Publishing Pulse: 3/11/11

Agent Success Stories

Congrats to our four success stories this week.

Kristine Carlson Asselin  

Kathy Bradey   

Veronica Canfield   

David Kazzie    

Agent Related Advice

Assistant agent Natalie Fischer talked about when the client/agent relationship doesn’t work anymore.

E-books

Nathan Bransford explained this week why some ebooks cost more hardcover.

Pimp My Novel talked about five things to know about the e-evolution.

Writer Conferences

Are you going to any upcoming writer conferences? Agent Janet Reid shared some advice about the benefits of attending conferences and what you shouldn’t do after attending one.

Agent Jessica Faust has some tips on how to pitch successfully at conferences.

Conference Handouts for Free

Check out this listing of free handouts from the RWA (Romance Writers of America) annual conferences. You don’t have to be a romance writer to appreciate many of the handouts, which include topics on craft and promotion.

Free Online Conference

And if you haven’t already heard, the 2011 WriteOnCon dates are now out. Mark off your calendars for August 16-18^th.  You don't want to miss out on the awesome event.

YA Fiction and Teen Opinions

Agent Mary Kole discussed the hierarchy of publishing opinions when it comes to YA novels.

Turning Your Book Into A Movie

Agent Rachelle Gardner talked about in the Hollywood side of the book deal (parts one and two).

 Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stina Lindenblatt writes romantic suspense and young adults novels. In her spare time, she’s a photographer and blogging addict, and can be found hanging out on her blog, Seeing Creative.  

Querying Age: Are You Too Young or Too Old?

                                        ©Stina Lindenblatt

 

I was recently asked if there is an age beyond which a literary agent will shy away from when it comes to signing a new client?

First, I want to make it clear. Never, ever, mention your age in a query. You only include the essentials. Your age is not essential.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a teen writing YA. Yes, your voice might be authentic compared to a ninety-nine-year-old writing a YA novel, but the agent doesn’t care. Nor is it important that you’re approaching the upper end of your life span.

The agent only cares about three things: your story appeals to her, she loves your voice, and your writing skills are honed.

That’s all. And these three things will be reflected in your query. Right?

The only circumstance in which you would tell the agent your age is when you’re a minor (under the age of eighteen). Then a parent or legal guardian will have to co-sign your agency agreement. But you only mention it to an agent when you get The Call. Not before.

And really, what does it matter how old you are? Sure, if you’re eighty, your writing career might not be as long as someone in his twenties. But the same twenty-year-old might die in a car accident and that’s the end of his writing career. You can’t predict these things, and neither can an agent.

So don’t worry about your age. Just focus on producing the best possible query and manuscript.

Stina Lindenblatt writes romantic suspense and young adults novels. In her spare time, she’s a photographer and blogging addict, and can be found hanging out on her blog, Seeing Creative.