What Happened to My Previous Agent?
I don’t usually tell the whole story. It’s too long and convoluted. I usually say something like, “I was previously represented, but my agent decided to quit agenting.” But that’s not the full story, and quitting wasn’t totally his decision.
Well, I’ve decided to share the whole, messy saga in both written and audio format for those who are interested. It starts with the interesting way I found my previous agent, followed by warning signs that he was probably not the right fit, and ends with some shadiness on his part and our eventual goodbyes. Plus, I talk about what I learned in the end, and what you can learn from my mistakes.
People part ways with their agent all the time for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it’s because the agent did something sketchy, but more often it’s because the agent retires or changes jobs, or because the agent and writer realize they are not a good fit. (Like if you sign with an agent for a sweet romance novel but then start writing grisly thrillers.)
How I Found and Lost My First Agent (available now for paid subscribers) is not the normal way an agent-author relationship plays out. It’s simply my story. But I will say this:
Crazy things happen in the publishing world, and a career in publishing is often a long journey filled with detours and roadblocks.
Just because you get an agent, it doesn’t mean all your dreams will immediatly come true.
I learned a lot from my first agent experience. He made mistakes, for sure, but I did, too. I am in such a better place now, with an agent I feel confident is right for me and my work.
I hope people can learn from my story and realize it’s not just about finding an agent. It’s about finding the right agent for you.
Writing News
For All Writers:
Trying to write a novel this summer? Read about my virtual course Getting Started on Your Novel! This series of do-it-on-your-own-time lessons will help you brainstorm ideas and develop characters, plot, and setting. At the end of the course you will have great opening chapters and a plan to finish the manuscript. All five lessons are available now for paid subscribers.
Poets & Writers has loads of searchable writing contests, awards, and grants. Summer can be a great time to prepare submissions.
New Pages also offers an exhaustive list of writing contests, organized by deadline date.
This #CoachHunt from The Authors of Tomorrow on July 23 looks really cool. Pitch your story idea, and a mentor will reach out to you if they are interested in being your mentor/writing coach. (TAOT also offer a lot of great publishing workshops.)
Have you tried #AskALibrarian every Thursday on Twitter? It’s a great way to get book recommendations, or to find comps if you’re querying. Simply tweet what you’re looking for (for example, “I’m looking for recent YA thrillers with a hint of paranormal”) and include the hashtag “AskALibrarian.” Librarians around the country will respond with recommendations.
Need some writing-related podcasts to listen to while you drive to the beach or clean the house? Here are a few of my favorites:
The Manuscript Academy Podcast: Interviews with industry professionals (agents, editors, and authors), hosted by an agent and a writer.
Queries, Qualms, & Quirks: Published authors share their successful query letter and discuss their journey from first spark to day of publication.
The Sh*t No One Ever Tells You About Writing: A podcast for emerging writers who are looking to improve their work and get published, or anyone who would like a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry.
Writer, Mother, Monster: A conversation series devoted to dismantling the myth of having it all and offering writer-moms solidarity, support, and advice.
The Good Story Podcast: All about writing: craft, submission, publishing, and career building for writers of all kinds and ability levels. Hosted by former kidlit agent, Mary Kole.
For KidLit Writers:
A list from Bitsy Kemper of Over 50 Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Picture Book Manuscripts.
On Saturday July 9 SCBWI Maryland/Deleware/West Virginia will be offering a webinar for both members and nonmembers: Years in the Making: Embracing the Long View as Writers with Meera Trehan. This is such a great topic. It truly is a marathon, not a sprint.
July 15 is #KidLitCritiqueDay for writers hoping to find critique partners. Published authors are also offering free critiques, so check it out!
Write On Con, an online conference for kidlit writers will be held July 15-17.
Submit materials by July 11 for a chance to receive feedback during a live conference feedback session.
And there’s also WOWCON, WriteMentor’s online conference for kidlit writers, coming up September 24 - 26.
For Querying Writers:
On July 6 Pipeline Artists is offering a FREE online event: Tips for Speed Pitching to Literary Agents. Great if you plan on going to any in-person conferences and pitching face-to-face (scary!)
Enter the Pass or Pages Query Contest to win feedback from agents about whether they would pass or request pages based on your query. The submission deadline is July 8. If you need help crafting your query, read the previous entires along with the agent feedback.
On July 20, for only $5, The Good Story Company is offering a Story Snobs Pitch Contest. Pitch your premise for a chance to win a free submission editing package.
On Jane Friedman’s blog, learn about 3 Common Pitfalls in Memoir Queries.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
The querying trenches are rough right now, and Twitter pitch parties can feel like a crapshoot, but still, as I always say, it’s a great way to meet other writers and it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. (After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story!) So mark your calendar for these upcoming Twitter pitch parties. And be sure to read my article 13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events.
August 1 and 2: #DVPit a Twitter pitch to agents for self-identifying, historically-marginalized authors and illustrators
August 1 (8AM - 8PM EST) for childrens & YA fiction/nonfiction
August 2 (8AM - 8PM EST) for adult fiction/nonfiction and for artists & illustrators using #DVart
September 15: #LatinxPitch — Twitter pitch for all unagented and agented Kidlit LATINX authors, author-illustrators, and illustrators
Writing Conferences (in person and virtual):
July 22-25 Daniel David Wallace will be hosting an online summit all about finding your readers… and I will be one of the presenters! More details coming soon.
Write On Con, an online conference for kidlit writers is now open for registration. The conference will be held July 15-17.
And there’s also WOWCON, WriteMentor’s online conference for kidlit writers, coming up September 24 - 26.
This New York Write to Pitch 2022 Conference looks intriguing. The Zoom portion is September 8-11 and the live part is September 22-25 in NYC. And there are pre- and post-content, too. They are calling it The Premier Career Launcher for Aspiring Authors. I’m going to be honest, there’s so much going on with this conference I’d need an entire day to study and digest the website, but it looks very professional and comprehensive, so take a look for yourself!
This year the Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will be held virtually. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago in Philadelphia, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, you can sign up for Zoom pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences (and remember, anyone can attend from anywhere; just keep the time zone in mind).
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.
Nice resource list Eva!