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Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

lm728

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Taylor now wants a full. Karla referred me to Natalie, and Natalie referred me to her (didn't query).
First email: 01.10.10 requested 50 pages and a synop.
Sent: 02.01.10 the night after my midterms.
Full request: 02.03.10, in the morning.
I've yet to send it out though...
 

Krista G.

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Thanks, Brady and PastMidnight, for your feedback. It's always nice to know someone's reading something you wrote :)
 

Libbie

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I got a full request from Natalie Fischer at this agency back in October. She asked for an exclusive read of four weeks, which I granted. She was incredibly prompt and professional, and had her decision back to me within eleven days (!!). She suggested revisions and offered to re-read it if I wanted to make those changes. Natalie obviously has a good eye -- the revisions she suggested were just what the ms needed, but I couldn't see it until she pointed it out. She is still in the process of reading the new version, and has been keeping in touch with me in a very professional manner.

I'm impressed. I hope she offers to represent me. I love the smooth, considerate communication from this agency.

Oh -- and wanted to update this thread to add that Natalie did offer representation, I accepted, and so far we're cracking along on some really great revisions. She continues to be quick, professional, and to have a great eye for literature. She's helped me target and fix a few errors with my plot. My book definitely wouldn't be as good without her help! I am excited about submissions on the horizon.

Natalie has my highest praise, for those who are considering querying her.
 

bclement412

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Is Taylor Martindale an agent here? I can't find her on the website.
 

inkspatters

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Yep, I think she's an associate agent there, but I'd ask Tilt since she's had the most contact with Taylor. Maybe they just haven't updated their website yet?
 

lm728

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@ink and @bailey:

Yep, they haven't updated the website yet, she's just recently become an acquiring agent.

@misselainie: I'm so nervous! :D Trying to cram in more edits...
 

Roly

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Does anyone know what Taylor wants? I can't find information on her anywhere. What kind of stuff does she go for? Ya urban fanatsy or paranormal?
 

secretkitty

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Just don't query more than one of them...sounds like Taylor and Natalie share queries, especially since I've read of a lot of passed-on queries in different threads. Plus, Natalie is the submissions manager, and I know she'll see it if you do both...!! Eek, did that once at an agency when I started out, BAD mistake...
 

houndrat

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Hi there-

Taylor M just requested a full from my partial, and I have to say, she's been extremely friendly, approachable, and quick in all my dealings with her so far. I would recommend querying her to anyone--I've heard she's kind in her rejections as well.

As far as what she wants--from what I've gathered, I *think* NF has less interest in fantasy and more in contemporary YA. My novel is UF, so I at least know Taylor is open to it.

Cheers and good luck, everyone! :D
 

lm728

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Hi there-

Taylor M just requested a full from my partial, and I have to say, she's been extremely friendly, approachable, and quick in all my dealings with her so far. I would recommend querying her to anyone--I've heard she's kind in her rejections as well.

As far as what she wants--from what I've gathered, I *think* NF has less interest in fantasy and more in contemporary YA. My novel is UF, so I at least know Taylor is open to it.

Cheers and good luck, everyone! :D

However, she passed on my contemp to Taylor, and requested Peachie's contemp...so I guess it just works for individual cases. :)

BTW, congrats! :D She has a quick turnaround time, no?
 

inkspatters

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NF likes fantasy, I think. She originally requested my urban fantasy/dystopian YA novel -- PIPER -- based on reading my blog. But since that was only in its draft stages, I wound up querying her with my literary YA piece. Still waiting on a response to my full, but so far all communication has been really pleasant. They seem like a lovely agency :)
 

houndrat

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Thanks guys for the correction! I wasn't sure, since I thought Karla mentioned one agent was less interested in fantasy? She might know, gah... :D

Yes, all communication has been lovely--Ink--totally agree.
 

inkspatters

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Yep, KC did say that NF wasn't too interested in fantasy -- and pretty much all of us wrote fantasy, so that was a bit of a downer. But NF did later mention in one of her emails to me that she was interested in all genres of YA. So I'm taking that plus her requesting my dystopian/UF as meaning she might not have a particular interest in fantasy, but she's open to it at least?

Dunno. Just something for potential queriers to know, I guess :)
 

victoriastrauss

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Just to note: the Dijkstra Agency's contract has "interminable agency" language, whereby the agency claims the right to represent any manuscript it sells for you not for the life of the contract, but for the life of copyright.

For why that's not desirable, see this warning from the Authors Guild, and also this entry from Writer Beware's blog.

- Victoria
 

Roly

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Sorry on the R, but getting an invite to submit again is pretty awesome! Good luck!
 

Erin

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Sorry on the R, but getting an invite to submit again is pretty awesome! Good luck!

Thanks! I plan to take her up on the invite on my next sub. Her R was one of the nicest ones I received, and she sounds like a gem to work with.