Ryann Jones’ How I Got My Agent story proves that jumping into 12 x 12 with both feet can benefit your writing and your writing career. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out. Success is around that corner!

Congratulations, Ryann!

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

I decided to write seriously in January of 2022 with a goal to secure an agent that same year. I probably queried too early, but hey, I learned from my mistakes and I ended up meeting my goal!

What kind of research did you do before submitting? 

I spend countless hours researching agents and made a pretty complex excel sheet to keep track of everything for me.

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

I received 40 passes before getting an offer of representation.

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

I have never tried to query for any other type of book, so honestly I don’t know how it compares. But querying was difficult and disheartening at times. Especially when multiple passes rolled in on the same day. But I liked to send out new queries every time I got a pass. It kept me motivated and hopeful.

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

Her name is Bethany Jett with C.Y.L.E. Agency. She is a newer agent and was not on my starting list of agents to query. But luckily, she found me through a pitch event and has loved all of my manuscripts I have sent her. I was honestly a bit shocked when I read the email about wanting to set up the call because I had been so close multiple times and everything had fallen through. But of course, I scheduled a time, and the rest, as they say is history!

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

I love her enthusiasm for my work. It is nice to find someone who loves all my stories. I feel like she will be a great advocate on my behalf. Her extensive knowledge of marketing is a plus as well because that is a weakness of mine. She is also just a really kind and caring person who gets back to me quickly. She is awesome!

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 🙂 )    

Of course! In January of 2022. 12 x 12 was the first group I joined to jump start my writing career. I dove in, found a critique group immediately and was very active in the forum. I loved all the webinars and the community is just wonderful!

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

Not really. I do find it nice to have someone to run ideas by though to see if they are ones I want to spend lots of time on.

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

You only need one yes! It is hard to find the right fit but it is worth it once you do. Make sure to be kind to yourself when you receive passes. It does not mean that your story sucks. There are so many reasons why an agent will pass, and sadly, we won’t always know why. But keep going until you find the right champion for your story!

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

YES! Without Twitter, I may have never connected with her.

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 would love to go to Australia and get a selfie with a quokka since I wrote a book about one!

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

I am patiently waiting to hear back from publishers about my books we have submitted. While I wait, I am writing down a few ideas from Storystorm that I actually love, entering competitions and spending lots of time with my family!