Kaylan Adair: How to Get an Editor to Notice You (for all the right reasons)!

Guide to Etiquette Publishing: How to Get an Editor to Notice You for All the Right Reasons

How to behave at a conference: come talk to us! Saying hello does not make you a crazy stalker.

What sort of things is it appropriate to talk about? Ask about our tastes! Ask about our publishing house or agency and general questions about the publishing process. Mention that you’ve been submitted if you have, but don’t expect us to remember you.

DON’T Pitch your manuscript in a one-on-one casual meeting.

Don’t give an editor a manuscript to take back with them.

Don’t ask what publishers pay for advances.

Don’t ask what we really think of Harry Potter or Twilight, etc.

Submission etiquette:

The basics:

Cover letter: one page business letter that introduces you/includes short summary of work and genre

Query letter: letter you send asking permission to send manuscript

Summary: depends on publishing; check specific guidelines

Notification postcard: sent with the manuscript and we’re meant to send them back so you know it arrived safe and sound.

Submissions: what NOT to do

Don’t print on special paper. That means no colors or perfumes, peeps.

Don’t include anything extra with your submission. No photos of your dog, pictures, glitter, or food.

Don’t use the envelopes that are filled with newspaper.

Don’t include a detailed marketing/merchandising plan.

Don’t compare your book to mega bestsellers!

Don’t submit to us twice. We’ll tell you if we want to see more.

Don’t waste money on special shipping

Don’t worry about copyrighting. We aren’t going to steal your idea. Really.

Don’t get your lawyer brother-in-law to submit your book. Trust us—we know.

Don’t submit to multiple editors at the same house/multiple agents at the same agency

Don’t use a weird font. It makes it hard for us to read.

Double space your manuscript. Number your pages.

Personalize your cover letter, even if you haven’t met the editor/agent.
If you did meet us at a conference or in some other fashion, mention this right away.

Include a self-addressed stamp envelope even if you don’t want it back.
Use a professional tone.

Follow the submission guidelines!

Don’t include illustrations if you aren’t a professional illustrator.

Don’t write in rhyme unless you think of yourself as the poet. Forced rhyme is the worst!

Know the market!

Don’t submit to someone who doesn’t rep your genre.

Don’t pitch an entire series! Publishers won’t want to commit to five books at once right now.

Know your character through and through. TEENS ARE THE MOST DISCRIMINATING READERS.
Make sure you’re reading what is current.

The waiting game:

DON’T call us to follow up.

Wait three months before sending a polite status query.

Continue to submit your manuscript to others!

Start work on another project.

Patrick Collins - Creative Director, Henry Holt

Sending in your Art Samples:

See Henry Holt’s website for current submissions policy.
Patrick said artists can mail postcards or art samples to him. He prefers postcards. They are easy to take to a meeting and show other team members.

Patrick also sees drop off portfolios on Mondays, you don’t need an appointment. Artists can drop a portfolio off at the Henry Holt office and pick it up the next day. He also does in-person portfolio reviews by appointment.

Henry Holt accepts unsolicited manuscripts. The Henry Holt editors rotate each week to read unsolicited manuscripts. They only respond to submissions (both art & manuscripts) if they are interested.

First Pages with Cheryl Klein and Chris Richman

Cheryl Klein and Chris Richman read and react to first pages submitted by conference attendees.

FREE copy of HANDCUFFS by the fabulous Bethany Griffin

We're giving away a free autographed copy of HANDCUFFS by Bethany Griffin.

The first one to come ask for it at the blog table wins!

Meet the Bloggers

Meet Team Blog for the SCBWI Midsouth 2009!




Kristin O'Donnell Tubb is the author of Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different (Delacorte 2008) and the upcoming Selling Hope (Feiwel & Friends 2010). Please visit her website (www.kristintubb.com) or her blog (www.kristintubb.blogspot.com).




Rae Ann Parker is looking for representation for her latest middle grade novel, The Devil's Backbone. Please visit her blog at www.raeannparker.blogspot.com




Amanda K. Morgan lives in Nashville, TN. Visit her online at http://amandaKmorgan.com or http://mandymorgan.livejournal.com

Cheryl Klein, "The Whole Shebang"

Ms. Klein discussed five books she has worked on, and what she’d like writers to learn from them:

1.  Timothy and the Strong Pajamas – Viviane Schwarz.  Timothy has pajamas that make him super-strong, but what happens when they rip?  The pictures and text work together to tell the story.  The vast majority should be in the images, like a silent film.   It should also touch on a common childhood emotion.  This book touches on a child’s desire for strength.  Great children’s books model a way for children to deal with their emotions.

Exercise:  What are some key childhood emotions when you are 6? 10? 15? 

2.  The Light of the World – Katherine Patterson.  The key here is to speak the child’s language. 

Exercise:  How would you describe the Office of the President?  The concept of love?

3.  Millicent Min, Girl Genius – Lisa Yee.  This book came to A.A. Levine through SCBWI.  Began as a manuscript written entirely in emails.  Great first line: very specific, contains conflict, and it’s funny.  A great children’s book has believable characters you can sympathize with. 

Exercise: Do a character study.

4.  The Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling.  Harry’s narrative voice is unique.  Excellent showing (not telling) details.  We experience what Harry experiences.  Be alert to the word “felt.”  Good fiction “mainlines emotion.”  In reality, both showing and telling have their place in fiction.  Think topic sentences. 

Exercise:  Rewrite the following:  “Zombies walked up West End Avenue.  Susie felt terrified.  William was hyper.” 

5.  A Curse Dark as Gold – Elizabeth Bunce.  A good example of character change/growth.  Ms. Bunce has both an internal and external plot, weaved together.  Don’t teach lessons. 

Exercise:  Use a triangle to map out your story – your story gets bigger and bigger and bigger to the climax, the breaking point.  

Use exercises such as these to make your story stronger!

Behind the Scenes at Candlewick with Associate Editor Kaylan Adair

Candlewick Press was named the fastest growing publisher by Publisher’s Weekly. They do board books, picture books (the backbone of Candlewick’s list), brand new readers (books for someone just learning to read), early readers (for children beginning to read on their own), chapter books (5-7 short chapters), middle grade fiction, nonfiction (picture books through anthologies for older readers), young adult fiction. Genres run the gamut. They are looking for strong writing.

Kaylan showed a photo of the Candlewick library where they keep multiple copies of all books currently in print. They have a separate library full of archived copies of out-of-print books.

The Candlewick Meetings:
No acquisitions meeting: The editors are given the freedom to acquire projects.
Production Meeting: Weekly meetings to discuss the status & titles on current and future lists
Picture Book Meeting: discussing picture book submissions
Illustrator Search Meeting: editor meets with designers to discuss potential illustrators for a picture book
Sketches Arrive: editor & designer look at sketches and make suggestions
Final Art Arrives: artwork is scanned and designer puts everything into layout
Covers Meeting: evaluating cover designs. All departments work together on this one.

Kaylan showed an example of the cover selection process for the book, Swim the Fly. There were 25 steps to finding the right cover!

Kaylan Adair has worked on more than 100 titles. She acquires everything from picture books to upper YA. She is looking for well-written stories with interesting characters, strong, unique voice, and lots of heart.