Whenver I think of an agent, a very clear image comes to mind: Ari Gold from Entourage. Tencacious? Yes. Plays hardball? Yes. Somewhat abusive to his long-suffering assistant and wife? Sadly, yup on that, too. In short, as a character, Ari Gold embodies the absurdity of the Hollywood Machine.
Luckily, of the agents I have met, literary agents are nothing like the Ari Golds of La-La Land. 
Take Linda Pratt of the Sheldon Fogelman Agency or Maya Rock of Writers House, for instance. They give off the confidence that every writer wants in an agent, and they have the experience and pedigree to back it up. They walk the walk and talk the talk, but also maintain a great approachability about them. In having dinner with them prior to the SCBWI meeting at the Chat n' Chew off Union Square (yum), and then listening to their lectures as the month's guest speakers, I can gladly say that these two ladies have all the great qualities necessary in an agent, (a.k.a. they know how to shop your book around and get it sold) without any of Ari's crazy.
Each specializes in a slightly different genre/age-group, though they represent children's writers as a whole. Linda works with both author and illustrators, and deals with picture books all they way up into YA. She really enjoys middle grade, especially if it contains a realistic yet other-worldly feel (think The Penderwick series). Maya, on the other hand, represents only YA or Adult manuscripts. She is drawn to edgy/sarcastic humor, though of course is open to new things.
Here's what they had to say in fielding some questions from Tuesday night's audience:
Q: What are the genres editors are looking for/tired of?
- Graphic novels/manga as well as hybrids are a huge sucess in the children's or YA fields (Maya)
- Editors are buying a bit less YA than a few years ago, though it is still hugely popular with the consumers. If you are writing a YA, don't stop. (Maya)
- If you have a male geocentric YA, a prevelant female voice in the story is very important, as the dominant YA reader is female. Editors and book sellers are aware of that. (Linda)
Q: What's your process in acquiring and selling a book?
- I have to fall in love with a manuscript, and then I will take it on. If I am in love with it, I'll fight for it, which is crucial since it is getting harder to sell a book to a publisher these days. In terms of selling, I do multiple submissions unless I feel a manuscript will connect with a specific editor. (Maya)
- I, too, need to fall in love with the manuscript. But I also need to feel good about the person, since we will be working together very closely. For selling, I do a mix of multiple and single submissions. I try to match the personalities of writers with certain editors. (Linda)
Q: Before submitting a manuscript, what do you look for?
- A query. Also, if you are submitting to multiple agents, please let me know. (Maya)
- A cover letter and the first three chapters of the manuscript if we met in a conference setting. Otherwise, just a query is fine. I also second Maya's request if you are submitting to multiple agents. (Linda)
- [The website of each agency has detailed submission guidelines that should be followed if interested in querying either Linda or Maya as an agent]
Tips were also offered during the evening. Here are a few that Linda comprised, which Maya agreed would make our lives as writers a tad easier.
- Be pragmatic and flexible.
- Be brave - reach out to creative areas that may not be your typical comfort zone, but that might catch an editor's or reader's interest (ties back into pragmaticism)
- Know your consumer. The audience has not changed over the past 20 years, but the consumer has. The consumers have shifted from libraries and schools and directly to the kids who have a lot more disposable income than in the past.
- Picture books are extremely character driven. Think in terms of franchise characters like Fancy Nancy or Duck and Goose.
- If you are a novelist, do a bit of comparitve title research, though not so much that it will kill your creativity.
So there you have it - another sucessful lecture provided by the Metro Chapter of the SCBWI. I really have to give kudos to Linda Pratt and Maya Rock. The night was captivating and it has sold me on the idea of going for an agent - a debate I have been having with myself for the past three years. Thanks ladies! Would you mind taking a look at . . .