Question about unagented publishers

LordMark · Apr 30, 2013

[FONT=&quot]I recently finished re-editing a 50,000-word middle grade fantasy novel, but am having trouble getting an agent even tho this thing has gone through 6 revisions and has been critiqued by at least a dozen people (including two English/Creative Writing professors). [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If I can’t get an agent, I’ll have to try to find an unagented publisher probably. Do any of you know of any publishers of children’s fantasy that don’t require an agent? Thanks. [/FONT]

cornflake · Apr 30, 2013

Have you considered that it may be your query, not the ms., that's the issue?

LordMark · Apr 30, 2013

The query is fine. It does everything the specific agents required. Most of them say the story isn't "the right fit" for them.

jvc · Apr 30, 2013

LordMark said:
The query is fine. It does everything the specific agents required. Most of them say the story isn't "the right fit" for them.

That sounds like they're just standard form rejection letters.

LordMark · Apr 30, 2013

That sounds like they're just standard form rejection letters.
Yeah, most of them are.

cornflake · Apr 30, 2013

LordMark said:
The query is fine. It does everything the specific agents required. Most of them say the story isn't "the right fit" for them.

Have you gotten a decent rate of requests for partials or fulls off the query?

Nightmelody · Apr 30, 2013

Writer's Market for Children will tell you --not expensive on Kindle.

Britwriter · Apr 30, 2013

I'd say to stick around here, up your post #, so that you can post your query on SYW, and get feedback there. It takes more than an OK query to get an agent, and it's a process. The good news is that in doing this, your manuscript and writing improves and you learn more about the craft, in addition to learning how to navigate the publishing world.

I'm sure six revisions seems a lot to you, but most writers go through many, many revisions before reaching the point where their work is ready to go.

Keep at it, keep reading, and as soon as you can, post your query on SYW. You might want to post here also to ask those with experience of MG to go over to critique your query.

Old Hack · May 1, 2013

LordMark said:
The query is fine. It does everything the specific agents required. Most of them say the story isn't "the right fit" for them.

That's a form rejection.

If you haven't got a good proportion of partial or full requests as a result of sending out your query, the query is far from fine.

If that's the case, I'd stop sending it out (as once you've queried an agent you're unlikely to be able to query it again). Develop some friendships here, get your post-count up to fifty or more, and then post it in QLH.

Debbie V · May 6, 2013

Are the people who critiqued your work knowledgeable about writing for children as an industry? Even better, are they industry professionals are published in the field? If not, post a portion of your novel when you post your query.

LordMark · May 8, 2013

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try to participate more and get my word count up and then post the query.

kkbe · May 8, 2013

LordMark said:
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try to participate more and get my word count up and then post the query.

Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.

~ Yoda

LordMark · May 8, 2013

kkbe said:
Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.

~ Yoda

At least you didn't quote Jar Jar Binks.

Question about unagented publishers

LordMark

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

LordMark

jvc

Fearsome Dragon Mod

LordMark

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

Nightmelody

Britwriter

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

Debbie V

Mentoring Myself and Others

LordMark

kkbe

Huh.

LordMark