So, the books finished, now I'm in need of an agent.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I've contacted one but she's full and is working overtime with the ones she already has. It's a minefield out there, any suggestions?

I'm in the same boat so will watch thread with interest. I'm crime rather than children though.
When looking through agent lists I noticed firms and individual agents specialising in children's books - note down and try these in the first instance?
keep going (in fact I feel a thread coming on about this)
also I saw a site called authonomy recommended, where you can post ms for feedback, its a harper thing .. most of the comments seemed too indiscriminately favourable to be true imo, but worth a browse even if for what not to do's

I can't post on authonomy as my books are too small! There minimum word limit is something like 40k (unless I've not read it correctly), each childrens book is 1-2 k. I'm quite shocked with the feedback I've had about my books so far, it's all been 100% positive, there's been a couple of suggestions for a change in the name of a character or two but that's it. I have the contact details for a new publisher, they are only printing for one author though and it was only established last year so I'm not 100% sure.
When an agent says they are too full does this mean she's letting me down gently as opposed to saying my writing's crap and get a new job?

ah, right. Where have you been getting feedback from? I am asking friends and it's a slow process. I would approach the new publisher, what have you got to lose? also, I'm sure the agent really IS full. Most of them seem to be busy with their existing clients, you can't really blame them.
Have you had any of you other books published? do you illustrate as well?
just curious, submitting is a horrible stage to be at, isn't it, the buzz from finishing is over and you have to gird yourself for inevitable rejections

also what age range? I work in a preschool and would be happy to trial stuff if it would be useful to you

I've written a few. There's a couple of picture books aimed at pre school children, the majority are for 5-7 year olds with ideas for alot more. I also have ideas for older childrens books, 7+. I'be asked friends to read them, I have lovely friends that are primary school teachers so they have had a look, I've a few (lots) of people from here on facebook so I've shown them aswell, mumsnetters are generally more picky and blunt so if something's crap then they say it is.

I've approached egmont, they've not even read the email yet though and it's been a couple of weeks. I've not had anything published yet, I've been doing little bits of stories for a few years when I have the time. I don't work now (health problems) so I have more spare time, I can't stop thinking of new ideas though which is lovely, it's like the floodgates have been opened I don't illustrate, I have a facebook pal that does though and there's a writer across the road who lives with an artist so she has a copy of the book. I seem to get alot of 'you've got something there' which is good. She's shocked I've only been writing 'properly' for a few weeks and it takes me an hour to write a book (they are 1k though so fairly easy once I have the idea)

What do you write?

I write fairly dark crime/suspense novels, I don't know why they end up so gloomy. I have finished number 4 and am beginning number 5. Number 4 is the first what you could call competent effort, the others were rubbish. I started when I became a lone mum with long evenings to fill. I've done one every year or so since.
I know what you mean about the ideas, once you start writing everything around you seems rich with anecdotal potential. I love writing, I said number 4 would be my last but then I had one of the ideas ...
I think if I was writing children's lit with contacts like you have I'd consider self publishing, eg with Amazon? you'd do your own marketing, but be in control of the revenues.
Oh, and I checked the limit on authonomy it's 10,000 so too high for the preschoolers but maybe useful for the older kids' books

lol at blunt
maybe I should post a sanmple para on aibu lol

It costs money to do that and I don't have any , I'd hate to use my friends to sell books aswell. I have completed/ideas for 50, not all will be good, some will take ages to write so I've written the shorter ones first in the hope that I can earn something as quickly as possible, we need to eat.

Dark crime sounds fab, do you have a background in this? Have you seen the terry pratchett prize?

It's just a case of choosing wisely and submitting isn't it? Unless you have contacts. But, I did get picked off the slush pile to have the whole thing read, plus lovely feedback (childrens book) so it's not a black hole. Good Luck!

It must be grumpy. I'll keep working at it. I think I need to learn patience

a background in dark crime? no lol
Will check out tp prize, is it not scifi then?
i just have a nasty rubber necking alter ego when it comes to writing, and am drawn to the grungy side of life
probably a reaction against living in an English village
see what you mean about using friends to promote
gp i saw your post about that on other thread, is v encouraging!

and grow the hide of a rhino ime

No, he doesn't want sci fi. I think the person that can understand his instructions will win the prize though as obscure is an understatement.

I am incredibly persistent, have no patience though, need everything doing now! (I have a character like me in one of the books).

ok, thanks, I will check it out! good luck and keep us posted

You too. I hope it all works out.

Belle - I would also suggest only sending about 5 or 6 out at a time, rather than blanketing all childrens agents. I used Cornerstones recently, and found the report very useful for obvious mistakes (expensive ish). Will find a link if you like?

Thank you. I've sent out 4. It's a shame about the one that had no space, she'd have been perfect. That's how it works though hey.

I'll have to find a crafty way to get it seen if it takes years

Belle - they [the agents you approach] will probably all say the same.

Your letter is terribly important. You must tell them why they must read your book above all the other thousands they receive unsolicited every year. And at the same time, you have to say that in a short and snappy paragraph.

Be eye-catching, if you possibly can.

Good luck.

www.cornerstones.co.uk/
I have 11 rejection slips, all of which say they are full/not taking on new clients/ don't think they could market my work. And emails from an interested one, plus a handwritten note from a good idea, not for me one. Good luck (again)

Now I am facing redrafting, but sadly my time is pretty easy to fill...

Eye-catching you say? I can do eye-catching

That's blardy expensive grumpy. Thank you, I hope it all works out, keep me posted so I can read it.

gp which cornerstones report did you go for, if you don't mind me asking? did you make major changes subsequently?