Brenda Bowen is using Entourage-related images to enhance her talk (subtitled, Somebody Has to Channel Ari Gold.) There was a time when an writer didn't need an agent, she says. You sent your manuscript, an editor bought it, and they became your editor for life. Richard Jackson was Judy Blume's editor for 30 years.
The agent's job now is to get a book in good enough shape to go to an publisher. These days a manuscript must be more polished before it's presented to a publisher than it needed to be 10 years ago.
Agents create strong relationships with certain editors because they reflect their tastes. They schmooze with editors. They know which ones are cat people and which ones are dog people. It's important for agents to know everybody--assistants, editors, marketing folks, etc. An agent's job is not done once the book deal is signed. The agent's job is to help their authors work with their editors. (Brenda said she even will look over drafts of emails her authors are writing to editors before they send them.)
An agent, she says, takes the heat so you can be a star.
(Brenda gave an email address for submissions and a secret word for the subject line for all the attendees in her session. But I'm not telling.)
A couple of Brenda's pet peeves:
- Seeing "Fwd" in the subject line
- Queries that start with a rhetorical question
She recommends writers subscribe to pubishersmarketpla
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By: SCBWI,
on 8/8/2009
Blog: The Official SCBWI 10th Annual New York Conference Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Bowen Press, SCBWI LA Conference, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, agents panel, HarperCollins, graphic novels, picture books, YA novel, agents, middle grade novel, Brenda Bowen, Add a tag
More highlights from Brenda Bowen @ Agents Panel:
- On revising a client's work: "I was working with an aurhor on a picture book, and he revised it couple times. I said it was good and he said, 'Let's see what an editor says.' (Much laughter from the audience. Brenda shrugs.) Well, I have a different hat on now."
- As a former editor, Brenda says certain agents who have excellent reputations or cache can influence editors' expectations. When she was an editor, Brenda says, "I was aware that some agents' names in the inbox meant that what was attached, although maybe not perfect for me, was going to be really good for someone in the house, and that it was ready to go. I'd like to be one of those agents, like you folks (she nods to the panel)."
- Brenda believes in a long-term relationship with her clients. "I spent my time nurturing creative careers. It's not good for us to make one sale and never sell your work again. You have to imagine a partnership, to trust that we're going to give our best to each other and that we'll be there for the long haul."
0 Comments on Brenda Bowen: "Agents Panel: The State of the Business" Part 2 as of 1/1/1900
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By: SCBWI,
on 8/8/2009
Blog: The Official SCBWI 10th Annual New York Conference Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Bowen Press, SCBWI LA Conference, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, agents panel, HarperCollins, graphic novels, picture books, YA novel, agents, middle grade novel, Brenda Bowen, Add a tag
BRENDA BOWEN: "Agents Panel: The State of the Business" Part 1
Highlights from the Agents Panel: The State of the Business featuring Brenda Bowen, Sarah Davies, Stephen Frasier, Dan Lazar, Kelly Sonnack, and Marietta Zacker.
Each SCBWI Team Blogger focusing on one agent.
Stay tuned for live blogs from Lee Wind's blog on Dan Lazar, Alice's blog on Sarah Davies, Jolie's blog on Stephen Fraser, Suzanne's blog on Kelly Sonnack, and Jaime's blog on Marietta Zacker.
I'm focusing on BRENDA BOWEN: She is a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, a full-service agency founded in 1932, and the home of Dan Brown, Fancy Nancy, and Kafka. A former publisher, Brenda specializes in children's books at SJGA, and is always on the lookout for funny books for middle graders.
Highlights from Brenda Bowen's quotes @ the panel:
-- Her imprint, The Bowen Press at HarperCollins, became "a statistic" because it launched in January 2009 and was "axed" in February 2009. "But when a door closes, another one opens," she said to great applause, referring to her new job as a literary agent with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.
-- What Brenda is looking for: "A strong voice, assured confident writing, and creative use of language."
-- She does like "literary books" but she also has a fondness for funny books and asks that if you plan to submit a funny book, please indicate so!
-- Find out how to submit via their website: http://www.greenburger.com/
-- For Brenda Bowen, please put "SCBWI-LA" in the subject line of your email query
-- Although Brenda has only been an agent since July, she's already signed some great clients. She says one person had written such a compelling sample via email that she downloaded the entire 15 pages attached and read it immediately and signed the writer right away. "So it does happen," Brenda says, adding that again, the voice was extremely "compelling" which is what sold her on the writer.
Stay tuned for more highlights!
1 Comments on BRENDA BOWEN: "Agents Panel: The State of the Business" Part 1, last added: 8/12/2009
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Thanks for the coverage, Paula! Reading it, I realized that I forgot to announce the name of my own blog, Bunny Eat Bunny, at bowenpress.blogspot.com. BB