So, I was in the book store this afternoon. I’m a writers reference book junkie, so I bought a copy of Victoria Lynn Schmidt’s Story Structure Architect. It looks like a combination of Tobias’ 20 Master Plots and Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey. In other words, it looks fabulous!
While I was in the store, I glanced at the 2006 Writer’s Market Guide to Agents. I looked up the folks at the Andrea Brown Agency. The agent who requested the partial of I Am Anna Winkler wasn’t listed, but there was quite a long write-up on Laura Rennert, the one who passed me on to this other agent. I noted Laura mentioned liking the TV series Farscape, which I have not actually seen…but it’s Teen’s all-time FAVORITE show. He thinks I’d like it, too…but right now he and I are working our way through season one of Veronica Mars. Still, maybe in a few years HE might want to query Laura Rennert! He’s going to be a published writer one day (What am I saying? He already IS a published writer. He wrote an article for The Goldfinch, Iowa’s history magazine for kids (which is, sadly, no longer being published) a few years ago.
I have three friends who are with Laura and neither of them writes anything remotely like FARSCAPE; in fact, they write completely differently from each other! Guess she has eclectic taste.
Who did she pass your ms to again? Or did you not say on purpose?
No…I didn’t realize I hadn’t said. Caryn Wiseman is the agent Laura passed me on to.
I believe Caryn is Laura’s cousin as well as colleague.
I have a friend who was with her for a while.
They’re cousins??? Interesting…
Would you believe that I haven’t seen the 2006 Writer’s Market Guide to Agents? I have the 2006 CWIM, I’ve browsed the lists in the SCBWI publications and have an account at Writersmarket.com. Do you think the Agents guide includes more information than the other sources put together? It sounds like they may have more interviews, which is always helpful.
Sounds like talent runs in your family! My oldest says she might want to illustrate children’s books when she grows up. That definitely didn’t come from me – I failed stick figures 101, LOL!
I don’t know how the Agents guide compares to others…so far, the agents I’ve queried have been agents who represent people I know. So I haven’t really used any of those guides. I just happened to pick the one up last night because I was waiting for my kids. I was surprised how much information was there, too!
Heh, I think I failed stick figures 101, too! When kids would ask me why I don’t illustrate my own books (during school visits), I used to tell them (after I explained how publishers usually like to keep authors and illustrators separate) “I have no artistic talent. I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler”…until I offended an art teacher. Like anything, you get better at drawing BY DRAWING. (Though I still say *I* would need much more practice than the average person! I am not starting at the same place as the average person.)
I hope you get the best agent possible, very very soon!
I’ll have to check that out!
I don’t even know what Farscape is.
oops… that was me
It’s a science fiction TV show (I think there was a movie, too). That’s about all I can tell you…until recently, I’ve never been much into science fiction (nevermind the fact I just completed a draft of a science fiction mystery). But I live with three people who are REALLY into science fiction…so it’s starting to rub off on me…