Children's book submitted

[MagratGarlikInDisguise]

I've finally written the children's chapter book that I've been trying to write for years and I sent it to an agent a few weeks ago. Nothing back yet. I'm on tenterhooks all the time every time I get an email and I really hope the agent likes it. How do you all cope with all the waiting involved?? I guess I should get on with the sequel but I just want some encouragement first!

Good luck.
I would send it to other agents while you wait, as even if that agent likes it they may not take it on if they don't have space. Not all agents reply, and some take a very long time to reply.

@MagratGarlikInDisguise
Hi! I'm in the middle of writing a children's book too. Which age do you write for?

Thanks @margaretThursday, good advice!
@dogsdogsgods chapter book, 6 to 8 yrs.

@MagratGarlikInDisguise ooh I'm writing an age 7-10 chapter book. What should the word count be approx please? Can you tell I'm new to this? 🤣. I've only written short stories before.

I think most chapter books are about 15k but mine went to just over 17k. I'm really influenced by Matty Long and Alex T Smith but I can't illustrate so need an illustrator!! I'm so invested in the story as I made it up in chunks during bedtimes with my own DS, so I reaalllllyyyyy want it to be published but who knows!! Good luck with your writing, what type of thing is it about?

It's an adventure story. Anything I've written before has been adult or YA so I'm sort of trying to get a feel for the language needed for younger children.
I think I'll get it edited before I send it to an agent. Although, I know that can be quite expensive so it will depend how the finances work out. Did you get yours edited?

No but I've edited it myself quite a bit. It's getting the balance right between stretching their vocab knowledge and using too many long words etc. Good luck with it all!

What did you send? Did you send the whole book?

You really want to be sending a query letter, a synopsis and the first three chapters. Your query letter should include a paragraph on why you have chosen that agent, linking your work to why they would be interested. Most agents are quite loud about what they are looking for on their social media so if you fill what they've been after then you should say that in the letter.

Also good to contact 3 to 5 agents at a time and give it a few weeks minimum before moving on to emailing others as you might get feedback that would improve your application.

@Itsalmostanaccessory
That's really useful. Thank you. So, you'd only send the first three chapters even with a children's book?

@MagratGarlikInDisguise good luck to you too. Let us know when you hear anything
It sounds like a fascinating, if frustrating process.

All the agents that I've looked at have asked for the full manuscript for a chapter book as it's only 15 to 18k.

Children's book agents offer representation to a TINY number of the writers who approach them. One of them says that for her it's about 1%. So I suggest you research the most likely agents, follow their individual submission requirements, and write to at least a dozen or so. They may take months to respond, or not respond at all. They are really looking for likely bestsellers, and are not interested in books that are merely good. So move on to the next thing without any expectation that you'll get an offer. If you do, then great.

Thanks for the advice all. Update: 1 rejection as agent liked it but no space for new authors and an acceptance from what turned out to be a hybrid publisher which I turned down (still wondering if I did the right thing...) Sent it out again to several other agents a few weeks ago so will see!

@MagratLancre
Thanks for the update. I'm nearing the end of my first draft now. It sounds as though you had some encouraging feedback from the agent.

@MagratGarlikInDisguise a lot of publishers already have illustrators so you don't need one before you submit.