2008 Article Excerpt:

While Guide to Literary Agents is best known for its large and detailed list of literary agencies, every edition has plenty of informational articles and interviews designed to help writers perfect their craft and contact agents wisely. The 2008 edition is no different, with more than 80 pages of articles addressing numerous writing and publishing topics

Dan Lazar, an agent at Writers House, gave a great interview to Writer Unboxed today.

See the whole interview here.

Also, Dan wrote an article on pitching for the 2008 Guide to Literary Agents. I'll post a snippet from it here on the blog soon.

Dan Lazar

Looking back through the 2006 edition of Guide to Literary Agents, I reread a great interview with agent Jeff Kleinman, previously of Graybill & English. A few years ago, Jeff acted as one of the founders of Folio Literary Management, LLC.

I've pasted some of that interview here below:

GLA: There are many qualities a writer must possess in order to be a successfully published author. What quality do you find most important?

JK: Besides wonderful writing and storytelling abilities, I really hope to find authors that realize all of us—the agent, editor, marketing folk, copyeditors, etc.—are all on the writer's side. We all want to create a good book, and we all want to find the next book we can fall head-over-heels-in-love with. It's that helpfulness, that willingness, that "Sure, I'll go the extra mile," that can really make a difference.

GLA: If an agent is interested in a manuscript, he'll sometimes ask for an exclusive read. What does an exclusive read mean for both the agent and the writer? Under what circumstances might an agent request an exclusive read?

JK: Agents assume, in this marketplace, the writer has simulatenously queried an unknown number of agents. That said, when some agents want to read your project, they want to be able to read it and know they're the only person reading it ... So, the first agent will ask for an exclusive read.
      I think an exclusive's a fine thing, if that's what the agent needs, but the writer needs to be aware he's giving something up by giving that agent an exclsuive read—so, the agent should provide something in exchange, perhaps the assurance he will read it quickly. Think of it like a bargain: "I (the writer) am giving you (the agent) a certain time with my manuscript, and you won't have to worry about someone else competing for it. In exchange, you agree to read it quickly because other agents are also interested in reading it. What's "quickly"? It depends on the agent. I think, though, about two months for a novel and about three weeks for a proposal is fair.

GLA: What;s the biggest mistake a writer can make when he submits to you?

JK: The biggest mistake is not acting professionally enough. Writers need to keep in mind as soon as they enter the publishing business that they need to treat it as a business. Treat it as a job interview. Handle your interview like a professional: be courteous, concise, helpful and provide the kind of information the guy on the other side of the desk needs to have. Desperation rarely works; your potential boss might run the other way. Discourtesy (i.e., writing" Dear Agent" or "Dear Sir/Madam") may make it seem you haven't bothered to do your homework.

Jeff Kleinman represents both fiction and nonfiction. To see his detailed submissions pages, click here.

Jeff Kleinman

The GLA blog has a special treat this week—an interview with Nick Eliopulos, editor for Random House Children's Books. He fits right in with our recent focus on agents and editors for children's writing, which includes picture books, young adult and middle grade works.

GLA: What are some subjects or some styles that you don't see tackled often, and wonder why more writers are not tackling such a subject/style?

NE: Thoughtful, literary novels with boy appeal. Newbery-caliber stuff. These books are few and far between. And if we're worried that boys don't read enough, not making books for them won't help the problem.

GLA: Do you ever turn down work because it's too "smart"—meaning either the concept is too complex or the language is too advanced?

NE: I recently read The Golden Compass, and you know what? It's way too smart. The language, the premise, the roaming POV ... but it's such a wonderful book and it's obviously found an audience.

      I hope I'm never in a position where I have to turn down a submission because it's smart or challenging. I can imagine, as an editor, asking for edits to broaden the appeal: Can this concept be clearer? Does the language seem like too much here? Does the work benefit from limiting the POV? But never in the interest of talking down to the audience.

      (I'm thinking mainly of novels here, of course. If you're working with an established format, like the Random House Stepping Stones line, then it's essential that the language fit the guidelines of that format. And I think picture books have limits, as well, though mostly in terms of content.)

GLA: What is the most common reasons you and your fellow board of editors turn down a project (manuscript)?

NE: We have to think in terms of our list—where our strengths lie. But it's a fine line. We want something that is somewhat familiar, but that offers something new.

      That's really the best way to find a publisher--look at who's publishing work similar to your own. If my group is having success with fantasy novels and you submit a teen cookbook, chances are we won't have the resources to make your book a hit.

GLA: When you sit down to read a manuscript, what do you want to see (or "feel") in the first 10-20 pages?

NE: A strong sense of character—through action and dialogue as opposed to narration.

      Much of what I read is slow to get to the actual plot. That's OK in a draft; it (will help) if there's some kind of synopsis so that I know what to expect. But voice and character should be front and center from the start.

GLA: Many YA books follow a similar formula. With that in mind, is a big part in the concept? Like writing the standard "Girl feels awkward in high school and likes boy" except "Girl turns into a werewolf at night"? Does it need a hook like that, or can you still write a good story that no big hook?

NE: Hooks help—a lot. Even once I've signed on a book, I have to pitch it to sales and marketing, who have to pitch it to retailers and librarians. If you've got a unique and memorable spin, that's half the battle won.

      But different books come with different expectations. If you've written a story about an awkward girl with not a werewolf in sight, but with a strong and believable voice—well, there's likely an audience for that book. Notice that a lot of the award-winners are quiet tales that you can't do justice in a one-line pitch.

GLA: What advice would you like to give concerning a topic we haven't addressed yet?

NE: Read! Read a lot. And not just children's books. It definitely helps to know what's out there for your target age group—but if you're up on current events or quantum physics or the cultural history of deodorant, then you have a better chance of bringing something altogether new to the table.

GLA: Does Random House Children's ever take unagented submissions?

NE: Officially we don't, but it's certainly happened before. Chances are that a blind submission will eventually be seen by somebody—but having an agent is really the way to go. For one thing, it guarantees your submission will be read. For another, it truly pays off to work with someone who knows the ins and outs of the business (and who can give you objective feedback before your work lands on an editor's desk).

GLA: Will you be at any upcoming conferences where writers can meet you?

NE: Yes—the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature in October.

      Associate Editor at Random House Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Random House Children's Books), Nick Eliopulos started out at the University Press of Florida, where a college internship led to a full-time job as an acquisitions assistant. Eventually, he moved to New York and subsisted on freelance for a few months before landing at Random House.       
      Two of Nick's projects will be published this fall: Squirrelly Gray, a picture book by indie-comics superstar James Kochalka, and The Hound of Rowan, first in a middle-grade fantasy trilogy by newcomer Henry H. Neff. His comics work appears in the anthologies Stuck in the Middle (Viking, 2007) and First Kiss (Then Tell) (Bloomsbury, 2008). He has survived three consecutive winters in Manhattan.

Nick Eliopulos

Reminder: Newer agencies are golden opportunities for new writers because they're likely building their client list; however, always make sure your work is as perfect as it can be before submitting, and only query agencies that are a great fit for your work. Otherwise, you're just wasting time and postage.

Writers In The Sky Literary Agency

1224 S. 4th St., Clinton IN 47842-2228. Phone: (765)828-0514. E-mail: pamcrowley@writersinthesky.net. Contact: Gary J. Bray. Seeking new and established writers. Prior to becoming an agent, Mr. Bray was a newspaper owner/editor and freelance writer. Established: 2006. This agency evaluates all types of manuscripts, but is especially interested in science fiction, fantasy, young adult, and sports-related nonfiction.

Currently Handles: 85% novels, 5% nonfiction books, 5% poetry, 5% juvenile. Nonfiction subjects of interest: Biography, Computers, Cooking, Crafts, Current Affairs, Education, Government, Health, History, Psychology, Humor, Juvenile, Language, Memoirs, Military, Music/Theater/Film, New Age, Photography, Religious, Sociology, Sports, True Crime. Fiction subjects of interest: Action/Adventure, Cartoon/Comic, Detective, Experimental, Family Saga, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Humor, Juvenile, Literary, Mainstream, Mystery, Picture Books, Psychic, Regional, Religious, Science Fiction, Sports, Thriller, Westerns, Young Adult.

How to contact: No queries, please. Submit: Full Synopsis, Author Bio, First Three Chapters, SASE. Prefers e-mail submissions. No fax submissions. Accepts simultaneous submissions. Responds in 3 months. Returns materials only with SASE. Actively seeking: science fiction, fantasy, young adult, nonfiction, mysteries, literary fiction and commercial fiction.

Terms: Agent receives 15% commission on domestic sales; 20% commission on foreign sales. Offers written contract. This agency does not charge for office expenses. Tips: "Don’t waste your time writing a teaser and then label it ‘synopsis.’ We only want to see true synopses, which consist of  (for fiction) all significant plot points and themes addressed, brief character sketches, and an overview that lists genre, word count, intended audience, and any unique aspects to the manuscript, or (for nonfiction) all pertinent topics discussed and your approach to them, all conclusions drawn, and an overview with word count, intended audience, and reasons why your manuscript is unique. Do a meticulous self-edit prior to submitting your work, because we are sticklers about correct grammar and punctuation. We’ll accept someone who writes extremely well but may need a little help in story development over someone who has a good story but cannot form a coherent sentence. If your English professor wouldn’t approve of your manuscript, we won’t either."

Writer Unboxed, a helpful site devoted to genre writing, has kicked off a cool contest asking writers to create a new word.

Writers must create a new word and then define it. The winner gets a sweet prize indeed: more than $150 worth of Writer's Digest books.

See the Web site page for all the details.