Comments on: Asking Agents for Referrals http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/ A place for people who love, read and write children's literature. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:53:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Kidlit.com · Clarifying ABLA Submission Policies http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-11934 Kidlit.com · Clarifying ABLA Submission Policies Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:34:53 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-11934 [...] or “Will you refer me to another agency that might be a better fit?” (my answer, here) — but the above are the more ABLA-specific and seem to come up the most. If you have any [...] [...] or “Will you refer me to another agency that might be a better fit?” (my answer, here) — but the above are the more ABLA-specific and seem to come up the most. If you have any [...]

]]> By: Lynne Thomas http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3213 Lynne Thomas Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:22:57 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3213 I appreciate the honesty of this article. It's useful to get an insight into agents and how agencies work. I've had a mixture of responses from publishers and agents and, while it's fantastic to get decent feedback, it's also important to face up to rejection, so knowing that most agents give feedback when they are encouraged by your writing but send a standard response when they are not is a valuable piece of knowledge. Being realistic is hard, but sometimes it's better to face up to the fact that your book's not cutting the mustard and maybe try to write something else. I appreciate the honesty of this article. It’s useful to get an insight into agents and how agencies work. I’ve had a mixture of responses from publishers and agents and, while it’s fantastic to get decent feedback, it’s also important to face up to rejection, so knowing that most agents give feedback when they are encouraged by your writing but send a standard response when they are not is a valuable piece of knowledge. Being realistic is hard, but sometimes it’s better to face up to the fact that your book’s not cutting the mustard and maybe try to write something else.

]]> By: Sharon Mayhew http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3174 Sharon Mayhew Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:27:53 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3174 Mary, Thanks for the advice. I've been tossing and turning all weekend, trying to decide what to do. I appreciate you adressing my question. Have a wonderful 2010. Mary,
Thanks for the advice. I’ve been tossing and turning all weekend, trying to decide what to do. I appreciate you adressing my question. Have a wonderful 2010.

]]> By: Alyssa Kirk http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3169 Alyssa Kirk Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:39:15 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3169 I never thought to ask for a referral from an agent who said no. That just doesn't seem appropriate to me. Great information and love your candid posts! I never thought to ask for a referral from an agent who said no. That just doesn’t seem appropriate to me. Great information and love your candid posts!

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3160 Mary Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:11:53 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3160 Sharon -- Since you got such a great response from the first agent you queried, hold on to the editor's name but wait and see how other agents respond. You just might get an offer, then see if that agent agrees with the editor in question and might send to them on your behalf. Shalanna -- Your comment is exactly right. A book can be brilliant but if we don't know how to sell it or which publisher might be able to bring it to market and find an audience, then it turns into a rejection. The best thing a writer can do, when they're wondering if their book is saleable or not, is to go to the bookstore and spend the entire day (opening to closing) or a few days browsing what's on shelves. These are the books that are finding a readership (at that particular store, sure) and the ones that are probably doing best for their publishers. Sharon — Since you got such a great response from the first agent you queried, hold on to the editor’s name but wait and see how other agents respond. You just might get an offer, then see if that agent agrees with the editor in question and might send to them on your behalf.

Shalanna — Your comment is exactly right. A book can be brilliant but if we don’t know how to sell it or which publisher might be able to bring it to market and find an audience, then it turns into a rejection. The best thing a writer can do, when they’re wondering if their book is saleable or not, is to go to the bookstore and spend the entire day (opening to closing) or a few days browsing what’s on shelves. These are the books that are finding a readership (at that particular store, sure) and the ones that are probably doing best for their publishers.

]]> By: wendy http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3142 wendy Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:11:25 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3142 This blog is truly excellent. Love it so much, I mentioned Kidlit.com on my blog. I'll be an avid reader from now on :) This blog is truly excellent. Love it so much, I mentioned Kidlit.com on my blog.

I’ll be an avid reader from now on :)

]]> By: Kendra http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3139 Kendra Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:15:21 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3139 Thanks for the straight-talk. Vastly helpful stuff, and I appreciate the honesty. Subbing manuscripts is never easy, and often painful, but understanding the etiquette of querying is half the battle. Thanks for the straight-talk. Vastly helpful stuff, and I appreciate the honesty. Subbing manuscripts is never easy, and often painful, but understanding the etiquette of querying is half the battle.

]]> By: Josh http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3116 Josh Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:05:30 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3116 With all of the resources available to help writers find an agent, there is no reason a rejection should lead to a plea for a referral. Though the desire to reply to a rejection is understandable. Having been rejected my fair share of times, I suppose we all want something extra in a rejection to give us hope. Years ago after a rejection on a full request, an agent sent me a list of several agencies she felt were more suitable for my novel. Was it still a rejection? Yes. Did it sting a little less? Definitely. Maybe it was her standard rejection, or maybe she believed a query to another agent might result in a deal. Either way, it encouraged me to keep going. And as writers, we need all the encouragement we can get. With all of the resources available to help writers find an agent, there is no reason a rejection should lead to a plea for a referral. Though the desire to reply to a rejection is understandable. Having been rejected my fair share of times, I suppose we all want something extra in a rejection to give us hope. Years ago after a rejection on a full request, an agent sent me a list of several agencies she felt were more suitable for my novel. Was it still a rejection? Yes. Did it sting a little less? Definitely. Maybe it was her standard rejection, or maybe she believed a query to another agent might result in a deal. Either way, it encouraged me to keep going. And as writers, we need all the encouragement we can get.

]]> By: Siski Green http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3113 Siski Green Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:00:27 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3113 PL Anderson - you're right, querytracker is a kind of online matchmaking service. I don't know about you, but I don't find it very useful. If I put 'picture books' as a selection, it comes up with only one agent! And even when you've found an agency, you still have to do just as much research to find out if they're a good fit for you and your books. There's no escaping hard graft! Hey ho. PL Anderson – you’re right, querytracker is a kind of online matchmaking service. I don’t know about you, but I don’t find it very useful. If I put ‘picture books’ as a selection, it comes up with only one agent! And even when you’ve found an agency, you still have to do just as much research to find out if they’re a good fit for you and your books. There’s no escaping hard graft! Hey ho.

]]> By: Ruth http://kidlit.com/2010/01/08/asking-agents-for-referrals/comment-page-1/#comment-3098 Ruth Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:49:28 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=902#comment-3098 I, too, would not have the nerve to ask for a referral after a rejection... but I appreciate the insights you give us into the workings of an agency like Andrea Brown. It's good to know that you will pass things on to others in your agency if you see potential. I, too, would not have the nerve to ask for a referral after a rejection… but I appreciate the insights you give us into the workings of an agency like Andrea Brown. It’s good to know that you will pass things on to others in your agency if you see potential.

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