After beginning to sub her manuscripts and getting rejections—or crickets—Mary Rudzinski did what she recommends others do: she stopped subbing and focused on building her writing skills. And it paid off when she made the PBParty finals and subsequently signed with an agent.

That’s the way to do it, Mary! Congrats!

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 stories a long, long time ago, and had bought numerous books on writing, but it remained a pipedream until I joined 12 x 12 in 2016. Still, I did not create a true writing life until almost 2018. Up until then, I viewed writing children’s stories as more of a hobby.

I began submitting way too soon, and everyone says not to do that- but the problem is you often do not know you are not ready until you step out. I didn’t like getting rejections or no answer and decided to step back and look at what I was doing. I found a mentor—someone experienced in the field—and got their feedback about being ready. That helped a lot.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

Initially, not enough. I was rather disorganized and scattered in my approach. I think my approach was influenced by my mindset; once I changed my belief around writing I changed how I approached submitting. Eventually, I signed up for Query Tracker and began setting aside time on a regular basis to look at agents. 12 x 12 conversations around this topic helped, including the agent webinars, and I started tracking my submissions and really worked on my query letters. I also went on the Publishers Lunch website and researched agents listed there. If an agent at an agency was closed, I looked to see who else might be open at that agency.

I developed a spreadsheet with multiple tabs, one for each story or submission, including magazines. I became more diligent about knowing what agent was at what agency and finding out what others knew about them. Webinars that featured agents were helpful because all kinds of suggestions about the querying process helped me hone what I was doing. Some good advice I received about researching agents was to look first at the agency, and make sure the agency is reputable.

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

I have submitted about 8 different manuscripts over the years. When I hit 20-25 rejections for a story, I step back and regroup. For one story, I received 31 rejections and decided to set it aside for a while and circle back when I was ready to revise. When I slowed down my process and began being more strategic in what I was doing, the responses were more consistent. I would say I’ve had at least 120 queries and rejections since 2020.

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

I think it has become harder to find an agent in general because the industry is slower and pickier. I just received an agent rejection on a fiction story that had been out on a revise and resubmit for a few months prior to getting representation for Song of the River. My R and R had been sitting in the ether—however, it was a champagne rejection! The agent noted my writing is lovely, and she was impressed with my talent, but could not take on another PB author at the time. I do think agents know their bandwidth and what they can handle, so it may not be the writing, but the available space.  I think the challenge is real, but not impossible. Just means you must be your best.

Who is your new agent?

Mary Cummings of Great River Literary.

Tell us about getting the news.

I submitted to PBParty and made it into the finals. I was more shocked than excited, but still thrilled to have made it that far in the contest.  Mary requested to see the full manuscript, then asked for more information about my writing process, and then wanted set up the call.

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

When I sent my full manuscript to Mary on Good Friday, I was buying time to follow up with other submissions for that manuscript. PBParty was still active, and I thought the holiday weekend would slow down what felt like a roller coaster and give me time to touch base with other agents. On Easter morning, Mary emailed me back and wanted to know more about my writing life. Although quicker than I expected, the speed at which she moves works for me. Mary is quick with revisions and sending things out. I wanted that. She is also efficient and very transparent about her process. Plus, she explicitly said she had been waiting a long time for this story and had her publisher list ready to share.

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 🙂

I found my first critique group through 12 x 12, and I am still with that group. And our group talks about agents all the time. 12 x 12 helped me realize that walking the path to publication by yourself is not a wise plan. I needed allies. I found great resources through 12 x 12 and learned a lot through the webinars. Because the community is active and supportive, 12 x 12 helped to pull me into a better writing process.

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

Although Mary is editorial, she does not represent careers. She represents one book at a time. So, I would say first my process of writing changed and that led to me getting an agent. The process changed with a mentor and with challenging myself to “do one more thing” to improve.

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

If you haven’t had success finding an agent, you may need to shift your focus. Finding the agent comes when you are ready as a writer. You don’t become a real writer once you have an agent. Take a hard look at what you could do differently with your writing life—that’s the thing you have control over! How can you take your craft development to the next level? Are you challenging yourself to get better and learn things? Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the story and how its written!  Take your time. Have a minimum of three stories submission-ready and learn everything you can, especially about revision. Mary Cummings found me because this story was ready, but I had to go through lots of writing to get to that place.

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

Although PB Party is an online pitch/query/first page event, it wasn’t my actual blog or social media that attracted an agent. It was the work that did it. I am working now on developing a better website in anticipation of selling the story, and I’m trying to be more active on social media.

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 🙂 )

Going to Iceland to see the northern lights and hike around volcanoes, and biking across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan before I turn 70.

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

A fiction story about an unusual character falling into adventure and learning to embrace risk.

A middle grade nonfiction that is STEM-based.

One nonfiction PB about civil rights and one about an endangered animal.