Publishing House or Agent?

[Stacey Sweeney]

Is it better to submit children's books to agents or publishing houses? Once you have an agent, do you use that agent for everything you write (novels and children's stories)? Do agents submit to magazines too, or just book publishing companies?
Thanks,
Stacey

[fedorable1]

It depends on the genre. If you're talking children's/YA novels then I'm sure that your children's book agent could work with that - provided, of course, they like it and have time.

Most agents specialize in particular genres, and so if you have an agent for one project you may well have a different agent for another if the subjects/genres are different.

Publishers are the same way. There's also that odd catch where publishers might not read your work unless it's represented by an agent - yet agents won't want to read it unless a publisher is interested.

Like any genre, I personally would try to get both at the same time and see which bites first.

[Inspired]

It's a hard thing, as mentioned above.

Most children's writers today are submitting to houses while they try to get an agent. They don't wait to get an agent. If you do get a publishing house to bite, you can call any agents who've shown some interest and explain that you've got a contract you'd like them to negotiate. Most agents would jump at that.

(I have no personal experience with this - just what I've heard.)

[TeddyG]

Only can offer some advice from 15+ years ago, but the publishing world changes and doesn't change, as you have or will discover.

I had a children's book already published, and had written the second one, and the illustrator was all done. At the same time I sent out query letters to publishers in regard to the children's book, and to agents in regard to a novel I had written. I got lucky in both areas, and landed a publisher for the children's book and an agent for the novel.

When the publisher started negotiations, I knew I was way out of my depth, so I wrote my agent (then it was only snail mail) asking her if she would take over representing the book for me. She was fine with it, only made sure I understood that she would get her 15% to which I was totally cool with. Indeed, since I lived in Israel and both publisher and agent were in NYC it was well worth it.

She actually saved me from giving me away a few rights on the book and in the end it was the only book I actually sold through her services.

So my advice would also be, go for both. See who jumps first. If it is a decent publisher, most valid and bona-fide agents would be glad to represent you. After all you have done 90% of the work.

Good luck.

Teddy