Advice is great, but concrete advice you can put into action immediately? That’s gold! Jyn Hall not only shares her good news about landing her agent but delivers practical tips to help YOU—whether you’re querying now or in the future. Putting that kind of positivity in the world can only mean a book deal can’t be far off. We’ll be there to see all of Jyn’s success come to fruition.

Congrats, Jyn!  

How long had you been writing before seeking an agent, and what made you decide it was time to look for one? 

I’ve been writing for decades (short stories, screenplays, comedy sketches). But to keep my answer simple(-ish), I’ll narrow it down to just picture books. I wrote my first PB in 2018 or 2019, when I knew nothing about writing them. (I had a great idea. And it seemed simple, right? I’ll wait for you to finish laughing. Anyway…)  I joined SCBWI end of 2020 (where I soon found my critique group The Inkcredibles) and 12 x 12 beginning of 2021 (where I found my second critique group PB2 in 2022). I started consuming every class, workshop, seminar, and conference to learn about craft and the industry I could find (and afford).  I heeded 12 x 12 members’ advice to not query too early. So I had 3 PBs very polished before I ever started querying one in Oct 2021. Although, in hindsight, I’d say, it might have still been a little too early…

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

It took me longer to research an agent than to write and submit the actual query!

At the very beginning, I wrestled with how to project manage it all. I could tell I needed a system in place. Even just figuring out how to begin was overwhelming. I started off with a spreadsheet, which quickly became cumbersome. Then I discovered QueryTracker (QT) and immediately became a huge fan. (Very affordable at $25/yr. The paid membership vs the free is well worth it for all the extra bells and whistles.) Not only does QT have an organizational system better (for me) than a spreadsheet, but so much research is all there in one place. I also got a Publishers’ Marketplace (PM) membership. (A very pricey $25/month) to be able to see agent and editor deals, as well as other great info. So I would use QT to click on every link to find out everything I could about each agent before querying them—review their website, the agency’s website, their PM account details, their social media accounts, MSWL, any interviews—written, YouTube videos, podcast interviews, etc. I made a note in QT if I saw them at a workshop or conference or pitch event (to be sure to reference that in the personalized first paragraph of the query letter), as well as if they mentioned new wishlist items/preferences, pet peeves, and little personal details I related to that could be a point of connection.

I also read hundreds of picture books (400+ in 2021 and 100-200 each year after) and recorded mentor and comp texts in my Libib app. I would research the agents for those via PM and then note that in QT.

The dreaded questions: How many queries?  How many rejections?

I was in the query trenches for exactly 2 years.

My querying stats:

Queries sent: 100* (My agent was the 88th query sent.)

(*Note – this doesn’t mean I sent to 100 different agents. Some agents got 2 or 3 queries sent over 2 years and a handful were editor requests from contest wins, etc.)

Nudges sent: 26

🦗Crickets🦗: 49

Form Passes: 23

Personalized Passes: 14

Champagne Passes (not included in one of the other stats): 4

Requests for more mss: 8

“The Call” requests: 2

Was it difficult to find an agent who wanted to represent an author focusing on picture books?

Not at all! Not to say that it doesn’t take time to wade thorough all the agents who say they rep PBs, but are closed, don’t want text-only authors, etc.

Who is your new agent? Tell us about getting the news. How did you know your agent was “the one”?

Carey Blankenship-Kramer, a newer agent with Belcastro Agency.

It was all very surreal. I’d wanted this for so long and had already fielded an agent call that didn’t pan out. So while I was nervous and excited, I was still trying to keep a damper on my feelings. The call was incredible. We clicked right away and Carey was so enthusiastic about my work that I wanted to sign with her right then and there. But I still took my 2 weeks (a very looong two weeks…even though I was distracted by a wonderful RUCCL menteeship, an anniversary trip to the coast, and a SCBWI writing weekend at the beach.) There was also a fun flurry of interest (as well as non-interested well-wishes) after nudging agents with outstanding queries or requests for more manuscripts. I officially signed with Carey on Nov. 3, while at the beach writing retreat, and we almost immediately went into line revisions on my first manuscript. I love how accessible, communicative, enthusiastic, collaborative, and constantly positive Carey is. Oh! And we got to meet for coffee when she was in town! So unexpectedly lovely in this virtual age.

If 12 x 12 helped you in any way during your agent search/development of craft, can you tell us how? (P.S. It is TOTALLY okay if the answer is no. I am not trying to “lead” you 🙂 )

Oh goodness. Where to start? How much time do you have? The amount of resources and incredible community are what I always tell people about. Being around authors who are much farther along in their careers and journeys is invaluable to me. Coming from a professional acting background with similar gatekeepers, I thought I had reasonable expectations about rejections and the long road. But hearing 12 x 12 members’ journeys, I reset my expectations for writing and querying and getting an agent. Additionally, I’ve seen numerous highly talented and prolifically published authors go through a few agents or make it to acquisitions and have the deal die or get a signed contract and still have that fall through or be disappointed in the final product of their book, etc. etc. It helps to know how full of ups and downs this industry is. And that we have each other. I found a critique group here my second year and we are still together. The first couple years, I loved the Challenge (I’m highly competitive—even with myself) of creating a new draft and revising another one each month. I learn a good deal from all the webinars and chats.  I feel I have an easily accessible place to get questions answered quickly and knowledgeably. Thank you, 12 x 12 community!!

Has your writing process changed at all since signing with an agent?

I believe I’m getting quicker with rewrites. Without an agent, I would continue to revise and play with a manuscript for a couple years. But now I have (loose) deadlines and someone to tell me when I’m done. (Which I love!) Also, I have so many ideas (thank you, 12 x 12 and StoryStorm!) but I don’t always know which is the most marketable. Having an agent look at many of my ideas and say, “How about you work on this one next?” is, frankly, a relief.

What advice would you give to picture book writers looking for agents today?

* Don’t query too early. Have at least 3 (really, probably 4 or more…) manuscripts polished so hard they shine.

* Get on QueryTracker. Now. Even if you are a year or two away from querying. You can start keeping records/notes of agents and editors when they’re at a workshop or conference with you or when you’re scrolling down your Twitter feed. (Yes, the Twitter kidlit community is still alive, well, and invaluable.) Watch all the very short videos, so you can quickly get up and running, using QT to its full potential for organization, reminders, and even the very handy Watches on agents for when they reopen!

* Keep writing and developing your craft while querying.

* Persevere! When I was exhausted, lying face-first in the mud of the querying trenches, I heard several times that if you stick with writing and querying long enough you WILL get an agent. I chose to believe that. I had this quote on my wall while querying:   

          “A river cuts through rock,

          not because of its power,

          but because of its persistence.”

          — James N. Watkins

* Take care of yourself! If you need to take a break from the emotionally difficult task that is querying, then do so! I had to take a break a couple times, especially after the disappointment of the agent call that didn’t end in an offer. But also, after some self-care, pick yourself up, dry your tears, and put yourself back out there. My heart hurts when I talk with writers who’ve stopped querying for years, but still desperately want an agent. Keep going! The more Nos you get, the closer you are to your Yes.

Do you think your platform (blog, social media) helped you find your agent?

My number of followers on social media didn’t have anything to do with finding an agent, but staying engaged on socials allowed me to stay current on trends, connect with the writing community, enjoy participating in contests with kidlit writers, and follow agents to see what I thought of them. (There were a couple I chose not to query because they were close to burnout or negative.)

AND…I did find my amazing agent on Twitter!

Tell us something that is on your “bucket list.” Something you’ve dreamed of doing all your life but have yet to accomplish (besides publishing a book, which is inevitable at this point 🙂 )

Mmm, love your positivity—just like my agent! 🙂

I’ve checked so much off my Life List: skydiving, watching the Northern Lights in Iceland, getting SCUBA certified, riding in a hot air balloon over Napa Valley, swimming with manatees, celebrating 365 Days of Holidays with my husband, and traveling the world. There are always more places I want to travel and things I want to do. But I think the one thing I will say today, which is a huge goal for me this year, is regaining some of my health back. As a Chronic Illness Warrior, lately I’ve been, unfortunately, focusing more on the “Chronic Illness” than on being a “Warrior.” I’d like to fight harder so I can enjoy traveling again (wouldn’t it be dreamy to go on a long writing retreat in an amazing international locale?) and possibly start fostering children, now that we have a home with enough space.

What’s up next/what are you working on now?

I currently have my first picture book on sub (which is not the picture book I widely queried agents, which I find interesting) and am working on a brand new story. Originally I’d planned it for a magazine. but my critique partners encouraged me to run it by my agent first. I did and she said she’d love to see it as a picture book, so that’s what I’m working on now. I’m also revising a middle grade novel with a Neurodivergent protagonist (like me!).