By Jaime Zollars, Illustrator Coordinator, SCBWI CenCal

As the illustrator coordinator for the Central Coast, I’ve found that a topic of primary interest among member illustrators is agents, and the most pressing question is how to find one. If you are an illustrator seeking representation, my best advice is to consider whether or not you are ready, do your research, create an ordered list, reach out to artists represented by agents you plan to contact, double-check submissions criteria, solicit no more than a few agents at one time, and be prepared for another round of submissions if your first attempt is not what you hoped!

1. Is your work ready for an agent?  You only have one chance for an agent to see your work for the first time. Consider whether your work is ready for an agent. Examine your work for consistency, craft, and presentation. Does your work have a developed look to it that has a unique identity? Does the work appear to be crafted professionally? Is the work available on a website that is carefully curated, easy to navigate, and professional? If you can say yes to all three questions, you may be ready to find your match.

Then you will likely wonder, “How do I find an agent?” This is the golden question, but there is a better question to ask.

2. “How do I find an agent who is a good fit for me?” This is the best way to frame the question. Seeking out the “best” agent is not a good approach because that looks different for every person. Sometimes the “best” agents are deemed such simply because they have a long history, yet represent so many superstars that they honestly don’t have quality time (or room!) for someone new. In order to find a good fit, you must do research. 

SCBWI members have access to The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children, which is a good starting point. In this guide, there is a directory of agents. Look up agent websites and examine their stables of illustrators. You are looking to find a group you are drawn to where your work fits, while also being distinct in that lineup. Start a spreadsheet of interest that lists agents with whom you think you might aesthetically fit, then begin to follow these agents on social media. Over time, social media is a wonderful way to get to know some of these folks (though not all choose to use social media and that’s okay too—they may simply keep themselves busy with their clients!). Take notes on your spreadsheet! Google all of the agents on your list and read interviews with them. One of my favorite sites for interviews and additional resources on literary agents is Literary Rambles. You are looking for an agent who matches your artistic vision and ultimately with whom you will communicate well. Following social media and interviews will help you see if you have similar likes and philosophies. My best tip is to look for new agents backed by a reputable house. This way you get the time, attention, and enthusiasm that only a new agent can give while benefiting from the resources of an established house. These may be the “best” agents of the future, and getting in on the ground floor is arguably the best way to go.

3. Create an ordered list. Once you have a long list of potential agents, order them by preference based on what you’ve researched. If you have twenty-one agents on your list, plan to solicit three at a time, which means you have seven rounds ready to submit! This way, if and when rejections come your way, you already have a plan in place for whom to solicit next. No time to wallow! 

4. Reach out to artists represented by the agents you plan to contact. Once you have your top three ready (I recommend soliciting no more than three to four agents at once), reach out to artists on their client lists. Fellow illustrators tend to be quite helpful and responsive, and while most are gracious when talking about their agents, no matter what they think, it is not too hard to spot a glowing review from a mediocre one. Take this information in and reassess your choices if necessary. BONUS: If you have any friends currently repped by these agents, ask if they are comfortable writing a heads-up to the agent before you submit so your submission doesn’t get lost in the pile. 

5. Double-check submissions criteria! This is important. Please follow the submission criteria that is usually offered on each agent’s site. If you cannot follow those directions, your future agent cannot trust that you’ll do the same when working together.

6. Solicit a few agents at a time. Time to submit! You may submit to one agent at a time if you have the time and you have a clear frontrunner. But what I’ve come to find is that it is helpful to compare the possibilities if you get more than one reply. If an agent is interested, you will likely have the opportunity to talk via phone, Zoom, or in person, and getting to know them a little can really help you find that fit. 

When soliciting, create a unique cover letter for each agent. Make sure they know that you have done your research and that you are only soliciting a few key possibilities. Explain why you feel they are a good fit for you and what you like most about the potential of working with them in particular. Include a link to your portfolio. If you are soliciting literary agents (rather than art reps), be sure to include a link to a dummy, or offer to send one if they have interest. If you do not have finished stories but have story ideas, express your interest in writing as well.

7. Be prepared. Be prepared to wait. Sometimes it will take several weeks to get a reply, and unfortunately most agents do not reply at all if they are uninterested. This is not because agents are mean, but because they are busy working for their clients, which is what you will want once you secure an agent of your own! 

Be prepared with questions. If you get a positive response and score a meeting, be prepared with honest questions and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Remember, you are not just looking for an “agent,” you are looking for a “fit.” There are plenty of folks with agents who never get work, or who only get work that isn’t a match for their goals. An agent is not a magical elf who reads your mind and anoints you with work and fame. An agent is a relationship that you will have for (hopefully) many years. If you start that relationship without being honest about your needs and expectations because you are afraid that the agent won’t want to offer you a contract, you are setting yourself up for frustration in the long term. 

If you don’t get the result you want, be prepared to try again. This is important. If the news is not what you’d hoped, do the hard thing and keep going. If you followed my advice, you have your next three options ready to go. Solicit again (and again, if need be), and you’ll eventually find your match. If, after a few rounds, you are getting critiques that feel similar, take them into consideration. While most agents will either not respond or politely decline with no further insight, occasionally you’ll get comments. If there are constructive offerings with which you agree, consider working on them before another round of queries. Otherwise, keep going! 

AND, remember that there have been many successes that happen fifty (or more) queries in, so don’t give up!

For information on SCBWI CenCal events (open to all SCBWI members), go to the CenCal website.

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Jaime Zollars is the illustrator coordinator for the SCBWI Central-Coastal California region. Jaime has been a member of SCBWI since 2002. Formerly on faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art and vice president of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Jaime is the author/illustrator of several books, including The Truth About Dragons. For more about Jaime’s background, her books, and other projects, check out her website: www.jaimezollars.com.

Images provided by Jaime Zollars and SCBWI Central-Coastal California region