SCBWI's Blueboard - A Message & Chat Board
Writer's Room => Picture Books (PB) => Topic started by: oliviaik on April 08, 2015, 05:20 PM
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Hello! I have a question regarding multiple manuscripts. Right now, I have one manuscript for which I barely sent out the first batch of queries and another one that is just about ready to go. Both are picture books but they are quite different from each other. I have read conflicting advice for what to do in this situation. Do I just keep querying the first and do nothing with the second? Query the first and mention that I have another in the query? Query both at the same time in the same email? Query one to some agents and the other to different agents? Some places say on thing and other places say the opposite.
If I sent one to some agents and the other to different agents, what if I got offers of representation for both (I know, I know, unlikely)? Just hypothetical. I really don't know which one is stronger.
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FWIW (I don't have an agent but have been looking into getting one lately), once you have been working at this for a while you will have plenty of manuscripts waiting in the wings. While you are still agent-free, research your agents to find which of your manuscripts suit which agents. PB agents state what they like - eg character driven, quirky, lyrical, etc. Until you sign with an agent, you can have more than one manuscript out with different agents, but only send out your strongest ones. Be sure to keep good records so that if you get an offer, you can notify all other agents you have contacted. It's polite, and they may wish to counter-offer. It's fine to say in your initial query letter that you have other manuscripts too. Agents usually want to sign an author for the long haul (i.e. their career; not book by book), so it's good to say you have built up a body of work.
My two cents' worth.
Best of luck.
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JulieM gives you good advice. Do you have a critique group? Maybe they could advise you which manuscript is stronger. If you get an agent's interest, they'll want to see what other works you have before signing you, so keep that in mind.
If you query both manuscripts and get an offer on one or both, you'll just talk with each agent and evaluate their responses to your work, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about that at this point.
The most important thing is making sure your work is ready to be queried. And for that, experienced critique groups/partners are invaluable.
And while you wait, write another story! Good luck.
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I agree with everything that Julie and Jody had to say.
I also want to add that you should probably have at least one more strong pb manuscript in your repertoire. To get representation for pb's (without also being an illustrator or someone who writes novels), it would be best to have a minimum of 3-5 manuscripts waiting in the wings.
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Agree with all! And note that the mathematics of picture books (many manuscripts possible from each writer but few books published each year) means that even with representation, your agent will likely not submit every manuscript you write, and will likely not sell every manuscript he or she submits to editors. Picture book writers need to write many stories to have ongoing careers -- your agent subs and editor publishes the ones that are likely to meet the best success right now.
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Thanks for your advice! I am definitely working on more manuscripts. I have been learning a lot about this business and I am so glad these boards exist to help out newbies like me!
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Congrats for having two completed picture books! :yay You've already received lots of great advice. I know how hard it is to wait to sub after all that work, but like Diana said, most agents will want to see more picture books before signing a client. Most agents say not to query a picture book until you have at least three manuscripts polished and ready to go (or completed manuscripts in other genres).
Have your manuscripts been critiqued yet? No matter how awesome I feel one of my manuscripts is, I always find so many ways to improve it after getting feedback from other picture book writers (and then after several rounds of critiques/revision, editors and agents at paid conference critiques).
I agree with everyone who said to find out which manuscript is your strongest, and lead with that (although if you have multiple completed manuscripts that are really strong, you can see if one of them might fit what an agent is looking for better than the other).
There are lots of fun picture book challenges each year that can inspire you to keep writing new manuscripts or come up with ideas for future manuscripts. I believe the next challenge is NaPiBoWriWee, which is the first week of May. It encourages you to write one rough draft of a picture book a day from May 1 - 7. You can start jotting down ideas now and work on the plots and character sketches, but wait to start writing the actual drafts until the beginning of May. There's also a fun Facebook group where participants cheer each other on! Here's a link: http://paulayoo.com/stay-tuned-for-2015-napibowriwee-may-1-7-2015/
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What is the query letter format for a multiple manuscript submission to an agent/editor/publisher? A few agents I am querying for PBs request mulitple manuscripts, not just one.
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You open with the explanation of why you have chosen them and the title and word count of each manuscript. Then have a paragraph for each book with its pitch. Keep these brief because the letter should still be one page. Next comes your bio as in any query and a closing.
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Got it! One more question: In the email, after the query letter thank you :stars3 :stars3 :stars3, this is where you would start pasting in your PB manuscripts, in the body of the email, one right after the other, no attachments, right? Debbie, thank you for responding. Your answer cleared up a lot of mud! Thanks, Marlena
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Check their submissions page on their website. Some prefer attachments; others do not.
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Okay, that makes sense. Thank you!
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I wouldn't use an attachment unless they say to. But three manuscripts in the body of the email would make for a very long message.
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Yes, that is my thought, too. An agent I am interested in asks for at least four manuscripts if not five. He said they want to make sure that a writer is serious and could be a possible agent/author relationship. Thanks again for your thoughts. Marlena