Nitpicky persnickication...
May 4, 2012 4:42 PM Subscribe
I just finished writing my first children's book. Hooray! Now I have fingernail biting anxiety regarding the agent querying process. Please help.
Currently, I am working on my first round of revisions, polishing, and getting feedback from kind souls nice enough to take the time to read my manuscript. So far the feedback has been good (although, I take it with a grain of salt. I mean how often are your fiends and family going to say "this sucks!"?). Mostly, I am being told that it is original, unique, clever, and well-paced. That's the good news.
Unfortunately, my research so far is not helping me to figure out where the line between children's books ends and middle grades begins. I feel uncertain about where my work falls along this continuum. A close friend of the family, who taught second grade for 40 years, said she thought the target audience would be 3rd and 4th grade. Some agents I am interested in querying specify middle grade, so I think it would be OK to query them as well as children's book agents, but don't want to make a fool of myself. Would I be OK to do this? Are the lines hazy enough that the one seeps into the other or do I need to be super clear on this point?
A few details: my manuscript is about 5,600 words and I would like for it to include illustrations. Some agents who represent children's books make a point of not representing picture books (I am guessing this means books that are entirely pictures with little or no text, but maybe they mean no illustrations, period). Should I include tags where I would like for there to be illustrations or just not mention it at all unless I get an interested response?
I have a possible option for a friend to do my illustrations, but need to meet with her to see the samples she has completed. However, I am getting the idea from my research that including illustrations during the querying process is not a great thing. So, I think even if I love what my friend produces, I will not include them (if they are a possibility, I think that this could be broached if I get an interested agent on the hook), but would still like to make it clear that I want the book to have illustrations. Although, I am not married to this idea and the text stands on its own. So, this question boils down to: illustration tags, yes or no?
Also, some agents want you to send the entire manuscript. This makes me feel edgy, which I am sure is just me being overly protective. Is that request reasonable or a bad sign? Some agents say to send the first 5-50 pages for fiction submissions, but say nothing specific about children's submissions, and that would pretty much be my whole manuscript. Should I just bite the bullet and get comfortable with the idea of sending my entire manuscript out multiple times with my query letters and SASEs?
Finally, does the submission manuscript need to be double-spaced throughout? I read an online article suggesting this approach, but see nothing about this in agency submission guidelines.
Thank you for your help navigating these murky waters.
Currently, I am working on my first round of revisions, polishing, and getting feedback from kind souls nice enough to take the time to read my manuscript. So far the feedback has been good (although, I take it with a grain of salt. I mean how often are your fiends and family going to say "this sucks!"?). Mostly, I am being told that it is original, unique, clever, and well-paced. That's the good news.
Unfortunately, my research so far is not helping me to figure out where the line between children's books ends and middle grades begins. I feel uncertain about where my work falls along this continuum. A close friend of the family, who taught second grade for 40 years, said she thought the target audience would be 3rd and 4th grade. Some agents I am interested in querying specify middle grade, so I think it would be OK to query them as well as children's book agents, but don't want to make a fool of myself. Would I be OK to do this? Are the lines hazy enough that the one seeps into the other or do I need to be super clear on this point?
A few details: my manuscript is about 5,600 words and I would like for it to include illustrations. Some agents who represent children's books make a point of not representing picture books (I am guessing this means books that are entirely pictures with little or no text, but maybe they mean no illustrations, period). Should I include tags where I would like for there to be illustrations or just not mention it at all unless I get an interested response?
I have a possible option for a friend to do my illustrations, but need to meet with her to see the samples she has completed. However, I am getting the idea from my research that including illustrations during the querying process is not a great thing. So, I think even if I love what my friend produces, I will not include them (if they are a possibility, I think that this could be broached if I get an interested agent on the hook), but would still like to make it clear that I want the book to have illustrations. Although, I am not married to this idea and the text stands on its own. So, this question boils down to: illustration tags, yes or no?
Also, some agents want you to send the entire manuscript. This makes me feel edgy, which I am sure is just me being overly protective. Is that request reasonable or a bad sign? Some agents say to send the first 5-50 pages for fiction submissions, but say nothing specific about children's submissions, and that would pretty much be my whole manuscript. Should I just bite the bullet and get comfortable with the idea of sending my entire manuscript out multiple times with my query letters and SASEs?
Finally, does the submission manuscript need to be double-spaced throughout? I read an online article suggesting this approach, but see nothing about this in agency submission guidelines.
Thank you for your help navigating these murky waters.
Response by poster: Yes. Those books are very similar to what I have in mind. Thank you for your advice. Do you know if it would be appropriate to market it as a middle grade book?
posted by melangell at 6:41 PM on May 4, 2012
posted by melangell at 6:41 PM on May 4, 2012
Response by poster: Never mind that last bit. I see you answered that question. Thank you again.
posted by melangell at 6:42 PM on May 4, 2012
posted by melangell at 6:42 PM on May 4, 2012
Best answer: I don't know very much about the chapter book market, but this post may be useful.
posted by Jeanne at 7:04 PM on May 4, 2012
posted by Jeanne at 7:04 PM on May 4, 2012
Response by poster: I had no idea that the market was so tough for these little books (or the reasons why), but it makes sense. But, a tiny market is better than no market at all. I'm kinda glad I wrote my story and then did research on publishing it. Otherwise, I might have been too discouraged. Anyway, since it is done, I will still do my best to move it forward and, if nothing else, learn a lot along the way. Thank you very much for your helpful posts!
posted by melangell at 12:14 AM on May 5, 2012
posted by melangell at 12:14 AM on May 5, 2012
Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a good reference. You may also want to pick up a copy of this book as well.
posted by noxetlux at 11:26 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by noxetlux at 11:26 AM on May 7, 2012
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"Picture book" means a large-format book, typically with full-page illustrations on all pages or most. Your book is almost certainly not a picture book, and you can query agents who don't represent picture books.
Yes, send the entire manuscript if it's requested, or if the amount the agent requests would be the entire manuscript.
Always double-space. Even when doing submissions electronically, double-space.
The Verla Kay boards are the best place to answer who you should query.
posted by Jeanne at 5:24 PM on May 4, 2012 [1 favorite]