Oh my gosh, the search for an agent can be seriously detrimental to my mental health and stability.
In order to find an agent to represent your story, you have to find out what that agent wants. I cannot live up to their expectations. My fun, silly books do not fit any of their needs or wants. Have a look below at some of the things they are asking for.
inclusive, intersectional voices and gorgeous line-level writing with emotionally compelling narratives. (What is line-level writing?)
works that try to start a social discussion, that prompt the reader to think on social change ( I suppose my Jazzy and Friends and Princess Jazzy do this, but I already published them, darn it. ) or books that unveil inspiring life stories or hidden histories few people know about. (My life was rather boring so I guess I won't check that box.)
simple, open, and honest writing true to an author's wild imagination or lived experience. Anything that brings equal measures of humor, introspection, or feelings of second-hand embarrassment appeals to her. (OOOH this fits with my childhood, but I don't want to bring those memories up, anywhere!!!)
whimsical and fun adventure stories that allow for the setting and the world around the characters to play just as important of a role; (will a toilet bowl work for this? My character will be an amoeba.) progressive stories about childhood strength, trauma, and identity; (I fail at this one.) and something spooky, maybe a little dark humor, and child appropriate fantasy. (Um, does the cockroach under the bedcovers add humor?)
particularly interested in adding cultural diversity to her client list. (This is a legit concern in our time, in anyone's time, but do they mean I need to be a culturally diverse person or does my protagonist have to fit into this category? Don't forget, if you write with this theme, it might be prudent to hire a sensitivity expert. How do you become one of those?)
look at the world in a unique and unusual way, with characters that are alive both on and off the page, (Jazzy is alive and well! Yeah, maybe I should submit to this person. ha ha ha. I know, they mean your protagonist, not the dog.)
Does this mean I should hang it up as an author?
Should I stop writing silly, educational books for young children and coerce my brain into fitting into one of these requests?
Will I forever be self-publishing my own works?
No, No and No are the proper responses to those three questions. I will always write silly books, I will never stop writing and perhaps, one day, someone will like my story enough to publish it traditionally. (In my dreams, but even that counts sometimes.)
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