There’s no doubt that Andi Chitty’s positive attitude kept her going in the face of rejection and lack of responses. We’re so glad she kept going and found an agent who fits her style. We’re excited to see what comes next!

Congrats, Andi!

How long had you been writing before seeking an agent, and what made you decide it was time to look for one?

I started writing in March of 2021 and queried way too early. I sent that first manuscript to one agent, and imposter syndrome set in as soon as I pressed “send”. I loved the story I had written, but I knew nothing about the agent/publishing world. I immediately joined SCBWI, and began researching everything!

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

Once I joined SCBWI, I browsed their archives and Blueboard threads. I found articles online and joined Twitter, where I found the amazing #KidLit community! My search process evolved the more I learned, and I found MSWL (manuscript wishlist), Publishers Marketplace, and QueryTracker to be the best tools when researching agents. I also attended countless webinars, participated in contests, and took a few classes along the way!

The dreaded questions: How many queries? How many rejections?

Over the two years I was querying, I sent 179 queries. I received 2 requests for more work and was referred to one agent (though that didn’t work out). Of the 179 queries sent, I do want to point out that *61* of them ended up CNR’d (closed, no response). Agents are incredibly busy, so I learned not to take “no response” personally (though I definitely “nudged” if the agency allowed it)!

Was it difficult to find an agent who wanted to represent an author focusing on picture books?

A little bit, but overall there are still a ton of agents accepting author-only submissions.

Who is your new agent? Tell us about getting the news.

Jen Newens at Martin Literary Management! I got the email, and my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe it! Her assistant had read my story and loved it, so he sent it to her and she also loved it. I lucked out, and made it out of the general submission inbox (aka “slushpile”)!

How did you know your agent was “the one”?

From the start, Jen has answered all my questions professionally and thoroughly. Signing with an agent is a big deal, and since Jen is new to agenting (not new to publishing, though) I had a lot of questions. I was nervous on the call and forgot a few, so I emailed them to Jen. Her response was the deciding factor for me- she was incredibly thorough, thoughtful, and reassuring. She’s been in publishing for decades, and is well-suited to this next step into agenting!

If 12 x 12 helped you in any way during your agent search/development of craft, can you tell us how? (P.S. It is TOTALLY okay if the answer is no. I am not trying to “lead” you 🙂 )

The path to publication is long, and you’re sure to hit some snags along the way. Finding a community of supportive writers on the same path was super important to me, and 12 x 12 fit perfectly! It’s also where I found one of my critique partners! So yes, it definitely helped. This is my second year, and though I’m less active on the forums, I still enjoy the webinars (they’re such a treasure trove of information)!

Has your writing process changed at all since signing with an agent?

I’ve only just signed, so I can’t say it has changed too much. Jen is super open to adjusting her style to fit each individual client, though, so I don’t anticipate too much change in my actual writing process.

What advice would you give to picture book writers looking for agents today?

1) Find your people: my critique group is *incredible*, and it’s their support and encouragement that gets me through the times of doubt!

2) Don’t query too early: let each manuscript sit, share it with writing partners, and then let it sit some more.

3) Always have something else in the works: when rejections come in, it’s nice to know there’s still hope out there, whether it’s another query or a competition you’re waiting to hear from. I always try to have something else going on beyond that one submission. The “what’s next” helped keep me going!

Do you think your platform (blog, social media) helped you find your agent?

Jen didn’t seem to put much weight on my Twitter presence/followers, but she did appreciate that I host Storytime Sprint (with my awesome critique partner, Ryann Jones!). In particular, she liked how the platform supports and gives back to the community. I’m not sure how much it influenced her decision, but it certainly didn’t hurt!

Tell us something that is on your “bucket list.” Something you’ve dreamed of doing all your life but have yet to accomplish (besides publishing a book, which is inevitable at this point 🙂 )

I don’t have a travel/adventure bucket list, but I *do* have a food bucket list, and trying a black sapote is right at the top! It’s also called a “chocolate pudding fruit”, so you can probably guess why it’s on my list 😉

What’s up next/what are you working on now?

I always have a handful of picture books in the works. I’m also working on a middle grade novel, and am about to jump into the world of graphic novels as I convert one of my manuscripts into a graphic novel text. There’s so much to learn!