Just tell me what to do!

Agents aren't too keen on getting manuscripts that have already been shopped around to publishers.

Choose to find an agent or go direct to publishers but I wouldn't do both at the same time.

You'll need a LOT of patience in this business.

Write something new while you wait.

Hi, ellisnation, and welcome to AW.

ellisnation:
Now, I am wondering, mostly out of impatience and excitement, if I should try submitting one of my other manuscripts to a publisher in the meantime??? I've only been waiting 3 weeks since my first submission.

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You've answered your own question in the second sentence. You've only been waiting 3 weeks, which is far to early to be thinking about doing anything with any manuscript - regardless of whether it's one you're querying or not.

Assuming that you get a publisher to pick up your other manuscript, you're still going to have to face doing the contract negotiation and that's a lot easier with an agent.

Like Jimmer said, you need an awful lot of patience in this game - some agents will take longer than 6 months to get back to you (and some will never get back to you at all).

At this stage, I'd keep those 4 manuscripts in reserve, mainly because when you do get an agent to pick you up and they ask you about other projects, you can tell them what you've already completed and see if they're interested in them (that's a lot more attractive when negotiating a publishing deal). On the flip side, in the event that you get rejections on your full manuscript, you might find that some of the points made by the agent will enable you to reconsider your other manuscripts, thereby giving you an extra chance to polish them up, ready to select one as your next query.

Best thing you can do is forget all about the queries you've sent out for the time being and start working on your next project.

ellisnation:
I have sent query letters out to agents found on P&E and agentquery.com, along with a few manuscripts.

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Are you sending them out in batches or have you sent them out in one big mail sweep? The reason I ask is that it's usually easier to do them in batches of 5 - firstly because it enables you to keep a track on the responses as and when they get in (so you can work out what your success rate is) and secondly because if in the unhappy event you get rejections, you can work out if that's because your query letter needs improving, or the opening 3 chapters need improving, or there are problems in the whole manuscript (depending on what you get the rejection on).

MM

Picture books are a different beast. From what I understand (and the PB folks will correct me if I'm wrong) picture books are one of the few markets you're better off submitting directly to publishers. Most agents won't take on a picture book author because there's little money in it for them.

I think you're unlikely to get an agent with a picture book. In this case, you should probably be submitting directly to the publishers.

I'm not even posting on the topic. I just had to say hi to PennStater--hey! I'm in State College! Are you alum or do you still live in the area?

Alumni

PennStater said:

Alumni

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Then you've moved on to bigger and better places. lol. I'll refrain from asking whether you attend Nittany Valley Writers' Network meetings then. Nice to see a familiar 'face' in here, regardless.

Danthia said:

Picture books are a different beast. From what I understand (and the PB folks will correct me if I'm wrong) picture books are one of the few markets you're better off submitting directly to publishers. Most agents won't take on a picture book author because there's little money in it for them.

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I have been beating the agent bushes with 2 or 3 different picture books since May. I've gotten 1 (that's 1!) personal rejection, everything else has been form letter. The personal rejection recommended I submit my story to Rosemary Stimola - that she does great things with picture books - so, my story went there. About 4 or 5 weeks ago. The waiting is torture... Especially since her website says that she may or may not reply to queries.

*Arrggghhhh! Runs around room, screaming in frustration*

I don't have enough knowledge re: the world of publishing to submit to publishers. Anybody have any ideas for when I run out of agents to harass? I mean, query?

LaurieD said:

I don't have enough knowledge re: the world of publishing to submit to publishers. Anybody have any ideas for when I run out of agents to harass? I mean, query?

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You'll find these two books very helpful. I think pretty much every children's writer or wanna-be children's writer needs to have them in his/her library:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition

2009 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market

LaurieD,
No news from Stimola is GREAT news! She seems to be very much on top of things and rejected me at the speed of light. I'd give her two more weeks (it IS the holidays, after all) and then just drop her a quick note to know where you stand.

The BEST of luck to you. Hope this helps with the waiting. I'm doing some waiting myself and it is impossible to write anything else. Except the sequel, which might be just the thing, though maybe I'd just be piling it higher and deeper?

V

The agencies that do specialize in children's books--Stimola, Andrea Brown, Pippin Properties, among others--will take on clients for picture books. I would bet that before they offer you representation for one book, though, they'll want to talk about other work you might have. If you're a one-hit wonder, they would have to be pretty convinced that one book was superb.