How to Find an Agent for Christian Children's Books
Finding an agent is a bit like finding a spouse---you want someone friendly, nurturing, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The way to find that person is to study literary agent listings, compare your work with pieces the agent has already sold, and present only your very best work to her. The query letter is your first point of contact, and a well-polished query can open the door to a profitable career in writing Christian children's books. Persistence is your most valuable asset. A rejection doesn't mean your work isn't well written; it just means the right agent is still out there, waiting to be contacted.
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Things You'll Need
- Copies of your manuscript
- Query letter
- Business-size envelopes (#10)
- Postage stamps
Instructions
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Instructions
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Polish your manuscript. Never contact an agent about a book that isn't written, revised and revised again. Check your spelling both with a word processing spell check and by reading the manuscript out loud. Nothing is more unprofessional than sending off a manuscript with spelling or grammar errors.
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Write your query letter. Limit the letter to one page, and begin with a hook. What about your story will grab the agent's attention right away? Next, describe your book's main characters, the conflict they face and why you think people will buy your book. The second paragraph should tell the agent about your writing experience and qualifications. If you don't have any publication credits, just tell the agent why you wrote the story. Mention any experience, personal or professional, that relates to the topic you wrote about.
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Make a list of agents to contact. Use resources such as Writer's Digest magazine and the Novel & Short Story Writer's Market (this is updated yearly). Read the listings thoroughly, as agents will always specify whether they accept children's books and/or Christian fiction and nonfiction.
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Follow the listing's instructions on how to contact the agent. Some agents allow queries to be sent via email; others do not. Agents may also ask you to send the first three pages of your manuscript, a synopsis or even the whole manuscript. Always do exactly what the agent requests---you want her to be in a good mood while reading your query. If her listing gives no specific instruction, send a one-page query and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), all in a #10 envelope. The agent will use the SASE to respond to you.
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Follow up in a timely manner. Agents are very busy people, and it's possible that they might not get back to you in the time frame you expect. The soonest you should ever contact an agent is two weeks after they should have received your query. Look back at the agents' listings---they often specify how long it takes them, on average, to respond to queries.
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Send the agent any further material she requests. You may be asked to send a "full"---a copy of your completed manuscript--a synopsis or an author bio.
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Persist. Almost no one acquires a literary agent on the first try; it takes time and patience. Rejections don't mean the agent didn't like your work; it simply means her roster of writers is full, she doesn't have the right publishing contact for your children's book or she doesn't see a market for that particular manuscript. Keep submitting, keep writing and don't give up!
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Tips & Warnings
If you met an agent at a writer's conference, feel free to mention it in your query letter.
Never send an agent the only copy of your manuscript. Always keep the original.
Never send an agent correspondence with postage due, or a return envelope without proper postage.
