My Top 10 Ways to Research Kidlit Editors and Agents ~ by Patricia Toht

Come, gather at my knee, youngster...

I started writing for children way back in the 20th century. (GASP!) While many aspects of writing children have changed over the years, one goal that has remained constant is to find the editor (or agent) who will love my manuscript. 

Here are the Top 10 ways that I've used to research editors and agents:

1. CWIM

In 1995, the year I committed to writing for children, my "bible" for researching editors and agents was the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. This book contains listings that are updated annually - names, addresses, and pertinent information about each entity - as well as helpful articles. It is currently in its 32nd printing, so it must be doing something right!

2. Agency Websites

Agency websites are a great way to find a list of their agents and a description of what types of books they represent. You may find a list of clients, too, where you might spot artists that you feel an affinity to. Sometimes individual agents post their wish lists. Above all, this is a definitive place to find specific submissions information for the agency.

3. Edelweiss+

You can get a feel for publishing houses and imprints by looking over their current and upcoming titles, but long gone are the days of requesting printed catalogs. These days, with publishing houses merging and morphing, I find the easiest way to peek at a catalog is through Edelweiss+. I search for an imprint and find their latest list.

4. Other websites/blogs

There are so many great kidlit websites! My top picks for submissions information are:

The Purple Crayon. Harold Underdown's website has so much to offer! In particular, the "Who's Moving Where?" section provides me with the latest information on editor changes at publishing houses.

Kathy Temean's Writing and Illustrating blog has terrific, in-depth interviews with agents each month, as well as editor and art director interviews. 

KidLit411, by Sylvia Liu and Elaine Kiely Kearns, describes itself as "a one stop info shop for children's writers and illustrators," and that's the truth. Scroll down their Topics list to check out Agent Spotlight, Editor Spotlight, and Submissions.

5. Social Media

On Twitter, I find handy hashtags to harvest information on editors and agents. Do a search for these hashtags: #askanagent, #askaneditor, and #MSWL (manuscript wish list), to name a few. Follow your favorite publishers and professionals to keep up-to-date with them. 

6. Conferences and workshops

Attending conferences and workshops may involve a cost, but they come with the possibility of great rewards. Often you can get an editorial critique of your work, which lets you to get tips from the top. And faculty members usually open their submissions window for a few months for attendees - so important for unagented manuscripts!

7. SCBWI

SCBWI is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. If you are serious about writing for kids, membership in this organization is one of the most important steps you can take.

Among its resources, SCBWI has compiled The Book: Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. It details how to prepare and submit your work. The Market Survey section gives a current snapshot of the market (although change is continual). I like the section "Edited by..." with information that can help pair your book with a receptive editor. 

8. Querytracker

Querytracker is a database of agents and editors, and a channel used by many of them to recieve submissions. The standard membership is free; a premium membership has more to offer, but comes with a cost. (I've browsed the database for information, but I haven't used it for submissions.)

9. Author Acknowledgments

For novelists, you may discover agent and editor names for your favorite authors by checking out the acknowledgments in the back of their books. 

10. The PW Children's Bookshelf newsletter

This is my favorite way of tracking agent and editor preferences! Near the bottom of this twice-weekly newsletter is a list of current book deals. Each announcement includes the name of the author (and illustrator, if it's a picture book deal), the editor who bought the book, the book title, a brief description of the book, and the name of the agent(s) securing the deal. It takes some work, but I maintain a spreadsheet of this information that I can search when I have a new manuscript ready. Using Control + F brings up a search box where I can enter key words to find deals that have similarities to my work. (E.g. I search "rhyme" to discover editors that may be open to rhyming picture books.) Sign up for the Children's Bookshelf newsletter here.

These sources are my Top 10, but you'll undoubtedly find many more. If you have a favorite, please share it in the Comments below.

Happy writing, everyone! Good luck with those submissions!

To Sub or Not to Sub, That IS the Question!

“Submission.” This simple word strikes fear into a many a writer’s heart. Fear not! The GROGGERS are here to calm your nerves! Every Thursday this awesome group of 15 writers (some published, some not) will tackle all aspects of the dreaded “sub.”

Now let me confess that I have NOT subbed yet, but I’m a plotter, not a “panster” when it comes to this crucial career step. I have amassed a mound of files on my laptop, AKA "The Big Green Meanie” with agent lists, sample queries, pitch tips, my pitches, and sample bios for the day I am ready to submit my ms to my top 5 dream agents.

So how do you know if you’re ready to sub? Check this list.

1. Ms. has been critiqued by at least 2 groups. (I belong to both an online & f2f group.)
2. Ms. has rested so that even to your eyes it looks fresh.
3. You’ve beta tested w/readers in your target group. (I’ve read my pbs to kids at community centers. Even w/out illustrations, it’s amazing to see when kids are interested/bored. Or, contact your local school or public library to see if you could read during “story hour.”)
4. Your ms has been revised AND professionally edited. (Don’t let extra commas be the end of your drama!)
5. You have an agent/publisher list in a spreadsheet or via QueryTracker 
6. You follow agents and know their likes/dislikes/personality via twitter and online interviews they’ve given.
7. You belong to online communities such as Sub It Club  and Agent/Editor Discussion  (Please note that both of these are closed FB groups. Just ask for permission to join.)
8. Your query has been polished and honed and is equal to your fab ms!
9. You have a hook and a pitch. Try it out on Twitter during a Pitch Madness  ‎ session. (Even if you just follow Pitch Madness, you will learn so much!  Brenda Drake is awesomeness.)
10. You have at least 3 perfect mss in your arsenal just in case an agent/editor wants to see more of your work.