These are questions I probably would not have thought to ask myself. It's great to have this information BEFORE I need it. Well done, Jessica and James.
I have watched this channel on and off for years but was so happy to find it again! You guys just answered a question that I have been wondering myself (as an illustrator/ author-illustrator) and I really could not be so thankful! Your guy’s energy makes this whole process of finding an agent so much less scary and really humanizes the people we are reaching out to. Just thank you so so very much!❤
I follow the rule ‘Never burn your bridges’. I’m always professional when receiving a rejection or any other contact, because I know at some point I might want to return.
Hi Jessica and James! You've mentioned writers' conferences a few times. Could you please do an updated video on how they work, what the cost/benefits are, and some of your favorites?
I will go back and query jessica. You really are my dream agent 😢😢 i really wish to work with someone who can be honest to me and be uplifting at the same time.
Great video. What if you received multiple offers and chose an agent, but realized within a few months not years that a different agent would have been better? Is there such a thing as too soon?
If the relationship really doesn't feel right, you should trust your gut! You can have a frank conversation with your current agent about what's not working, or if you don't feel comfortable doing so, you could discuss termination with them. This could be a lengthy process, depending on whether you have anything currently out on submission!
I have a slightly similar question. When I'm submitting my short stories to lit mags, I have a rule of five: once the story has been rejected by five different magazines I move on from it. When it comes to querying agents for a particular manuscript, when would you say is the point that I should accept it's not going to get published and write something else? My rule of five works for short stories I think but given that I lean more towards longer manuscripts (for context my current work in progress is a little over 140,000 words and I'm aiming for about 200,000) I'd like to think I should query quite a few more agents than five before moving on from it.
It definitely should be more than 5! You should consider querying any (reputable) agent in your genre/with an MSWL that matches your WIP that you would be willing to get on an offer call with. Even if they offer, you don't have to sign with them if the call doesn't go the way you want, but you want as many options as you can on the table! However, don't feel like you have to pick from the dregs either; if you run out of agents you'd be willing to work with or who are in your genre, don't feel like you have to keep querying. Also, as a general note, it may be hard to find an agent willing to take on a debut book of that length. It's certainly not impossible, but most published books of that length are from already well-established authors, and many agents may have trouble committing to something of that length knowing they might not be able to sell it! I'd recommend taking a look at some standard word count guidelines (we have some videos and blog posts on this). The highest word count we usually recommend is 120,000 for SFF (and that number is even lower for other genres and age ranges). Showing a good understanding of standard genre conventions such as word count is important for securing an agent!
@@BookEndsLiterary Thanks for getting back to me! That's all really helpful to know and I love that you guys put this all out there. Think I'll get this manuscript finished and at least try submitting it seeing as I'm so far in now, but I've got another idea floating about for the next one that'd be a good fit for about 100,000 words
Hi! Unfortunately, the amounts of money will vary A LOT depending on the age range, genre, the size of the publishing house, the book's expected performance, etc. So we likely won't be able to make a video about that. We can maybe do a video on work for hire sometime, though!
So, I can basically send the query to the same agent after taking their advice? I had an agent say I was telling more than showing. The agent likes the concept of the story.
Yes, unless told otherwise, typically you can resubmit to an agent if you've made substantive changes to your manuscript! The worst they can say is no :)
@BookEndsLiterary Thank you. I basically fixed the parts where there was a lot of Telling and where the reader might be taken out of the story. Does my ending or major plot points need changed to resubmit? Those would be substantial.
Hi! You could call it that! A revise and resubmit (R&R) is typically any time an agent offers more in depth feedback and requests that you consider revising according to their notes and then resubmit to them. Sometimes they may request that you submit the revised version exclusively to them. If they didn't use the term "revise and resubmit" or "R&R" then it may not be a formal R&R but you would operate in the same way
I'm assuming this continuing ed is partly directed toward my comment! You're, Jessica, on the list I'm making, in my little bit of spare time, of agents I'm sending my second manuscript! I've put the word reservations next to your name though! We've got concerns just like y'all! I don't want to end up with you, or anyone, as an agent to just have you retire five years down the line! I know you're a veteran! I've never seen so many shifts in people, both agents and agencies, in an industry until I got deeply involved with publishing! Would Bookends close its doors if you retire? I know that there are no guarantees! I know! Second doubt, I've invested in PM and have never seen you in the top 100 agents in women's fiction (PM's romance)! You're all over mystery! Are you continuing to wine and dine agents in my genre, so they won't go stale? It's hard enough staying with the current market, while I'm saying my manuscripts are perennial, but there's a lot of conflict being fed to us about what agents currently rep! I'm trusting PM and websites as opposed to sites that don't seem to be updated! I'm sure you're saying there's no such thing as a book that would work year after year! Further, it's serendipity and I've been working away that later this year one of my freelance travel articles, happens to be about one of the Southern target areas of this mag, will be published in a print mag with a subscription base of 20,000 and calculated nationwide enthusiasts of 100,000! My readers, millennial females, is among those! While it's very exciting, it's freaky to be opening my Insta. TY📚
These are questions I probably would not have thought to ask myself. It's great to have this information BEFORE I need it. Well done, Jessica and James.
I haven’t watched in a while, was so happy to see this! Totally needed to see this video today
I have watched this channel on and off for years but was so happy to find it again! You guys just answered a question that I have been wondering myself (as an illustrator/ author-illustrator) and I really could not be so thankful! Your guy’s energy makes this whole process of finding an agent so much less scary and really humanizes the people we are reaching out to. Just thank you so so very much!❤
I follow the rule ‘Never burn your bridges’. I’m always professional when receiving a rejection or any other contact, because I know at some point I might want to return.
That was very useful information to have, thank you!!!
Video idea! How to compare agency agreements and what to look for.
Thanks for all of your videos, they’re really insightful. I was wondering if you had any knowledge on traditional vs hybrid publishers?
Hi Jessica and James! You've mentioned writers' conferences a few times. Could you please do an updated video on how they work, what the cost/benefits are, and some of your favorites?
I'll put it on the list of ideas! :)
I will go back and query jessica. You really are my dream agent 😢😢 i really wish to work with someone who can be honest to me and be uplifting at the same time.
Great video. What if you received multiple offers and chose an agent, but realized within a few months not years that a different agent would have been better? Is there such a thing as too soon?
If the relationship really doesn't feel right, you should trust your gut! You can have a frank conversation with your current agent about what's not working, or if you don't feel comfortable doing so, you could discuss termination with them. This could be a lengthy process, depending on whether you have anything currently out on submission!
I have a slightly similar question. When I'm submitting my short stories to lit mags, I have a rule of five: once the story has been rejected by five different magazines I move on from it. When it comes to querying agents for a particular manuscript, when would you say is the point that I should accept it's not going to get published and write something else? My rule of five works for short stories I think but given that I lean more towards longer manuscripts (for context my current work in progress is a little over 140,000 words and I'm aiming for about 200,000) I'd like to think I should query quite a few more agents than five before moving on from it.
It definitely should be more than 5! You should consider querying any (reputable) agent in your genre/with an MSWL that matches your WIP that you would be willing to get on an offer call with. Even if they offer, you don't have to sign with them if the call doesn't go the way you want, but you want as many options as you can on the table! However, don't feel like you have to pick from the dregs either; if you run out of agents you'd be willing to work with or who are in your genre, don't feel like you have to keep querying.
Also, as a general note, it may be hard to find an agent willing to take on a debut book of that length. It's certainly not impossible, but most published books of that length are from already well-established authors, and many agents may have trouble committing to something of that length knowing they might not be able to sell it! I'd recommend taking a look at some standard word count guidelines (we have some videos and blog posts on this). The highest word count we usually recommend is 120,000 for SFF (and that number is even lower for other genres and age ranges). Showing a good understanding of standard genre conventions such as word count is important for securing an agent!
@@BookEndsLiterary Thanks for getting back to me! That's all really helpful to know and I love that you guys put this all out there.
Think I'll get this manuscript finished and at least try submitting it seeing as I'm so far in now, but I've got another idea floating about for the next one that'd be a good fit for about 100,000 words
Could you talk about amounts of money for first, second, and third books, and types of contracts-work for hire and royalty. Thanks.
Hi! Unfortunately, the amounts of money will vary A LOT depending on the age range, genre, the size of the publishing house, the book's expected performance, etc. So we likely won't be able to make a video about that. We can maybe do a video on work for hire sometime, though!
So, I can basically send the query to the same agent after taking their advice?
I had an agent say I was telling more than showing. The agent likes the concept of the story.
Yes, unless told otherwise, typically you can resubmit to an agent if you've made substantive changes to your manuscript! The worst they can say is no :)
@BookEndsLiterary Thank you. I basically fixed the parts where there was a lot of Telling and where the reader might be taken out of the story. Does my ending or major plot points need changed to resubmit? Those would be substantial.
Do you have advice for newly agented authors? Maybe mistakes newly agent authors make that should be avoided?
You might want to look into some of our videos about what to expect from the revision process!
Just had query rejected with great feedback and told to submit when I revise...Is that a revise and submit?
Hi! You could call it that! A revise and resubmit (R&R) is typically any time an agent offers more in depth feedback and requests that you consider revising according to their notes and then resubmit to them. Sometimes they may request that you submit the revised version exclusively to them. If they didn't use the term "revise and resubmit" or "R&R" then it may not be a formal R&R but you would operate in the same way
I'm assuming this continuing ed is partly directed toward my comment! You're, Jessica, on the list I'm making, in my little bit of spare time, of agents I'm sending my second manuscript! I've put the word reservations next to your name though! We've got concerns just like y'all! I don't want to end up with you, or anyone, as an agent to just have you retire five years down the line! I know you're a veteran! I've never seen so many shifts in people, both agents and agencies, in an industry until I got deeply involved with publishing! Would Bookends close its doors if you retire? I know that there are no guarantees! I know! Second doubt, I've invested in PM and have never seen you in the top 100 agents in women's fiction (PM's romance)! You're all over mystery! Are you continuing to wine and dine agents in my genre, so they won't go stale? It's hard enough staying with the current market, while I'm saying my manuscripts are perennial, but there's a lot of conflict being fed to us about what agents currently rep! I'm trusting PM and websites as opposed to sites that don't seem to be updated! I'm sure you're saying there's no such thing as a book that would work year after year! Further, it's serendipity and I've been working away that later this year one of my freelance travel articles, happens to be about one of the Southern target areas of this mag, will be published in a print mag with a subscription base of 20,000 and calculated nationwide enthusiasts of 100,000! My readers, millennial females, is among those! While it's very exciting, it's freaky to be opening my Insta. TY📚