Has this happened to anyone else?

AshElizabeth · Sep 17, 2009

My YA novel was requested by a well-known agency, and after getting The Call, she decided it wasn't the best fit for her client list. She only seemed reluctant after learning my age (eighteen) and that I don't have any blogs or websites where I can market my own novel.

Ugh.

Also, does anyone know of any agents who have taken on young writers that I could query?

Blind Writer · Sep 17, 2009

Wow, that really, really sucks.

Let me start my saying that I"m eighteen and was seventeen when I signed with my agent. She didn't know my agent until AFTER she offered, and it didn't disuade her at all. Really, it shouldn't have any affect.

Shady Lane (real name Hannah Moskowitz) was sixteen when she got her first agent (eighteen now) and I don't think it made a difference for her either.

To be honest, Elizabeth, I'd say most agents won't care about your age as long as your writing is good. A friend of mine is seventeen with an agent, another is nineteen. As long as you're good at what you do, they should not care.

However, I'd definitely suggest you create a blog. My agent has said in interviews that she always looks a potential clients blogs. In YA, blogs are super important. You can make a free one on wordpress, blogspot, or livejournal. It might be a good idea for the future.

Sorry that this happened to you. Such a weird situation. I hope you have more luk! And remember, a good agent won't care about your age. Its about your writing.

Sage · Sep 17, 2009

That is a really weird situation, I agree. I can't imagine having THE CALL and ending it with the decision not to go with the writer. Now, I've had a call with an agent about revisions and the possibility to resubmit. I didn't think most agents cared about age (so many teen published writers these days), and I can't believe the lack of web presence was enough to derail an offer, especially when it's so easy to start a blog.

Blind Writer · Sep 17, 2009

Also, with you being eighteen, you don't really have to disclose your age unless you're asked.

I had to. My mother had to co-sign for me.

AshElizabeth · Sep 17, 2009

Thanks guys!

To Blind Writer,

I'm going to send you the private message when I get home. Unfortunately, I'm not on my comp! Grrr!

To both Blind Writer and Sage,

When creating a blog, what should I write about? Books reviews?

P.S.---Sage, one of my main character has your name! How weird is that!

Again, thanks for this help guys!

Blind Writer · Sep 17, 2009

When it comes to blogs, you can write about a lot.

IF you want an example, you can check out some of the blogs of the people running around here. Mine is in my signature. I mostly just write about writing, books, movies....whatever is interesting to me at the moment.

Sage · Sep 17, 2009

There was a girl on AW not that long ago who had the name of my current MC ("Bex"). Also people are calling another YAer that, but I never noticed until after I started writing.

What to write about in a blog, is a good question. If you do book reviews, you risk angering someone in the business. There was just a post (or an interview or something) about what not to do in blogs, and an editor, I think, listed a bunch of things that they don't want to see in blogs, and I was left wondering what was left.

I would make it a blog about your writing, probably. But don't complain about writing. Just about progress, and maybe a teaser on Tuesday.

But really it's up to you. What do you want to blog about? What would you actually post about.

I belong to a blog Yapping about YA, and I'm very bad about posting (and we all are). I have to wait for inspiration to strike before I can make a post.

Kathleen42 · Sep 17, 2009

I find the age thing a bit surprising. S.E. Hinton was sixteen when The Outsiders was published.

I'm also a bit troubled by the blog thing. I have one blog under my legal name but I haven't put heaps of energy into it since I'd like to publish under a pen name.

Angela_785 · Sep 17, 2009

I def wouldn't disclose your age unless you are forced to: ie she/he directly asks. If any of your links online state your age, I'd remove them. This biz is tough enough without age discrimination. Sorry this seems to have happened to you. The good news is, you caught the eye of one agent, and you'll catch the eye of another. I speak from experience!

Good luck!

Angela

Glass Cases · Sep 17, 2009

Elizabeth,

I'm really sorry that happened to you. I work in publishing and agree that your age alone wouldn't have deterred the agent. However, it could be that this agent couldn't afford to take a risk with a young writer who is virtually unknown. Publishing is in a sad state of affairs lately, and an agent or editor basically needs a guaranteed sell to take someone on.

That said, if this agent requested your novel, chances are your writing is solid and you definitely should not give up. It's true that other teens have signed with agents, but comparatively it is still rare. So, I would suggest using your age to your advantage for now. Starting a blog is a good first step in getting your name out there. I'd suggest creating one geared toward young writers. It's a great way to build a community and make yourself known.

AshElizabeth · Sep 17, 2009

Thanks guys!

Kathleen, Angela, Glass Cases:

Thanks for your input. It's really appreciated!

Do any of you know of Young Adult agents that take on Fantasy/Parnormal? (Not sure which mine fits into since it's about witches and a secret world that exists within ours)

My goal tonight is to start a blog and then post it on this thread for you guys to check out. Please be my first followers!

Sage · Sep 17, 2009

A lot of agents take on YA contemporary fantasy. I queried over 100 with LS, and those were almost all e-queries.

Check out agentquery.com if you haven't. Used the advanced search and you can look at those taking YA and fantasy and who are looking for new clients.

Kathleen42 · Sep 17, 2009

I second AqentQuery.com. Use the search to find agents that look like they might be a match and then check the agents out on The Bewares and Backgrounds board (you can usually just do a search).

AshElizabeth · Sep 17, 2009

Thanks guys!

I'll def be doing that! Hmmm. . .here's to hoping the three partials I have out in the query universe turn into landing an agent. One can only hope!

Sage, i hope you get representation from one of your fulls or partials. Let me know when your book hits the shelves cause I'm a geek for anything fantasy, sci-fi, or paranormal.

GRRR! Sorry, my frustration kicked in there for a second!

Hows everyone else's query process coming along?

Angela_785 · Sep 17, 2009

I'd also suggest Querytracker. I can't say enough about how helpful that tool was to finding my second agent.

Glass Cases · Sep 17, 2009

I third AgentQuery.com. And if you find an agent you like, do a separate Google search!

Also, there are some great industry blogs to read if you aren't already. Nathan Bransford's is my favorite and I also really like Janet Reid's. And (on a non-agency side), Pimp My Novel is GREAT!

donut · Sep 17, 2009

Hmm... what do you guys think agents/editors want to see in a blog? I have a blog that I update regularly, but I don't know if it would be interesting to editors looking to find out more about my writing. I mostly use it for photography...

Wordwrestler · Sep 17, 2009

Elizabeth, so sorry about that disappointing, and no doubt frustrating experience. I didn't have a web presence when I got my agent. I just started my blog last Saturday! I know next to nothing about technical stuff, but I was able to muddle my way through the set-up on blogger in about 10 minutes. I was really surprised how easy it was.

Wordwrestler · Sep 17, 2009

donut said:
Hmm... what do you guys think agents/editors want to see in a blog? I have a blog that I update regularly, but I don't know if it would be interesting to editors looking to find out more about my writing. I mostly use it for photography...

Great question, Donut. I'm wondering the same thing. I've got an agent, and now I sure would like an editor. Also, what attracts teens to a blog? Do non-writer teens read blogs? Do we focus on getting the attention of teachers and librarians and other adults who love books and buy them for teens or teens themselves?

~*Kate*~ · Sep 17, 2009

donut said:
Hmm... what do you guys think agents/editors want to see in a blog? I have a blog that I update regularly, but I don't know if it would be interesting to editors looking to find out more about my writing. I mostly use it for photography...

Wordwrestler said:
Great question, Donut. I'm wondering the same thing. I've got an agent, and now I sure would like an editor. Also, what attracts teens to a blog? Do non-writer teens read blogs? Do we focus on getting the attention of teachers and librarians and other adults who love books and buy them for teens or teens themselves?

I have a similar problem-- when I started my blog, I wasn't writing at.all. Now I talk about things related to it, but I also post a lot of random things. I'm wondering if it's better to have a random blog than no blog at all.

AshElizabeth · Sep 17, 2009

Wordwrestler said:
Elizabeth, so sorry about that disappointing, and no doubt frustrating experience. I didn't have a web presence when I got my agent. I just started my blog last Saturday! I know next to nothing about technical stuff, but I was able to muddle my way through the set-up on blogger in about 10 minutes. I was really surprised how easy it was.

Thanks! I went to your blog and read your posts. I know you were having trouble with a character's name. Babycenter.com is great! You can type your character's names in the search engine like me and hit search. Voila! A list of various spellings for the name and suggestions of other names. It even gives the name meanings to most of them. Hope I could help you a little since you took the time to answer my post!

Wordwrestler · Sep 17, 2009

Thanks, Elizabeth!

Skodobah · Sep 18, 2009

Elizabeth,

Let me start by saying that I feel for you. I really do. That sounds like a totally unfair deal, and I hope that the next deal is a winner!

I started a blog about writing with an emphasis on the process, including beta readers, frustrations, falling in love with characters, etc. Feel free to be yourself in your blog, within reason (i.e., don't offer scathing reviews of other books). Just give insight into your writing world, your views on the craft, and go from there. It should be a natural process.

Also, I prefer wordpress to blogspot - having tried both. You can really get versatile with wordpress!

- Julie

Kujai · Sep 19, 2009

A young and unpublished writer is an unproven commodity, so it quite risky for an agent to take on a young writer. Perhaps because a young writer is still in high school, has extracurricular activities on his or her mind, is planning to go to college and has not yet made writing a career choice or has just begun writing so his or her writing ability will improve in the next few years, allowing the young writer to polish his or her writing even further.

Having a young age is not an instant disqualifier in getting an agent or becoming published. It’s what comes with being young (a possibly immature and carefree lifestyle and business ethic) that may make an agent hesitant to sign a young writer.

*Note* :Clap:

Elizabeth, I am not suggesting that your writing is not ready for publication, that you are immature, or that you do not have a proper understanding of businesses ethics. I am just posting what may have been the mindset of the agent who may not have signed you because of your young age.

AshElizabeth · Sep 20, 2009

Kujai said:
A young and unpublished writer is an unproven commodity, so it quite risky for an agent to take on a young writer. Perhaps because a young writer is still in high school, has extracurricular activities on his or her mind, is planning to go to college and has not yet made writing a career choice or has just begun writing so his or her writing ability will improve in the next few years, allowing the young writer to polish his or her writing even further.

Having a young age is not an instant disqualifier in getting an agent or becoming published. It’s what comes with being young (a possibly immature and carefree lifestyle and business ethic) that may make an agent hesitant to sign a young writer.

*Note*

Elizabeth, I am not suggesting that your writing is not ready for publication, that you are immature, or that you do not have a proper understanding of businesses ethics. I am just posting what may have been the mindset of the agent who may not have signed you because of your young age.

yeah, i understand what you're saying. hopefully, if my other three partials turn into fulls, those agents will feel differently.

Has this happened to anyone else?

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YA/MG Author

Our Lady of Parentheticals

YA/MG Author

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YA/MG Author

Our Lady of Parentheticals

crushing on fictional characters

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Our Lady of Parentheticals

crushing on fictional characters

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fame-seeking floozy

brings the random.

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I don't dream for nothing!

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