Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
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34 KEYFRAME necessarily indicative of the quality of your book. Be open to feedback from editors, even during rejections, and ask yourself what you're open to changing and what must remain constant." After submitting queries to 25 different literary agencies, Boehman and Briner were "extremely fortunate" to hear back in less than 24 hours from an agent; it took several weeks to hear back from other agencies, and some did not respond at all. For Magruder it took about half a year of querying to get her first agent offer, and Hoang received rejections from many agents until ultimately a friend he'd encouraged to become an agent signed him as her first client in 2015 and sold his first manuscript in 2020. Miller also queried for several years with different projects. In 2020, she eventually signed with her agent, and her debut sold in 2021. "A lot of it is out of your control, so focus on what you can control: being the best writer you can be and working on the next project," she says. LET'S MAKE A DEAL Once you have the best version of your material, your agent will prepare a list of publishers they plan to submit to. "From there," says Anstee, "you wait, sometimes weeks—and then the no's will start rolling in." Going on submission with editors varies just as much as the process for querying agents. "So much of it comes down to tim- ing and luck," Miller says. Her book was out on submission for about a year and a half before it sold, while one of Magruder's books took about a year of submissions before an offer was made. That said, her fastest offer came in less than a week. Liza Singer is the author and illustrator of the middle grade fantasy graphic novel Wayward: Fractured Shadows, due out in 2025. They and their agent selected the story that felt the stron- gest for the present market and put together a proposal packet. After a series of back-and-forth edits, their agent submitted, and the book went to auction and sold in under two months. "It was quite an overwhelmingly positive moment, especially as a first-time publication," they say. Boehmer and Briner's first pitch went on several unsuccessful rounds of submissions, so they agreed to temporarily shelve the idea. It was their third pitch that was finally accepted, 22 months after getting agent representation. Since they were first-time authors, their editor wanted to see story revisions before offering a deal. They did two revisions, which they say "paid off with an offer, a stronger story, and a solid relationship with a talented editor!" Hoang points out that once an editor expresses interest in buying your manuscript, the battle isn't over. "It's the same as when a development exec buys your pitch—it doesn't mean it's an automatic greenlight," he says. An editor has to get the approval of their boss and team, "so your project can die on the vine at any point for any variety of reasons." Or it can take an unexpected turn. His graphic novel started off as a prose manu- script that an editor asked him to consider adapting. A reputable agent never asks for money up front. Your agent works on commission, and when they sell your book, from that point on they receive a percentage of what you earn (commonly 10% to 15%). For your sale to the publisher, you will most likely receive an advance. (IP tends to be the exception, pay- ing a flat fee.) This amount varies widely, but it is paid up front. You will not make any more than your advance until your book "sells out." This means that your book has earned enough to cover your advance. You earn this money based on a percentage of your sales—usually authors get about 10% of the book's cover price. Once you've earned your advance, that percentage becomes your royalties. Most publishing contracts are standard, and it's up to your agent to negotiate the best contract on your behalf. above: Detail from Singer's Wayward: Fractured Shadows. 34 KEYFRAME "If you are used to the fast-paced nature and turnaround of animation it may startle or concern you at first … The pace is much slower." —Liza Singer MONEY, HONEY F E AT U R E