Bree Ogden
is an agent at the West Coast branch of D4EO Literary, representing
middle grade, young adult and graphic novels. She also teaches and
writes at LitReactor.com.
Always generous with what she’s learned from the publishing
industry, Bree will be presenting at the September 13th Professional
Series Meeting on Understanding the Trends While Writing Timeless
Literature. She recently took the time to answer a few questions.
Q. As
an agent and teacher, what unique perspective and experience do you bring to a
client’s project?
an agent and teacher, what unique perspective and experience do you bring to a
client’s project?
A. Every
agent brings a unique perspective to their clients’ work. That’s why it is so
important to find the right agent for
you. I am a very editorial agent. It
comes with my years of being an editor for newspapers and magazines. I don’t
just sign perfect manuscripts, ready
to send out. I like to sign projects that I feel have the most potential.
agent brings a unique perspective to their clients’ work. That’s why it is so
important to find the right agent for
you. I am a very editorial agent. It
comes with my years of being an editor for newspapers and magazines. I don’t
just sign perfect manuscripts, ready
to send out. I like to sign projects that I feel have the most potential.
My
teaching experience has really magnified this sentiment. It’s so fantastic to
get to work with writers to help them develop their ideas and words into
something really literarily delicious and saleable. When I look at a piece of
writing, I see all sides of it. The literary side, the commercial side, the
intellectual side, the guilty pleasure side, and of
course, the marketing angle. I think it’s important to realize that no one
manuscript will be a perfect fit for everyone, but that it can at least touch
on all areas and make a huge splash.
teaching experience has really magnified this sentiment. It’s so fantastic to
get to work with writers to help them develop their ideas and words into
something really literarily delicious and saleable. When I look at a piece of
writing, I see all sides of it. The literary side, the commercial side, the
intellectual side, the guilty pleasure side, and of
course, the marketing angle. I think it’s important to realize that no one
manuscript will be a perfect fit for everyone, but that it can at least touch
on all areas and make a huge splash.
Q. What
is one of the biggest mistakes a writer makes when querying you?
is one of the biggest mistakes a writer makes when querying you?
A. This
is something I see very often, that doesn’t really have a negative effect on
myself, but I feel bad for the writer. This is when I can tell they are
throwing their query out into the ether to see if anyone will pick it up. I can recognize this type of query because
it will often be addressed to “Dear Agent” or “Dear D4EO” and often times it is
so far from what I represent. Unfortunately, I pass on those really quickly
because I know I don’t represent them. And the writer gains nothing from a
bunch of generic rejection letters.
is something I see very often, that doesn’t really have a negative effect on
myself, but I feel bad for the writer. This is when I can tell they are
throwing their query out into the ether to see if anyone will pick it up. I can recognize this type of query because
it will often be addressed to “Dear Agent” or “Dear D4EO” and often times it is
so far from what I represent. Unfortunately, I pass on those really quickly
because I know I don’t represent them. And the writer gains nothing from a
bunch of generic rejection letters.
A
writer should really work on treating each query letter like a cover letter of
a resume. If you tailor each one (a little bit) for each agent, you will find
that you get much better responses, as well as more feedback in rejection
letters. If you are sending it to the right people, you will be able to
pinpoint a more defined reason for the rejections.
writer should really work on treating each query letter like a cover letter of
a resume. If you tailor each one (a little bit) for each agent, you will find
that you get much better responses, as well as more feedback in rejection
letters. If you are sending it to the right people, you will be able to
pinpoint a more defined reason for the rejections.
Q. What trends do you see for Graphic Novels in the Kid
Lit market?
Lit market?
A. It’s
such an exciting market! Lots of hungry kids waiting for the new graphic novel
craze. I am seeing two trends right now: very dark, Grimm fairytale-esque
graphic novels for children and what some like to call “info-tainment.”
such an exciting market! Lots of hungry kids waiting for the new graphic novel
craze. I am seeing two trends right now: very dark, Grimm fairytale-esque
graphic novels for children and what some like to call “info-tainment.”
This
trend of dark literature is slowly filtering down the ages. Adults were reading
horror, then young adults, and now children. And because straight horror (blood
and guts) is hard to sell in the school and library markets (and to kids in
general), there is an added fantastical element, which gives the plotlines a
Grimm or Aesop fairytale feel. I’m extremely excited about this trend. It
allows for a new area of creativity to blossom.
trend of dark literature is slowly filtering down the ages. Adults were reading
horror, then young adults, and now children. And because straight horror (blood
and guts) is hard to sell in the school and library markets (and to kids in
general), there is an added fantastical element, which gives the plotlines a
Grimm or Aesop fairytale feel. I’m extremely excited about this trend. It
allows for a new area of creativity to blossom.
“Info-tainment”
is slowly building, but very surely building. It is exactly as it sounds, a way
to present information in an entertaining manner (often via graphic novels).
Graphic novelists are taking historical and even health subjects to the drawing
board. They are essentially taking heavy subjects and feeding them to the
consumer with a spoonful of sugar. It’s so awesome. One of the reasons I have
always been an advocate of literature is for the teaching value. And now there
is a very concentrated way to teach but still make it saleable.
is slowly building, but very surely building. It is exactly as it sounds, a way
to present information in an entertaining manner (often via graphic novels).
Graphic novelists are taking historical and even health subjects to the drawing
board. They are essentially taking heavy subjects and feeding them to the
consumer with a spoonful of sugar. It’s so awesome. One of the reasons I have
always been an advocate of literature is for the teaching value. And now there
is a very concentrated way to teach but still make it saleable.
Q. What is the most encouraging thing you hear from
editors during this challenging economy?
editors during this challenging economy?
A. I’m
always hearing encouraging words from editors. The fact that editors are
reading first time manuscripts from first time authors is very encouraging. First
time authors are being published every season and they are thriving. Editors
love to work with new talent and are very open to the new directions being
placed before them every day.
always hearing encouraging words from editors. The fact that editors are
reading first time manuscripts from first time authors is very encouraging. First
time authors are being published every season and they are thriving. Editors
love to work with new talent and are very open to the new directions being
placed before them every day.
Q. Is being a West Coast agent difficult when most of the
deals happen in NYC?
deals happen in NYC?
A. Not
even a little bit. West coast agents are often asked this question and the
answer is always the same. Everything is done via email and phones these days.
even a little bit. West coast agents are often asked this question and the
answer is always the same. Everything is done via email and phones these days.
However,
in order to do my clients justice, whenever I get a chance, I make sure to ask
NY editors how they feel about non-NY agents. And every time, they say it
doesn’t matter to them. Which is awesome because I’m a West coast girl, through
and through!
in order to do my clients justice, whenever I get a chance, I make sure to ask
NY editors how they feel about non-NY agents. And every time, they say it
doesn’t matter to them. Which is awesome because I’m a West coast girl, through
and through!