Choosing the Right Agent for YOU!

[@chriswilkes236]

I think you get it (whether you like or trust someone) from these videos, which is why I am guessing that both of you have your query boxes full all the time - you have already made people feel comfortable. We know, to some degree, what kinds of people you are, what values and ethics you represent, and how you will be to work with.

[@ClintLoweTube]

I've queried an agent because he has massive goals and has a very funny approach to his work. It harmonizes with my methods.

[@ClintLoweTube]

He requested the full manuscript.

[@nicheleyyy]

@@ClintLoweTube thats so awesome!

[@augustastories]

Great chemistry in this video! 💖

[@marthawilley5512]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[@adriannemurray9542]

This is so appreciated.

[@vivianwakoff]

Another great video! I have a request: could you guys do a video about what markets are "hot" or "not" right now, especially in MG and YA? I was just told in a writers' forum that middle grade is saturated. Instead of arguing with some random person online, I decided to ask people who actually work in publishing what they think is hot (and not) in publishing right now.

[@bardstables8909]

Love your videos. I had to laugh when you were talking about well rounded careers that authors dream about. I never had that dream. I like to write in a certain genre and I'm not sure I'll ever go to anything else. It's what I know and think that I write well in. I do want the agent that can give opinions and ideas though. I like that thought that they're helping me produce the best material possible. Not just leaving everything up to me. Thank you for the great content.

[@moryalhassane-xl8ne]

I have loved your video.

[@marilynwolpin8413]

You mention that agents will be trying to sell to the same editors. Could you expand on this topic in a future post? For instance, if you query four agents and get four “no’s”, doesn’t that mean that they know what every other agent would know: that this manuscript just won’t sell to any editor?

[@ClintLoweTube]

No. There might be one in one hundred who likes your story.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

That's a great question. We're adding to our list.

[@Eleni_Datsika]

Thank you for another great video!

[@bardstables8909]

I hired an editor before I queried. It didn't necessarily help or hurt me I guess since I never signed with an agent. Eventually I just gave up because of the form rejection letters gave me no direction. Eventually I signed with a hybrid publisher and so far I'm happy. My book has been out for a little over a week and sales have been good. What hiring the editor did do for me though was give me piece of mind. I knew at least that I wasn't getting rejected for making some mistake in grammar, punctuation, or spelling that I wasn't catching.

[@ham4fun]

what kind of advice (if any) would you give someone who has been writing a book for a long time and its going to be their only book ever?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Never say never.

[@ham4fun]

@@BookEndsLiterary true, but I have kinda been working on a book for over 20 years. if I get distracted for a while and forget where I was in the book I have to start all over. i know kinda weird.

[@davidkeiser6174]

@ham4fun I can relate to this. I have ADD and it's easy to get distracted, but after I skim through my manuscript, I eventually find my place and can get back on it. As you've been working on it for so long, my guess is you have a finished draft and are in the revision or editing stage and can't remember where you did your last revision/edit? I've had this problem. If this is the case, simply skim through your manuscript until you find something that needs revising/editing and work on that. Then, when you finish for the day, make a note where you left off (i.e. page 10, paragraph 2), so that you can pick up there and you won't have to start over each time. Hope this helps. Also, keep writing. How do you know it's your only book? I have written a ton of ideas for other books down on paper. I hope to use them someday, but in the meantime, I'm focusing on what I'm writing now. Just keep writing and don't give up.

[@steverMCMLIV]

Question: You said in an earlier video that an agent isn’t interested in a previously self-published manuscript. But what if that book, say on Amazon, was basically invisible, having no marketing and almost no sales, and was then unpublished in order to be rewritten? Might there be some agents who would consider the manuscript?

[@ClintLoweTube]

If it has been unpublished and you don't tell them, then they will never know anyway.

[@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio]

Speaking of trust, I have a chronic illness, and I'm always afraid to say anything about it. I'm worried that a potential agent might be concerned that I cannot do the needed work. I've chosen this potential profession precisely because I know it is something I can do with my health condition, so it wouldn't be a problem. Maybe they wouldn't know if I didn't mention it, but perhaps I should mention it for full disclosure, and I periodically talk about it on social media, and it's sometimes a subject in my work as well. Do you think that knowing that I have health problem would affect an agent's desire to sign me for representation?

[@ClintLoweTube]

No. It would actually help if your protagonist had the same illness. Then definitely mention it.

[@ClintLoweTube]

@jamie h An illness doesnt matter. If you have a protaonist with the same illness, mention it.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

First, thank you for sharing that with us. We're sorry to hear you're going through that, but we absolutely do not think it would affect you in your query. It's not something you need to mention if you're uncomfortable with including it in the query. You could also have that discussion on the actual call with the agent if you'd prefer. And for what it's worth, we'd like to think agents would not hold a chronic illness against you. Two of my (James) favorite KidLit creators are open and vocal about their chronic illnesses. They are mighty successful. Keep going!

[@BookEndsLiterary]

@jamie h Hi! We replied :)

[@tenderbastardtenderbastard8050]

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