A prize for everyone! We have a bonus post this week from literary agent Janna Morishima, founder of Kids Comics Unite and her own graphic novel agency, Jannaco. Janna is hosting a free master class on Sept 27th, “How to Launch Your Graphic Novel.” See below to RSVP.
NOTE: The window to enter to win a Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) closes tonight at 8 pm EDT. See here for details.
One of the most common questions creators ask is, “How can I get an agent?”
You might have read countless articles about how to perfect your query letter, exactly what you need in a submission packet, and which agents specialize in various categories.
I’m not going to discuss any of that here because it’s been covered at length by zillions of other people online. (And in fact, I’ve written about it myself on KCU’s blog, and KidLitGN has excellent resources too.)
The truth, however, is that many, many creators get their agent via personal connections. That’s why communities like KidLitGN matter: they’re a practical on-ramp to peers, critique, and industry eyes.
It’s possible you might be thinking: “Hey!!! That’s not fair at all! How the heck are you supposed to break into the industry if you live far away and don’t know a single soul in publishing?!”
Actually, it’s not as unfair as it seems.
Breaking into the publishing industry is just like getting a job in any other field: it’s waaaay easier if you have a bit of a track record and know some people who can help you. 
Imagine you wanted to get a job as a developer at Google. You’ve been studying and practicing your coding at home and feel like you’ve gotten really good. But you don’t know anybody who works in tech, you don’t have any related jobs on your resume, and your coding skills are still untested.
What would you do?
You might join a coding meetup. Develop a passion project. Work for another company to prove your mettle. Go back to school for a graduate degree. Attend conferences or workshops with Google employees. And maybe have drinks with them after. 😁
It is exactly the same in publishing. Getting an agent and a book deal is about as competitive as getting a job at Google.
Successful creators often follow a similar path: They join critique groups. They publish zines, webcomics, or sell their work at local comic-cons. They go to conferences or shows and connect with fellow creators and industry insiders. They take courses or hire a freelance editor.
In other words, they get out, meet people, and make friends with kindred spirits.
This doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars to fly to NYC or Los Angeles to meet people IRL. It also doesn’t mean that you have to magically transform from an introvert to a raging extrovert.
The wonder of the Internet is that it’s possible to build real relationships with fellow creators online. And while the scale of the Internet makes it seem like “the MORE connections, the better,” in my experience, that’s not actually true at all.
A better way of putting it would be, “the stronger connections, the better.” In other words, having a close circle of author-illustrator friends who understand you, help you out, and cheer you on is more important (and much more effective in terms of long-term career growth!) than thousands of “followers” who don’t know you personally.
I had a wonderful experience witnessing new connections flourishing via the Let’s Go! A Kids Comics Studio Anthology that was spearheaded by Kids Comics Studio members this past year. We developed the stories together, edited and designed the book together, launched a successful Kickstarter (funded at almost 300% our initial goal) together… and some contributors are now working on their own, new anthologies and collaborations together!.
The fact that you’re here, reading this blog, means that you’re already going in the right direction. Getting involved with KidLitGN is a perfect way to connect with fellow creators – and of course, industry pros like agents and editors!
KidLitGN is a community-powered, grassroots initiative where you can show your work and get to know your peers. Beyond submitting your work for the pitch event, you can join the Facebook community and connect on their social media accounts. Or volunteer to help!
So… if someone asked me, “How can I get an agent?”
My answer would be, “Find your community.”
If you’d like to get more tips from me on how to find your community and build relationships with peers and industry people – as well as readers!! – please come to my free masterclass on Sept 27th, “How to Launch Your Graphic Novel.” Just click here to RSVP!
KCU is one of my fav communities, for sure!
Aw, thank you Teresa!! 🙂