One of my CuddlefishAcademy.com students asked important questions about finding and working with a children’s book agent. My answers are below, but first, a Cuddlefish video about agents:

1. What are agents? 

In the case of a literary agent, this is someone who represents your business interests for your book or magazine writing and book illustrating career, as well as your written and illustrated literary works.

2. Do I need an agent? 

If you plan to publish traditionally, you will likely need an agent. Agents can submit your manuscripts and book pitches to publishers that do not usually accept unsolicited manuscripts, which is most traditional publishers. They also have the publishing contacts you don’t. They can get you better deals and opportunities than you could for yourself. Many illustrators who do not write choose agent representation, too, but most publishers do not mind receiving unsolicited art samples or portfolio links. Always check submission guidelines. 

3. What kind of agent is right for me?

If you are seeking to publish in the book or magazine market, a literary agent is recommended. Compared to art agents, who take up 20%-50% commission, literary agents only take 15% and are uniquely networked with the publishing world. They are your best advocate in publishing. 

4. What do agents do? 

Agents advise you on your projects and submit your manuscripts and dummy books to prospective publishers. Agents help you plan and maintain your publishing career. Some agents are editorial, which means they will provide you with notes and feedback to improve your book submissions.

5. How do I prepare to query an agent? What should I have ready?

First, you must be at or very close to a publishable level with your writing and illustrating skills. You should have at least a few book projects ready to go. Get feedback from a critique group or industry professionals to make sure your projects are the best they can be. Take classes and workshops to improve your craft. If you are an illustrator, having a website with a strong, cohesive children’s book portfolio as well as a bio and contact information is a must. 

Collect a list of agent contact information, making sure these agents broker deals for the kind of work you do. Don’t query to someone who doesn’t rep the things you want to publish. Check their website for submission guidelines. Only submit to a handful of agents simultaneously. Be prepared to wait and receive a rejection. This is a numbers game. Keep going. If you receive many rejections providing the same critique of your work, take a pause to revise your work before going out on submission again.

You will likely need a query letter. There are many online resources with query letter samples. Look for blog posts sharing “winning agent query letters.” Write one and get feedback from your critique group or industry professionals, and revise until it sings. Using the logline and pitch package instructions in “Hook! Plot! Pitch!” will help you with a successful query.

6. How do I prepare for a call with an agent? 

Here are the questions agented Cuddlefish members recommend asking. Add things that are individually important to you. You are interviewing the agent just as much as they are interviewing you. No agent is better than an agent that is not a fit.

Here is a list of questions provided by members of the Cuddlefish Gang:

https://cuddlefishgang.art.blog/2021/06/28/agenting-advice/

7. Where do I find agents? (solicited vs. unsolicited queries)

  • QueryTracker.net is a great and free resource. If you want more targeted querying options, you can pay to upgrade the subscription.
  • When someone announces a book deal, they will thank their agent. If the book is like something you create– similar in style, topic, perspective, or interests, that agent will probably like what you do, too. Google their name and agency and look up their submission guidelines. 
  • Attending children’s book writing and illustrating conferences is a great way to find an agent. The conference will usually offer manuscript and portfolio reviews, pitch sessions, and opportunities to meet agents and query them after the conference, often even to agents currently closed to submission.  

8. What should I be ready for in terms of rejection? 

Even with a lot of planning and research, it is best to be prepared for around 50 rejections and around 6 months of querying. Think of it as a numbers game. Some people agent more quickly and some take more rejections and time, but for your mental health, be ready for rejection, don’t take it personally, keep going.

9. Once I have an agent, how long will it take to get published? How many books a year can I expect?  

That varies quite a bit. Your agent will query your book, and that will very likely go through rounds of rejections. My first written and illustrated children’s book took 65 rejections and almost a year of submitting, but it received multiple offers once there was interest and eventually published with Simon & Schuster.

It takes time to build up publishing momentum, but one or two books a year is normal. I have 3 books coming out this year and got 7 book contracts last year. 1-4 is the normal range.

10. Can I work on multiple books with different agents or stick to one agent?

You will be working with one agent and they will represent you on all your literary works, although you may specify “children’s books and magazines.” If you want to leave them for another agent, your contract will specify terms of ending the agreement. Be sure to dissolve your representation agreement before moving on to another agent. Any book an agent represented will remain with that agency as long as the book is in print. They will collect and pay you royalties.

11. What does an agenting contract look like? What are the red flags? What is a standard boilerplate? 

Here are some good sources: 

https://literary-agents.com/hiring-a-literary-agent/sample-literary-agent-contract/

https://www.sidebarsaturdays.com/2019/07/27/https-wp-me-p7vddb-gs/#:~:text=An%20Agency%20Clause%20is%20typical,the%20agent’s%20commission%20is%20guaranteed.

Major red flags:

-An agent asks you to pay them at or before signing with them. An agent only gets paid when you get paid.

-The contract should also provide a way to part ways without a long waiting period or other hassles or fees.

11. What’s the standard pay per book? Should we expect a percent upfront or one-time payment? What is typical per book? $500 and 20% per book? I don’t know anything here. 

Most children’s books pay between $5K and $30K as an advance. This depends on the size and distribution of the publisher and also your publishing track record. This is nearly always paid as an “advance against royalty.” The advance payment is guaranteed, even if your book doesn’t “earn out” or sell enough to cover the advance.

The advance is typically paid in two parts. The first part is received shortly after signing the contract, and the second part is received shortly after finishing the book art or approving the manuscript edits, if you are the writer-only. Some book contracts split the payment into three parts instead of two and specify what completed elements will trigger a mid-point payment, approved tight sketches as an example. 

Once your book earns out, you will begin receiving a royalty, usually 3.5 to 6% for the illustrator or 7% to 12% for an author-illustrator. 

12. Is it typical to send a thank you or follow up when you’re done with a book contract? And do you usually stay with one agent after a book?

Your agent wants to build a career with you, so it’s typical to stay with an agent over multiple book contracts. I’ve been with my agent for six years and about a dozen book contracts. The querying process is difficult, so finding a great fit and sticking with them is preferable. But don’t feel like you need to stick it out with an agent that is holding you back.

Thank you’s are always appreciated. I buy or make my agent a little present for each book contract. I also send him a gift at the end of the year. This is not necessary, but it’s a great way to show appreciation. 

Happy Querying!

KIDLIT CLASSES and COACHING

Here are some great Cuddlefish Academy classes on crafting a winning pitch package and creating a dummy book:

Hook! Plot! Pitch! for Querying and Publication: https://cuddlefishacademy.teachable.com/p/hook-plot-pitch-break-into-trade-publishing-a-workshop-for-writers-writer-illustrators

Storyboard for Kidlit/Create a Children’s Dummy Book: https://cuddlefishacademy.teachable.com/p/storyboard4kidlit

Bundle of both classes with coaching: https://cuddlefishacademy.teachable.com/p/pitch-package-publication-essentials-for-writer-illustrators

Kidlit Coaching with Kaz, 30-min and 1hr sessions:

https://cuddlefishacademy.teachable.com/p/coaching-mentorship1

This post was written by author-illustrator and children’s book illustration and writing professor Kaz Windness. Be sure to follow her on all your favorite socials and check out her latest books here! https://linktr.ee/KazWindness