You’ve got an offer of representation. Now what? — a post from Molly

One of the most thrilling parts of my job is offering representation to authors whose work knocks my socks off. I get to share my delight at finding a fantastic project, and I get to make someone really, really happy. There’s nothing quite like that kind of rush.

When I offer rep, I always ask the author to tell the other agents considering her manuscript that she’s got an offer, and to let me know within a week or so if she’s decided to work with me. After all the effort and time an author puts into her project, she owes it to herself to make a considered decision, and if other agents are reviewing her full manuscript, they deserve not to have their reading time wasted. I hope I’ve made my case for why I’m the right person to represent her and her work, I make myself available to answer questions, and then I wait while she gets responses from the other agents to whom she’s submitted. Then I complete a variety of superstitious tasks that I’m not sharing here. Trade secret, sorry.

It’s nerve-wracking to wait for the author’s response, but it’s necessary. Marry in haste, repent at leisure, the proverb goes — so I want my clients to give my offer a good deal of thought, weigh their other options, and choose me with the same enthusiasm with which I’ve chosen them.

If you’re offered representation, do tell the other agents who are reading your work. They may be almost finished reading it; who knows? They might be about to call you too. My agent colleagues all have a story like this one: They’re reading something they like. They Google the author. They find that last week, the author blogged all about her brand new agent. And the author hadn’t withdrawn the project from submission, let alone given anyone else a chance to make an offer. Wouldn’t it be better to kick off a publishing career with a clean bill of karma?

I know some authors have “dream agents” (an idea I’m not keen on, because you don’t necessarily know who the best agent for your work would be until you speak with her). But even if your dream agent offers you representation, hear out any others who are interested in you—even if you turn them down, you’ll get some different perspectives on your work. And you’ll already be building a reputation as a professional.

Molly interviewed at Middle Grade Ninja

I'm the latest agent to be interviewed over at Middle Grade Ninja — check it out!

My Editorial Notes Shorthand--a post by Gemma

This has been a fun week for us, with Jenny Bent over in the UK with me and Molly, all attending the London Book Fair. We have been meeting with foreign publishers, film agents, and some domestic editors and catching up with our co-agents. It’s been a whirlwind, especially so soon after the Bologna Book Fair, but nothing beats the atmosphere and excitement about the industry you take away from a good fair.

However, now I’m back, and about to head into the editorial cave with a client’s manuscript. I’ve been editing a lot recently to get books ready for the fairs, and I’ve been explaining my shorthand terms to my newer clients. I thought these might be helpful to share, as they show familiar things I see in lots of manuscripts, and would be things for all writers to keep an eye out for. 

Obviously there are the basics – show don’t tell, overuse of adverbs, repeated words, and sentence structures – but I have a few less obvious shorthands. 


Less Is More  - It is always better to give the reader one distinguishing and special detail about something and someone than to bombard them with so many images that they lose all of them. It’s like giving someone directions. You start by saying, ‘turn right at the traffic lights, then cross over, then take a left...’ and then you’ve lost them! (Although they continue to nod like they are listening!) Overload someone and everything is forgotten. For example: 

She had bright blue eyes that sparkled when I looked at her and shoulder length red hair that had to come out of a bottle. It was so vivid and the red tint around her hair line must have meant she probably dyed it recently. She twisted a strand around her fingers and I noticed a deep white scar on her knuckle. I made a mental note to ask her about it when I got the courage to hold her hand. Her purple nails clashed with her deep blue stripy hoodie, something she seemed to realize suddenly. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans and tapped her Converse in a slow beat on the gold stars set into the tiled floor. 

To me, this is crowded, and the nicest line about the POV character actually reacting to a description (wanting to be brave enough to hold her hand) is buried in everything else and gets lost. Some writers have a beautiful style with lyrical descriptions, but it’s about finding a balance between keeping your reader engaged and maintaining that style.


Similes – I’m sure everyone knows what a simile is, but just in case, it’s a line that compares two similar things using ‘as,’ ‘like,’ and ‘than.’ So it’s as easy as ABC to look for similes in your manuscript using ‘find’ to highlight the above words. You would make this agent as proud as a peacock and as happy as a clam if you tried to minimize your use of similes like I try to reduce the amount of Diet Coke I drink in a day.  

It’s as clear as crystal to avoid the clichéd similes, but it’s easy to think if you have come up with an inventive simile that you can just use that – and the other twelve you love on that page.  Yes, some similes are fantastic – my client Mo O’Hara’s eight-year-old daughter came up with a great one the other day, ‘as light as air on a diet.’ Remember with similes, when used sparingly, they work really well. When over used they stand out and pull the reader from the story. 


Where’s the noise? – During action scenes, it’s easy to get caught up writing movement and dialogue and forget the noise. What I mean about this, is when explosions are going on and your main character is running away, you need to remember to show this to the reader. Have the main character shouting their dialogue in broken sentences. They would be panting if running, and always when you are stressed, you don’t bother with niceties in dialogue or even finish what you are saying.

Where’s the noise is about external noise – what do the explosions sound like, or the footsteps of the chasing pack? If they are animals, are they breathing heavily, growling, drooling, etc.? Is the earth shaking, is glass falling from windows? Look around the main character and see what else is affected by the action they have created. 

Where’s the noise is also about internal noise - did the explosion hurt the main character’s ears, so they hear a ringing, and only get disjointed half phrases from their friends/enemies? Does the main character’s throat hurt from all the shouting? Obviously if they are running, they would be out of breath. Would they even be able to talk? Use gestures to show they can’t hear each other. 

I always suggest that people read their work aloud, and I think with a noisy scene, you should try and do it with the TV blaring in the background. Can the reader hear the noise? 


Spin on – If like me, you remember VHS, this term will make sense! It’s where a scene is dragging and I just want to fast forward to the next plot point or exciting bit. Mostly this means everything can be cut and that there is a problem with pace. 


So that is a little window into some of my editing shorthand. If they’re helpful, I might share some more in the future. Please pop any questions in the comments.

Deal announcement: Subsidiary Rights Sales

Congratulations to the following Bent Agency clients on their recent subsidiary rights sales:

Spanish translation rights to Yangsze Choo's THE GHOST BRIDE to Editorial Hidra in Spain.

Audio rights to Shannon Greenland's KILLER INSTINCT and Untitled Sequel to Bob Podrasky at AudioGo, at auction.

German translation rights to Lynsay Sands' UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON, LADY IS A VAMP, and THE COUNTESS to Lyx.

Dutch translation rights to Lynsay Sands' IMMORTAL EVER AFTER to Audax.

Russian translation rights to Kathryn Caskie's A SIN IN WHITE to Family Leisure Club.

Query in box, what will you bring me today? post from Susan

It's been awhile since I posted about the kinds of projects I'm looking for right now, so without further ado, here's what I'd love to see in my query in-box.

In general, I’m looking for projects that skew literary, though not at the expense of great plotting – I want something complex and exciting to happen to the characters.

Contemporary, middle grade or YA

I’m a sucker for mother-daughter stories.

If a book makes me laugh, that’s a very good thing. 

I’m looking for a great mystery or thriller.  Give me a lot of creepy atmosphere; hold back on the bloody or gross.

Multiple view-points are hard to pull off, but so rich when they do work.

I’m probably not looking for a straight-up romance, but am not opposed if there are other elements to the story.

Historical fiction, for middle grade or YA

One of my favorite kinds of historical fiction has the main fictional character meeting up with a famous historical figure -- someone who spends time in the company of perhaps Nicholas Tesla, or Cleopatra, or Susan B Anthony, or Marco Polo (or about a thousand others...)

Another kind of historical fiction I enjoy is a retelling from the point of view of a famous (fictional) secondary character, think Dr Watson, as opposed to Sherlock.

Periods I’m interested in: the medieval period, India under British Colonial rule, World War I & II, the Jazz age, Berlin between the wars, Japanese and Chinese history, America in the 1960s and 1970s, Venice.

Fantasy, for middle grade or YA

Strong, unique characters are always important to me, and especially so in fantasy.

I’m a fan of fairy tale retellings, especially ones that use a lesser known tale, and that makes use of the darker threads in these stories.  Some favorite fairy tales are Tam Lin, the Twelve Dancing Princesses, the Six Swans, Beauty and the Beast, and Goose Girl. 

This is true across the board, but especially in fantasy, I'm really looking for original ideas.

Non-fiction, picture book, middle grade or YA.

Some subjects I’m interested in:

Women and girls in history or more recently. 

History of the labor movement in 20th century USA. 

History of K-12 education in US.

Picture book biographies, especially of artists.

The Black Plague and/or plagues in history.

Plant hunters, in history or now.

This is a small sample, and in general, I’d like to see topics and people that haven’t been covered (or covered much) before.

I think it's always helpful to know what I’ve been reading lately:

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness is excellent science-fiction.  I’m fascinated by the central idea, which feels very original, and the way it’s developed. 

33 Minutes by Todd Hasak-Lowey is a heart-breaking, true and very funny book about the way old friendships can change, and break, in middle school.

The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope is an older book, published in 1974.  If you love historical fiction and haven’t read this re-telling of the Tam Lin story set in northern England during the reign of Queen Mary I, get yourself a copy quickly!  It’s delicious.

Young Adult/Middle-Grade Internship -- Applications Closed

What an incredible response to our call for a YA/MG intern! We're now closed to applications, since we have over fifty enthusiastic candidates and it'll take us a few days to sift through them. 

If you missed the application window, watch this space: we do look for interns a couple of times a year. And if you applied, thank you: we'll be in touch with you over the next week.

Molly Has Reopened to Queries

My query hiatus is over and I'm ready to review submissions. Thanks for your patience! 

If you sent me a query between March 12-31, please send it again. Queries received during the hiatus period cannot be read.

Do remember to review our submission guidelines before you send me—or any of the TBA agents—your query.