some reason, I thought that wasn’t allowed. Thanks for the post!

By: Kidlit.com · Should I Send A Revision To Agents Looking At My Work?

Kidlit.com · Should I Send A Revision To Agents Looking At My Work? — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:37:36 +0000

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By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:43:39 +0000

Thanks for the great info! Eventually, if I ever write anything in full, I’ll be looking into getting a children’s book published. I’m just settling into my career as a middle school librarian and then I’ll start sorting out some old ideas and hopefully some new ones!

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:49:02 +0000

Edith… Too true. I sit next to a paper slush pile a few times a week at the publishing house. It is an unholy nightmare. The agency where I work is, for all intents and purposes, paperless. The difference is amazing. I understand the appeal of reading a submission on paper, but slush? Take the slush digital and request paper manuscripts, if that’s what you prefer. I think all slush should be paperless, though I know it is a hot debate issue in certain (really small) circles.

By: Edith Cohn

Edith Cohn — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:42:47 +0000

Totally agree. IMHO any agent who doesn’t accept email manuscript submissions is trouble anyway.