YA Literary Agents?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Kindness

Back From My Self-Imposed Exile
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
454
Reaction score
34
Location
London
Website
www.boyvsworld.blogspot.com
I've almost finished with my WIP -- of course I'll need to polish it, but I'm not a person who spends months doing that. I want to start looking up agents and finding out more about them, but I'm having trouble with this -- I've only come across a handful of UK Young Adult agents, which I've noted down.

I've googled it but searching for 'UK Young Adult Literary agents' I get agents in the USA. I've also skimmed a few pages on agentquery.com but I didn't see anything UK (though in all fairness I only gave the site a quick search, about 20 minutes).

Can anyone direct me to a site where I can discover/read about more UK YA agents?

Thanks :) Sorry if this is in the wrong place xO
 

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
7,485
Reaction score
899
Location
Belfast
There aren't many just YA agents in the Uk, but alot of Uk agents handle YA. You're best bet is to get a writers handbook and go through it to see what each agent handles.
 

Momento Mori

Tired and Disillusioned
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 25, 2006
Messages
3,413
Reaction score
825
Location
Here and there
I agree with, Shaldna, the best way of finding YA agents in the UK is to get a copy of the Children's Writers & Artists Year Book as it will list all agents taking YA fiction based in the UK. Last year when I was doing my MA, I used a copy to put together a list of YA agents who could be invited to the Showcase. There are definitely more than you think as a lot of the 'grown-up' fiction agencies are now running YA and children's departments.

However, you will need to check out website listings to get an idea of what each agent represents/is looking for - which can take time.

At the same time, don't get hung up on the idea of just applying to UK agents. If you've got a good story that could have wider appeal then it's a good idea to check out the US agents because the market over there is bigger.

MM
 

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
7,485
Reaction score
899
Location
Belfast
Oh, I forgot about the Childrens W&A Yearbook. It's a great resource for children and YA writers. Most libraries will have a copy.
 

bertrigby

Dysfunctional dystopian
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 8, 2010
Messages
922
Reaction score
137
Location
UK
Kindness, I've been on the same search.

MsLexia has a list of UK agents here: http://www.mslexia.co.uk/resources/agents.php
There's a list here without 'blurbs', so it's harder to use: http://writersservices.com/agent/uk09/index.htm

There aren't many on the MsLexia that specify teen/YA in their little blurb, but if you look at the agencies that deal with children's fiction they often accept teen fiction as well. Of course it's a bit of a pain to have to go through all their websites (and some of them seem not have websites still...!), but needs must!
 

jmascia

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Messages
363
Reaction score
7
I'm going to suggest finding the Writer's Marketplace, a huge book that have a slew of agents and editors for any type of writing. They have a book that is specifically for Children and YA writers too called The Children's Marketplace, if I am not mistaken. This will help you out greatly, and it is a book that no writer should be without. Just make sure you get the newest edition.
 

MissKris

Is the random.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
1,691
Reaction score
317
Location
Kate brought me.
Website
www.kristindmiller.com
You might also want to try googling British literary YA authors and see who their agents are. It's a good place to start.

For example, Meg Rosoff and Jenny Downham are repped by Cath.erine Cl.ark at Feli.city Br.yan.

The late Siobhan Dowd's estate is repped by Hil.ary Dela.mere at The Agency.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.