Exactly four weeks from today, we’ll be opening to submissions for the spring round of our Red Light/Green Light writing contest! You’ll find more details on the contest structure here. Today, it’s my very great privilege to introduce our judging agent, Alyssa Jennette from Stonesong Literary. She’ll be reading your work should you choose to enter Red Light/Green Light on March 9th.
Q: Hi Alyssa! First of all, could you tell us a little about how you ended up working as a literary agent?
My path to publishing was not at all
straightforward. I was always editorially-inclined, but decided at the
relatively last minute to put together a portfolio and apply to art schools.
Luckily, I got in and now have a BFA in Illustration from the Maryland
Institute College of Art.
straightforward. I was always editorially-inclined, but decided at the
relatively last minute to put together a portfolio and apply to art schools.
Luckily, I got in and now have a BFA in Illustration from the Maryland
Institute College of Art.
Obviously I didn’t end up pursuing
art professionally, I’m so, so glad I attended MICA, because the illustration
program taught me so much about how to think narratively, how to critique
constructively (and take criticism gracefully), and how to work on a deadline,
among many other things. I got engaged shortly after graduation, which meant a
few years of upheaval: planning, moving, figuring out how to pay loans once the
grace period ended. I waitressed for almost two years until I ended up in an
internship for a budding online lifestyle brand, then another for an online
fashion magazine, then I started nannying (which I still do part-time).
art professionally, I’m so, so glad I attended MICA, because the illustration
program taught me so much about how to think narratively, how to critique
constructively (and take criticism gracefully), and how to work on a deadline,
among many other things. I got engaged shortly after graduation, which meant a
few years of upheaval: planning, moving, figuring out how to pay loans once the
grace period ended. I waitressed for almost two years until I ended up in an
internship for a budding online lifestyle brand, then another for an online
fashion magazine, then I started nannying (which I still do part-time).
Throughout that time, a good friend
(who later became my first client) was turning his blog into a book, and had
asked me for notes on the manuscript. Once I had given them, he told me that he
had already been querying agents, and my notes lined up completely with
theirs–maybe I could be an agent? I had no real idea what an agent was, and
mostly brushed it off. But then the process repeated with his middle grade
novel–my notes matched those of the agents he was querying, and one of my
bosses at the online fashion magazine had offhandedly suggested that book
publishing could be a fit for me, so I decided to take the idea more seriously.
I did some research and cold-emailed a bunch of agencies to ask about
internships or assistant positions. I was lucky to find a fit quickly at Sarah
Jane Freymann Literary Agency, where I worked with the lovely Jessica
Sinsheimer.
(who later became my first client) was turning his blog into a book, and had
asked me for notes on the manuscript. Once I had given them, he told me that he
had already been querying agents, and my notes lined up completely with
theirs–maybe I could be an agent? I had no real idea what an agent was, and
mostly brushed it off. But then the process repeated with his middle grade
novel–my notes matched those of the agents he was querying, and one of my
bosses at the online fashion magazine had offhandedly suggested that book
publishing could be a fit for me, so I decided to take the idea more seriously.
I did some research and cold-emailed a bunch of agencies to ask about
internships or assistant positions. I was lucky to find a fit quickly at Sarah
Jane Freymann Literary Agency, where I worked with the lovely Jessica
Sinsheimer.
After nearly a year at SJF, I
started applying for assistant gigs at agencies and publishers. The first few
months of the search were frustrating, and jobs were scarce. I finally applied
for a full-time agent position at Stonesong that I knew I wasn’t qualified for.
They knew it, too. Lucky for me, Stonesong’s admin was leaving for law school
and I had unwittingly put my name in for a job I WAS qualified for before they
had even advertised for it. I interviewed, loved it, and…didn’t get the job
(they hired their intern, Maddy, who is spectacular).
started applying for assistant gigs at agencies and publishers. The first few
months of the search were frustrating, and jobs were scarce. I finally applied
for a full-time agent position at Stonesong that I knew I wasn’t qualified for.
They knew it, too. Lucky for me, Stonesong’s admin was leaving for law school
and I had unwittingly put my name in for a job I WAS qualified for before they
had even advertised for it. I interviewed, loved it, and…didn’t get the job
(they hired their intern, Maddy, who is spectacular).
But, Stonesong liked me and wanted
me to consider coming on as a production assistant for the packaging arm of
Stonesong’s business–plus, I would be allowed to pursue and acquire clients
whenever I was ready. This was an offer and a level of trust I hadn’t sensed in
any other opportunity, and I was happy to accept.
me to consider coming on as a production assistant for the packaging arm of
Stonesong’s business–plus, I would be allowed to pursue and acquire clients
whenever I was ready. This was an offer and a level of trust I hadn’t sensed in
any other opportunity, and I was happy to accept.
I’ve been at Stonesong for almost
two years, and an active agent for almost a year. I couldn’t have asked for a
more awesome team of women to be working with and learning from (or a more
wonderful crop of clients thus far!)
two years, and an active agent for almost a year. I couldn’t have asked for a
more awesome team of women to be working with and learning from (or a more
wonderful crop of clients thus far!)
Q: If you could give unpublished writers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Write a whole story. Know the story
you’re setting out to write before you write it. That doesn’t mean know every
twist and plot point, but you need to know your ending and how the rest of the
puzzle pieces fit together to make that ending convincing and satisfying. That
goes for series as well as stand-alones; so many times I get to the end of a
manuscript to find it is intended to be the first in a series, and it is clear
the author hasn’t considered The Whole Story. By and large, I suggest that
authors learn to write one good, whole book before tackling a series.
you’re setting out to write before you write it. That doesn’t mean know every
twist and plot point, but you need to know your ending and how the rest of the
puzzle pieces fit together to make that ending convincing and satisfying. That
goes for series as well as stand-alones; so many times I get to the end of a
manuscript to find it is intended to be the first in a series, and it is clear
the author hasn’t considered The Whole Story. By and large, I suggest that
authors learn to write one good, whole book before tackling a series.
Q: What do you think are three elements of crafting an engaging opening?
Three key elements
for an engaging opening are a strong voice (not necessarily first person–don’t
mistake “I” for a shortcut to a compelling POV), clear conflict (this
could be the Big Conflict or simple an obstacle that serves to illustrate the
scene/character for us), and no dilly-dallying. I love thoughtful prose, but I
need context before you dive into all your musings.
for an engaging opening are a strong voice (not necessarily first person–don’t
mistake “I” for a shortcut to a compelling POV), clear conflict (this
could be the Big Conflict or simple an obstacle that serves to illustrate the
scene/character for us), and no dilly-dallying. I love thoughtful prose, but I
need context before you dive into all your musings.
Q: What is your favorite opening line and why?
“That fool of a fairy
Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift.”
Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift.”
-Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine
Right away we have a distinct,
illustrative voice: someone smart, irreverent, and who doesn’t shy away from
conflict–but also a perceptive person who can see to the heart of a another’s
intentions. We have clear conflict: Ella is cursed. And, no dilly-dallying: we
know up front what kind of world and circumstance we’re dealing with throughout
the rest of the story; this is a world where magic and curses exist, and
everyone treats it as normal. Information, deftly and wittily conveyed, is the
joy of any agent or editor.
illustrative voice: someone smart, irreverent, and who doesn’t shy away from
conflict–but also a perceptive person who can see to the heart of a another’s
intentions. We have clear conflict: Ella is cursed. And, no dilly-dallying: we
know up front what kind of world and circumstance we’re dealing with throughout
the rest of the story; this is a world where magic and curses exist, and
everyone treats it as normal. Information, deftly and wittily conveyed, is the
joy of any agent or editor.
Q: Just for fun, if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I think this is a tie between
Paris and Cairo. I have family in Paris and I’m learning to speak French, but
I’ve never been! Tsk, tsk, Alyssa. As for Cairo, I’ve always been very
interested in ancient cultures, and visiting Egypt’s monuments and museums
would be a truly enriching experience (not to mention exploring its modern
culture!)
Paris and Cairo. I have family in Paris and I’m learning to speak French, but
I’ve never been! Tsk, tsk, Alyssa. As for Cairo, I’ve always been very
interested in ancient cultures, and visiting Egypt’s monuments and museums
would be a truly enriching experience (not to mention exploring its modern
culture!)
******
Alyssa Jennette represents children’s and adult
fiction and picture books, and has dabbled in humor and pop culture
nonfiction. She values diversity, ensemble casts with distinct voices,
and formats that are specific to the story and give it its own context.
In children’s books/YA, she likes sophisticated middle grade, magical
realism or urban fantasy, secret societies, and unreliable narrators.
She would love a teen noir in the vein of the film Brick, or a
Clueless-esque “teen movie” update of a classic story.
In adult fiction, she likes literary fiction full of wit and wordplay
that may border on the absurd/surreal (bonus if it includes footnotes),
smart psychological or supernatural Suspense/Mystery/Horror, or
beautifully crafted historical fantasy in the vein of JONATHAN STRANGE
& MR. NORRELL.
Alyssa is open to graphic novel submissions. She is not looking for historical fiction, romance, or women’s fiction.
