Introducing our New Editors for Words & Pictures

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our wonderful new, volunteer Editors. Please put your hands together and give a warm welcome to: Louise Cliffe-Minns (our new Events Editor), Charlotte Comley (our new Celebrations Editor), Jennifer Lane and Julie Sullivan Winn (our two new Monday Features Editors).

Louise Cliffe-Minns ~ Events Editor

Lou has moved about a bit, she grew up in the North West, but then moved to Leicester, Cambridge, London, Northampton and Sydney. She now lives between the UK and Australia with her hubby and three kids who force her to enjoy the Great Outdoors. When not grappling with deadly spiders and chasing kangaroos she writes Middle Grade and YA fiction.

Lou has been an English and Drama teacher, briefed MPs for Keynotes, written content for E-learning and has dragged reluctant CEOs around prisons and homeless shelters. She has an MA in creative writing, has been a member of SCBWI BI since 2011 and is a part of the Muddle Graders on line critique group.

Charlotte Comley ~ Celebrations Editor

Charlotte is owned by a small West Highland Terrier who is used to getting his own way. In between his walks and caring for her adorable two children, she works as a freelance writer, professional storyteller and tutor. She's had eleven educational resources published as well as various pieces of fiction, non fiction and radio work.  

Charlotte is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing for Children at Winchester University. She enjoys writing for the five to eight and middle grade age range but she's excited about writing her first YA novel. 

Jennifer Lane ~ Monday Features Editor

Jenn has always been surrounded by books: you can't move in her house for fear of knocking over a stack or two. She's worked in libraries, bookshops and has even turned her hand to writing a few of them herself.

She studied an MA in Writing for Children before being represented by Curtis Brown Literary and Talent Agency. Born in Liverpool but now based in Lancaster, Jenn loves to ramble on the moors, watch wildlife and scribble things down in her notebook.

Julie Sullivan Winn ~ Monday Features Editor

Julie is American and has lived most of her life in Europe, mainly in France and Germany. Her four children all went to school in the U.K. and two still live here. She moved to London this year from Paris and is looking forward to working on Words and Pictures.

I'm sure you'll agree, what a fabulous bunch they are. Here's to a fun time working on W&P. Cheers, Nancy.

Some Very Good Reasons for Booking on the 2014 Writers' Retreat

First reason: Pyjama Party

Tatum Flynn had a truly splendid time at last years writers' retreat. If you are still ummimg and aaahhing about going, can Tatum persuade you?



Once upon a time, I sat down and wrote a children’s book called Brimstone for Breakfast, about Lucifer’s youngest son who was hopeless at being evil. And then I stared at my computer and wondered what on earth I was supposed to do next. So I researched agents, and read blogs, and befriended writers on Twitter, and along the way I ran across an organisation called SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. An organisation who just so happened to be running a weekend retreat only an hour away from me.

So I packed up my hopes and set off for the land of wine and cake and words. 

‘That might be good,’ I said to the cat, who was blithely plotting the death of a pigeon outside the window. ‘I’d be able to talk to real live kidlit writers and take workshops with published authors and even get to meet a bonafide acquiring editor who *pause to read fine print* yep, who would actually critique my first chapter for me. Plus that hotel looks really pretty and I’d kill for a weekend in the country away from screeching seagulls and thrumming traffic.’ The cat mewed encouragingly. Or possibly homicidally, I can never really tell.

Award-winning authors taught us about bringing setting alive and keeping motivated to write as we scribbled frantic notes

So I packed up my hopes and set off for the land of wine and cake and words. And my hopes weren’t disappointed: for the first time in my life, I met other children’s writers in the flesh, and stayed up late discussing agents and book deals and middle-grade voice and just how many glasses of wine it was possible to drink and still get up for the workshop the following morning.

...we made friends and picked each others’ brains and even had a pyjama party where we read extracts from our work, some of which had us in fits of giggles...

Award-winning authors taught us about bringing setting alive and keeping motivated to write as we scribbled frantic notes, and the real live editor explained all about the inner workings of publishing as curious writers bombarded her with questions. And in between, we made friends and picked each others’ brains and even had a pyjama party where we read extracts from our work, some of which had us in fits of giggles. So by the time my meeting with the editor came round on the Sunday, I was just hoping she wouldn’t hate my story and rain on my parade, because I was having so much fun. What I got was better than I could have possibly hoped: she loved my chapter. It had made her laugh. She thought it was fresh and original and could I please send her the whole thing straight away?

‘We are enthusiastic about your manuscript,’

Well, if you insist, I said, skipping all the way home with a grin the size of Texas on my face. Then, a few months later, an email pinged up on my phone. ‘We are enthusiastic about your manuscript,’ it said. ‘We would like to invite you to our offices to meet our editorial team.’ So I went, and they were lovely. And offered me cake which I was too nervous to eat. And said they might even be interested in a sequel. And told me my book would now go onto acquisitions. In return, I basically just tried not to faint. The cat, naturally, remained unimpressed.

Multi-award-winning YA author Teri Terry will be running the retreat again this year, and to be serious for a second – although you can probably guess my feelings on the matter – I can’t recommend it enough.

I still didn’t even have an agent at this point, so I dashed out to the shop and got myself one. And shortly afterwards we had an offer – a two-book-deal, to my utter amazement – with the terrific Orchard Books, and all because I’d thought it might be nice to have a writerly weekend in the country.

Multi-award-winning YA author Teri Terry will be running the retreat again this year, and to be serious for a second – although you can probably guess my feelings on the matter – I can’t recommend it enough. No, not everyone’s going to get a book deal out of it. I was extraordinarily lucky. But the friends and connections you’ll make and the things you’ll learn – all wrapped up in a gorgeous bundle of wine and food and beautiful countryside – are more than enough reward on their own.

For more pictures of pyjamas and writerly fun go to Tania's report from May last year. 

For this year's retreat with special guests Carnegie shortlisted author Elizabeth Wein and Bookseller 2013 'rising star' agent Bryony Woods BOOK HERE.

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@Tatum_Flynn

Tatum Flynn is the author of Brimstone for Breakfast, out Summer 2015 from Orchard Books/ Hachette UK, and a sequel which she’s supposed to be writing right this minute.

March Dare

Andrew Weale

We welcome picture book writer Andrew Weale to Words & Pictures with some excellent advice. Over to Andrew...

I’m a March baby, by star sign a fish. This traditionally means that I am creative, and my head is usually to be found somewhere in a cloud. However, I’m not all fluffy. I have a daring, determined streak too.



 At the beginning of my career, I enrolled on a children’s writing course at the City Lit in London. One of the first things I was told by a tutor was to stay away from rhyme and not to write a counting book. This is where my creative and daring sides met, got married and quickly had an offspring.

One morning (a little while later), dressed in shabby pyjamas and holding a chipped mug full of coffee, I was standing in my living room when a verbal picture popped into my head: one newt in a suit. It had a lovely Dr Seuss ring to it, so I sat down on the crumbling divan and thought of more possibilities. In five minutes I had a list including cockatoos in high-heeled shoes and bats in black top hats. After another five minutes, I had the idea of binding the animals together with numbers. After a day I had my first commercial picture book, One Newt in a Suit: a counting book in rhyme.

Horror! I had broken not one but two ‘rules’. However, my message here is: follow your creativity (wherever it might take you), and be daring (don’t be deterred by so called perceptions about the publishing market). In short, write what your heart tells you to write. If you write from the heart, a publisher is far more likely to sit up and take notice than if you write to order for ‘the market’.

Creativity and daring also came into play when I wrote my second picture book for Hodder, Dinosaur Doo. Yes, it’s a book about dinosaurs and poo. The idea this time came from a conversation with Sue Buswell, in which she told me how Aliens Love Underpants had come into being: a couple of editors simply thinking of things that children love and putting them together.

On the train home that evening I did the same thing and came up with dinosaurs and poo. After a manic google (picture books+dinosaurs+poo), I couldn’t believe that nobody had thought of putting them together before. I had the first draft written, in verse, on the one and a half hour journey from London Victoria to Seaford, Sussex. Again, I was breaking a ‘rule’. You know, the one about parents not caring much for books about the dreaded ‘p’ word. Luckily, I didn’t care much either, because I was having such fun with my scatological dinosaur friends, and my editor at Hodder had a lot of fun too when she read that first draft.

So, I’m a March baby: creative and daring. I write what comes from my heart, and I try not to worry about ‘the rules’. The rulebook is there to be ripped up, and that’s what creative people are on this Earth to do!

---

Andrew Weale is every mother's nightmare. As well as being a writer of children's books, he is an actor and singer. He lectures on picture books at Winchester University and coaches corporate clients in presentation skills, so his mother does manage to catch some sleep at night.

Born in Brighton and educated at Eastbourne College, he won a Classics Scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford. Having rubbed shoulders with the likes of Boris Johnson and Niall Ferguson, he decided to change direction completely and learn how to act at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After far too many years of education he set up a theatre company that went on to win a Fringe First Award at the 1991 Edinburgh Festival. At the Award Ceremony he got to make a speech and kiss Emma Thompson.

Andrew's company was the first to tour Romania after the revolution, having been invited personally by Ion Caramitru, head of Bucharest's Bulandra Theatre. The company also toured in New York and Hong Kong.

Andrew has worked as a freelance actor and singer since 1997, when he played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Other highlights include working with Sir Alec Guinness and Janet Suzman. He has had roles in Kevin Spacey's film Beyond the Sea and Peter Sellars' production of The Rake's Progress at Paris' Chatelet Theatre. Recently he played the lead in the Theatre Royal Bath's Dangerous Obsession opposite Liza Goddard.

Andrew has always been involved with books. He worked with Kathleen Tynan and Allegra Huston on The Kenneth Tynan Ketters and Nick Hern on The Honourable Beast (the posthumous autobiography of English theatre director John Dexter). In 2010 Hodder published Andrew's first children's picture book One Newt in a Suit. Since then he has written four more for Andersen Press, Random House and Hodder. He has spoken at many festivals, including the Imagine Festival on London's South Bank, and the Oxford and Hay festivals.

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Featuring the Words & Pictures Editors

There are members of the Words & Pictures Team who are amazingly organised, work very hard but often don't get enough recognition for their talents. First up are two members of the writing features team (which also includes interim celebrations editor Tania Tay), Mel Rogerson and Katrina Charman, who have been in the thick of it since January.


Mel posts on Mondays and Katrina on Wednesdays; they are both insightful, creative and wonderful to work with.  Jan asked them about their Words & Pictures journey, where and how they work.

Katrina

Katrina in her alternative writing space

I volunteered to be a part of the Words & Pictures team, because I'm one of those people who volunteers for, and says "yes" to everything! When I began my long (ongoing) writing quest towards publication and had absolutely no clue where to start, the SCBWI was there, offering a wealth of information and support for aspiring writers like myself. It has been great to be able to give something back to such a brilliant organisation.

I'm one of those people who volunteers for, and says "yes" to everything!

Being a part of the Words and Pictures editorial team has been a bit of a whirlwind. We only launched in March, but the time has flown by.

It seems like we've been going forever, and I think that is due in part to the way everyone behind the W&P scenes really does work as part of a fantastic team. Working with Jan, Mel and Tania, and all of the writers and contributors who put so much time and effort into their features, has been wonderful, and I have made some new friends along the way.

 ...it has been really enjoyable, meeting fellow Scoobies, and working with editors and agents.

During a typical month, I will liase with Mel, Jan, Tania and our writers, to see what features we have coming up, and what features we might be able to commission to fit into our upcoming themes. Although some weeks there can be more to do than others, it has been really enjoyable, meeting fellow Scoobies, and working with editors and agents.
I'm hoping to make it to the SCBWI conference this year to finally be able to put some faces to all those names, so come and say hi if you spot me! I mostly write YA Sci-fi and Fantasy, and am currently working on polishing up my submission for Undiscovered Voices. (Good luck to everyone who is entering this year!)
Jan asked for a picture of my usual working space, but as the weather has been so lovely (and I usually write in bed, which wouldn't be a pretty picture!) I cheated a little to show my outdoor writing space.

Mel

Mel with assistant features editor

Words & Pictures came at just the right time for me - two months into maternity leave. People said that I was mad to take on a new commitment, but it turned out to be the perfect antidote to the long, icy winter.

All we had to do was set up a schedule, which immediately appealed to my control freak instincts... 

I got to hang out with a great editorial team and talented contributors - all from the comfort of my own home. To be honest, I didn't really have a clue what an editor did before I accepted the role, but luckily Jan, our fab editor, had prepared a lot of the groundwork before we started - lining up volunteer authors and establishing ground rules. All we had to do was set up a schedule, which immediately appealed to my control freak instincts (I'd been a production manager for a publishing house in my former life so knew the value of spreadsheets!) and contact the wonderful people who had kindly offered to submit features. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming and it soon became clear that we weren't going to run out of material (a major fear at the outset) for quite some time.

The quality of the copy has always been outstanding...

Since that heady start, things have calmed down slightly, and it's become easier to manage the technicalities of the job. I can now upload a post to Blogger in thirty minutes, rather than two hours. I also understand rudimentary HTML. Little things that add up when you're trying to write a new YA novel and grapple with a demanding baby.

The quality of the copy has always been outstanding so that's never been a major issue. We have regular Skype catch-ups to discuss planning, or to brainstorm fresh ideas such as Agent Confidential (inspired by our own search for literary agents). I love the variety of the role, and nothing beats the excitement of receiving a new feature or being the first to read the answers to Sara O'Connor's Ask A Publisher column. But my favourite part of the journey so far has to be working with Katrina, Tania and Jan. Being part of such a supportive and friendly team has made all the difference to my big year out.

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Thank you Mel and Katrina for all your behind the scenes planning, emailing, posting, html-ing and emailing and social networking and emailing some more, you're stars in the W&P universe!

Picturebook (E)Critique Too! Who We Are, And What We Do!

By Lesley Moss

Picturebook Critique Too! (PB Too!) was the second peer-led picture book e-critique group for SCBWI_BI. Over three years from its inception it is still running, with many of the original members plus some lovely later additions. Candy Gourlay set it up, and passed the moderating baton to me, now ably assisted by Liz Miller. 

We have authors and author-illustrators of all backgrounds and all stages in the group, which makes for an interesting mix. We are quite a relaxed group, and take time out when we need to. And this seems to work for us. It must – as we’re still here, and still critiquing!

I asked the members about their work, their experience of PB Too! and how it has helped them develop their work.

First up: Joint Moderator Liz Miller! 

I write picture books but have been known to pen the occasional early reader, and I was excited to be Highly Commended for ‘The Pirate Who Liked Pink’ at this year’s Winchester Conference. I joined PB Too! in January 2011 and my time on the e-critique waiting list has been well rewarded. 

I've been lucky to have met quite a few PB Too! members in person at SCBWI events, including the recent Picture Book Retreat. You don’t need to have met to work together well as a group but it's been great to have had these opportunities and who knows, it may help to strengthen the group dynamic. I love the 'Oh yes...', 'Why didn't I spot that?', 'That's a good idea!' moments that come from my ever honest but always constructive and supportive fellow PB Too’ers. 

But it's not just about the critique - I really enjoy the sharing of event information, the cheering of success and the hands that reach out from the emails when someone's had a setback. It's what being a member of SCBWI is all about for me. 

Let's hear from our Author-Illustrators: 

Illustration ©Jamie Stevenson

Jamie Stevenson

I'm a fine artist, a scribbling, doodling crafty person who loves children's books, especially picture books! My illustrations are mainly in pastel or acrylic, and like my writing, tend to be humourous and quirky. 

Wanting to improve my writing/illustrating but with no other PB members around, I looked for an online critique group, becoming part of PB Too! when it was first formed. It is great to be in contact with such a brilliantly sunny collection of talented people, now friends, helping and cheering each other on, having feedback and advice. This lovely little group has made a big difference to me! 

Illustration ©Rikin Parekh

Rikin Parekh, author-illustrator

I worked as a storyboard artist/creature designer on feature films but being a children's picture book author-illustrator is what I was put on this earth to do! I've illustrated four picture books for MX Publishing and am looking for an agent/publisher for my own picture books. I’m now a Year One Teaching Assistant with the nuttiest of kids too! 

I joined PB Critique Too! in March 2012 and since then I have had the pleasure of being critiqued by the nicest, most honest and creative writers. As a group we all want success for each other and I've experienced many gold nuggets of advice, feedback, constructive criticism and a constant force of positivity. Due to this, my writing has improved by leaps and bounds. I feel more confident as an author-illustrator and am so glad to have joined this wonderful group! 

Illustration ©Holly Gatrell

Holly Gatrell, author-illustrator

I joined the critique group after meeting Lesley Moss at an Exeter Sketchcrawl in July 2012. This was the start of my SCWBI journey. I am about to complete my Masters Degree in Illustration. Joining the group was great for me as my MA was distance learning and I was the only person studying children’s books. It has enabled me to understand so much more of the art of writing for children. The group members are really supportive and it’s inspiring to be able to exchange thoughts with such talent, and with published authors and illustrators. It’s great to learn from people who know what they are talking about! 

Illustration © Kate Pankhurst

Kate Pankhurst

I illustrate picture books and young fiction. I recently had my first books as an author-illustrator published (Mariella Mystery Investigates). I love doodling, my favourite subject is anything funny or icky and I'm particularly fond of monsters, dogs and detectives. 

I work from home and being part of PB Too! makes my job seem less solitary. I'm always really inspired by how much work is created by the group – it definitely spurs me on to get that picture book idea I've been mulling over finished off! Having peers to help polish an idea up before sending it in the 'real world' is incredibly useful too.


And now, from our authors: 

Alfie’s Great Escape, by Kate Irwin 

and Clare Elsom, Egmont

Kate Irwin, author of 'Alfie's Great Escape', Blue Bananas, Egmont

The PB Too! group is invaluable to me. I write my stuff, bounce it off my nearest and dearest, then it goes to PB Too! before sending it in for a professional critique. Then, if all goes well, to submission. The PB Too! people are honest, positive, and a pleasure and honour to be involved with. I can't imagine writing life without them now. 

It is also a huge joy to see other people's work developing and taking shape, and improving massively over time. And the debate over what we think works or not is fascinating and informative. Quite possibly the best thing about my SCWBI membership. 

www.karenowen.co.uk

Karen Owen

I’ve had one picture book published, I Could Be, You Could Be. I love being a member of PB Too! because it’s the first place I turn to when I’ve written a new text. Supportive and constructive comments from writers and illustrators make a big difference, especially as I’ve had to learn to think more about the pictures as well as words. 





Lois Johnson

I’m a picture book writer and I also write children's novels, mainly middle grade books for 9-12. I have an MA in Creative Writing: Writing for Children. I think it's great being a member of PB Too! as it's a bonus getting an insight and comments from illustrators as well as other pb writers. I feel the group is very supportive and the generosity of people who spend time giving detailed, helpful comments is wonderful. Very often we are too close to our own writing to be objective but by being a member of such a great group, we can post our work confidently knowing any comments offered are with the sole intention of helping us improve. 

Sheryl Webster:

I've been a member of the group for three years. I find the group invaluable in helping me to shape and enhance my story ideas into more polished texts. Often the obvious errors are staring you in the face, but it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see it. The group offers honest and constructive advice and the support we all give each other is just fabulous. I feel we are at a stage now where we 'know' each others styles and how each person works. I feel really privileged to be working with a group I trust, whose opinions and advice help so much. 

I have had 18 titles published to date, some of which are picture books such as What Small Rabbit Heard (OUP)  Wee William (OUP) Noodle's Knitting (LTP) Tinysaurus (Anderson Press) and some reading scheme titles, including The Bug Club series for Pearson. I also enjoy writing early fiction for older age groups. 

Lesley: 

I wasn’t sure about the wisdom of online critique, but PB Too! converted me. I saw the way critiques could turn a script around, and how analysing someone else’s work could help in learning about editing. We’re also lucky to have a lovely guest contributor, Anne Rooney, who drops by occasionally with informed advice and information! 

I think this dedicated group epitomises SCBWI values, and I thought its members deserved a shout – out!

 

If you are a member of the SCBWI and are looking to join a critique group either online or in your local area, take a look at the critique information page on the SCBWI British Isles website. 

 

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Lesley Moss joined SCBWI in 2003 and over several years has volunteered for SCBWI as SW Joint Network Organiser, e-critique group moderator for Picturebook Too! and the Poetry e-critique group, which became www.thefuneverse.com (run by Maureen Lynas). She writes 8-12 fiction, picture books and funny verse. She originally studied art and design and spent some years in community arts, including a spell as a mime animateur, working creatively with children of all ages, and much more. But her first love is writing.

Ask an Agent: How Not to Write a Query

In our Ask an Agent feature this month, agents Molly Ker Hawn and Gemma Cooper from the Bent Agency have written a post about what not to say in your query, and why.

No one has been quite brave enough to send in a query for critique — yet — so we thought we’d do a little post about what not to say in your query and why. These are just made-up queries, but we really do see things like these in our inboxes...

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to submit my manuscript for submission. It is a 250,542-word MG fantasy, the first in a proposed seven-book series. I have already finished book 4.

I know it says in your submission guidelines to paste the first ten pages, but the story doesn’t really get going until chapter 3, so I have attached the best chapters, which are 4, 7, and 11.

The book has been described by my children as a gripping work of genius. I would describe it as an epic journey, where Jake, the main character, learns all about the difference between good and evil, and who to trust. It really looks at the bonds of friendship. I hope kids will learn how important it is not to bully other people.

I know this book will grip you from start to finish, and I think it could be the one to really put your agency on the map. It would make a great movie and here is the link to the Pinterest board with the actors I want to play the main characters.

I am a member of Sewing Anonymous, a big group of people who sew in the church hall at weekends. I’m also a sign language teacher and fluent in Portuguese.

I will call you tomorrow to see what you think.

Best wishes

A

So, where did "A" go wrong?:

Dear Sirs, (Please direct your query to the person you’re sending it to).

I am writing to submit my manuscript for submission. It is a 250,342-word (first, this is far too long for a debut MG. Remember Jennifer Laughran’s word count post? Second, do us a favour and round up your word count to the nearest thousand) MG fantasy, the first in a proposed seven-book series. I have already finished book 4. (We’d advise you not to start writing book 2 of a series until you have sold book 1. It might be that your publisher wants to change something that could have massive ramifications throughout the series. As agents, it would make us worried that you’re so glued to your story, you might not take editorial advice).

I know it says in your submission guidelines to paste the first ten pages, but the story doesn’t really get going until chapter 3 (So what happens in the first three chapters? Your opening is important; it sets the scene, gives us the main character’s voice and hooks the reader. If it’s so boring you don’t think it will hook an agent, how will it hook a reader?), so I have attached the best chapters, which are 4, 7, and 11. (How can we judge your project until we know what’s going on in the story? Reading random sample chapters doesn’t tell us what we need to know).

The book has been described by my children as gripping, and a work of genius. (Your children love you. They’ll love anything you read to them! Their opinion doesn’t make a difference to an agent, so don’t mention it). I would describe it as an epic journey, where Jake, my main character, learns all about the different between good and evil, and who to trust. It really looks at the bonds of friendship. (But what is the story? What actually happens?) I hope kids will learn how important it is not to bully other people. (Kids don’t like being preached to, and although some terrific books have messages like this, they’re cleverly layered into the story. The fact you say you want to teach kids would worry us that the tone of your book is too didactic.)

I know this book will grip you from start to finish, and I think it could be the one to really put your agency on the map. (We’re very happy with our current clients and how great they are – don’t be disparaging about the agency) It would make a great movie and here is the link to the Pinterest board with the actors I want to play the main character. (Things like this are fun to do with your writing buddies and critique partners, but we’d worry you were running before you could walk in mentioning it here).

I am a member of Sewing Anonymous, a big group of people who sew in the church hall at weekends. I’m also a sign language teacher and fluent in Portuguese. (Are these relevant to your book? If you are member of a writing organisation, tell us. And if your story is set in France, and you lived there for three years, then great – but keep it relevant!)

I will call you tomorrow to see what you think. (Never call an agent to chase up on a query unless her submission guidelines specifically say you should.)

Best wishes

A

Here's another example of how not to write a query:

Hey,

I have written three chapters of my untitled novel, but I can quickly finish the rest if you want it soon. This book is going to be as big as Twilight and The Hunger Games.

I know from reading a blog interview that you don’t represent thrillers, but I thought my book would make you think differently about them. I couldn’t find the submission details on your website, so I’ve just attached what I’ve written so far. It’s a bit rough, but you’ll get the picture. I bet you probably won’t read it though. I’ve found the search for an agent to be fraught, and I’ve begun to think there aren’t any professional people in publishing left. I’ve had 50 rejections – none of them helpful. I mean how hard is it to just send me a nice email explaining what you didn’t like about my book and giving detailed editorial tips. Seriously! I do hope that I hear from you and you will be the one good person in this whole stupid industry.

Email me back at lovesgiantteddybears@cuddles.com.

Laters

B

So, what could "B" have done differently?:

Hey, (Because agents are all over Twitter talking about what we ate last night, it can be easy to be informal when emailing us. Remember: this is a business letter.)

I have written three chapters of my untitled novel, but I can quickly finish the rest if you want it soon. (NEVER query an unfinished book. It’s so frustrating for us to request a full manuscript and find out it’s not available. And usually our full request means the manuscript is finished quickly and rushed. Edit and polish your book before you query. We’ll be here – what’s your rush?)

This book is going to be as big as Twilight and The Hunger Games (Don’t compare your book to the big books. If you mention comparables, show us you’re well-read in the genre you’re querying. For example, for a voicey animal-protagonist MG, you might say ‘This book would appeal to fans of 'The One And Only Ivan.’)

I know from reading a blog interview that you don’t represent thrillers, but I thought my book would make you think differently about them. (If it says we don’t represent a certain genre, then don’t think that you have written the one book that will change our mind. We will have good reason that we don’t rep that genre. You need an agent who is passionate about the genre you write in and who has the right editorial contacts.)

I couldn’t find the submission details on your website, so I’ve just attached what I’ve written so far. It’s a bit rough, but you’ll get the picture. (You only get one chance to make a first impression. Why send something unfinished and unedited? Also, if you’ve found our email address, you’re capable of finding our submission guidelines on our website.)

I bet you probably won’t read it though. I’ve found the search for an agent to be fraught, and I’ve begun to think there aren’t any professional people in publishing left. (Don’t bad-mouth other industry professionals to us – we’re a tight group and we have a lot of respect for each other).

I’ve had 50 rejections – none of them helpful. I mean how hard is it to just send me a nice email explaining what you didn’t like about my book and giving detailed editorial tips. Seriously! I do hope that I hear from you and you will be the one good person in this whole stupid industry. (It’s hard for us to be enthusiastic about working with someone with both an unrealistic view of how the industry works and a bad attitude.)

Email me back at lovesgiantteddybears@cuddles.com. (Use a professional business email address, ideally yourname@ )

Laters (Would you really sign a business letter this way?)

B

Okay, so that was a fun look at some common mistakes that crop up in our submissions. So what makes a good query letter? Our advice: don’t overthink it, keep it simple, and make us want to read your book.

Dear [Agent’s Name],

I am seeking representation for my [age - MG/YA etc.] [genre] manuscript [title] complete at [word count rounded to nearest 1000 words].

[Insert Pitch - 1 or 2 paragraphs explaining your plot. Introduce your main character. What does she want? What’s preventing her from achieving those goals? And what are the stakes if she doesn’t achieve them?]

According to your submission guidelines I have [consult the specific guidelines for the agency, posted on its website. For the Bent Agency, you’d say, ‘pasted the first ten pages of the manuscript below.’]

I am a member of [any writing organisations] and have won [any relevant writing prizes]. [Then add anything relevant to your role as the best person to write this book.] Thank you for your time.

All best,

[your name]

Simple, right?

If you are ready to start submitting to agents, but would like some feedback on your query from Gemma and Molly, then email your query to writers@britishscbwi.org. Submissions will be posted anonymously. Alternatively, if you have a question you would like to put to our agents, email us at the above address, or post them in the comments below.

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@gemma_cooper 

@mollykh.

Gemma Cooper and  Molly Ker Hawn represent authors of books for children and young adults. For more information about Gemma and Molly see The Bent Agency website and blog. 



Marketing Part Two: Brands

By Nicky Schmidt

In the first part of this series, we looked at the basics of marketing – starting specifically with product, because without a great product, you may as well stay in your pjs and never get out of bed. Once, however, you’ve written your novel, the best one you can, you have to start thinking about promoting it, because, as I said in the previous article, increasingly authors have to manage their own promotional efforts. But before you can promote yourself or your book, you have to have a brand – that is, you have to know what you stand for and why you do what you do, because it’s your brand that defines everything about you and your books.

"What’s a brand? A singular idea or concept that you own inside the mind of the prospect." - Al Ries, Marketing Consultant, Chairman of Ries & Ries

You’ll increasingly have heard about publishers talking about brands and the author, or a book series, as having a brand. Harry Potter started out as a book and became a brand. So did Twilight, so did the Hunger Games. Brands are about everything that a company or product stands for – and strong brands sell. Strong brands are stories, memories, emotions and, particularly, relationships. Multiple elements make up brands – logos, fonts, tag lines, style/graphics/colours – but ultimately the brand is the visual, emotional, rational and cultural image that people associate with you or your product, the thing that makes them choose your book over another, the thing they relate to and rely on. Think Harry Potter – it’s about fun, excitement, trustworthy entertainment, justice – not just a book about a boy wizard. Think of Apple – you think cool, hip, wannabe, trendsetter, beautiful – not just technology solutions.

The first thing you have to consider is creating a brand for yourself. To that end, what mental and emotional image do you, as author, represent and present to your target market, or, what image do your books present? What do you stand for, what do your words mean? If you are writing a series, it is much easier to focus on branding the books – you have, after all, created a whole world full of common values and emotions. This is why publishers like series – they’re much easier to brand, and therefore to sell.

But what if you’re writing one off books? Then you have to look to the values and emotions that play across all your books. Consider the American YA author, Sarah Dessen – there’s a recipe and a relationship of trust – teen girls buy her books because they know they’re going to get books about love, relationships, growing up, getting smarter. The branding lies in both Sarah Dessen and her books – you think Sarah Dessen and you know what you’re buying.

But, if you don’t want to be pigeon-holed into writing books which are all the same, write under a pen name and create a second brand.

Perhaps the most salient factor for the most successful brands is the promise of consistent quality. ~ Rosi McMurray, executive director of strategy, The Brand Union

If you’re the kind of author who writes across age groups and likes to experiment with different types of stories, then your work is harder – the branding has to be about you and everything you stand for – your values, your unique take on the world, the reliability of your writing and your stories. Integrity and responsibility are critical in personal branding. People will seek you on a bookshelf because they know they can trust your words.

The problem for debut authors is that you’re starting with a single book. So my advice is, don’t worry about the marketing so much, instead, make your book as good as you can and then write another and another and another. Create the products and get them on the shelves. The big point about brands is very much about relationships of trust.

Anyone remember when Coca-Cola tried to introduce New Coke back in 1985? They changed a time-trusted recipe, which resulted in a storm of consumer protest. When they reintroduced, “Classic Coke” sales rose. Think how scores of JK Rowling fans felt when she published The Casual Vacancy. Lesson: Never mess with a trusted recipe. Know what you stand for, believe in it, nurture it, and retain it. That’s brand management.

Unless you have absolute clarity of what your brand stands for, everything else is irrelevant. ~ Mark Baynes, global cmo, Kellogg Co.

The other point to remember is that your publisher has a brand too – they will be known for producing particular kinds of books. So while you are a brand in your own right, you are also one of the publisher’s sub-brands and need to align with your publisher’s brand.

Think about what you and your books stand for. Think about the colours and sounds and shapes and smells that represent you, that you love. Create a quirky, catchy tagline for yourself. Use these things consistently on all your promotional spaces – website, blog, author Facebook page, author Tumblr page, Twitter, bookmarks and giveaways. Be your brand at school visits and signings, live your brand in all your public spaces. The easiest way to do this is to know who you truly are and to be true to yourself because ultimately you as the brand become the marketing. And remember, as Scott Talgo, Brand Strategist says, “A brand that captures your mind gains behaviour. A brand that captures your heart gains commitment.”

You’re just anybody without your identity.’ – Grenville Main, DNA Design

In further considering brands, I recently wrote a blog post on my own blog, Absolute Vanilla about Brand and Voice – you may find it worth a read – because as I see it, there is a distinct correlation between an author’s voice and their brand.

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@NickySchmidt1

Born and raised in South Africa of central and northern European heritage, Nicky Schmidt is an ex scriptwriter, copywriter, and marketing, brand and communications manager who "retired" early to follow a dream.  Although she still occasionally consults on marketing, communications and brand strategies, mostly she writes YA fiction in the magical realism, realistic and supernatural genres.    She also writes freelance articles - mostly lifestyle and travel - for which she does her own photography. Her work has been published in several South African magazines and newspapers.