I live in Canada, and I aspire to have YA novels published. I’m just not sure if, when looking at agents, I should primarily focus on Canadian agents. I mean, it would be nice to have my works distributed throughout North America, but does that matter when considering agents? Would I be FORCED to get a Canadian agent?

It kind of seems like the answer is obvious, but there’s a chance I could be wrong. Any help you could give regarding this would help ease my overactive mind! Thanks!

First of all, no, no one’s got a gun to your head FORCING you to get a Canadian literary agent. So with that pressing question answered, I think the answer to the rest of your query is “it depends.”

I imagine, much as US agents concentrate first on US publishers, that most Canadian agent concentrate first on Canadian publishers. There is absolutely crossover between the markets, but more often it is in terms of distribution. Multiple sales within NA (that is, to different US and Canadian publishers) is more rare.

So I guess you have to ask yourself, in an ideal world, if you want to be published by a Canadian publisher or a US one. There are benefits to both, but a success in one market is likely to transfer over to the other. If it were me, I’d seek out Canadian agents first, and if you don’t find success, then broaden your agent search for US agents.

Of course, the SCBWI is an international organization, and they might have another perspective you can check out. Good luck!

I know that when querying, writers can’t limit themselves by city or state/province. However, I was wondering if your company would consider queries sent by someone from out of country (for instance, Canada). I was also wondering if you happened to know the opinions of other agents? I don’t need names, just general thoughts on the subject.

I talked a little bit about this in the past, but the short answer is, sure, I’d be happy to consider queries from out of the country. However, like shopping for shoes in foreign countries, things can get a little tricky. You need to know how your size (or your style) works in a different market — that an 8 1/2 is a European 41, or that a lot of US YA is published for adults in other countries.

But besides knowing different styles (which can be overcome with research), for a US agent having international clients can get a little complicated around tax time. There’s a whole lot more paperwork to do, tax treaties to bone up on, and in some cases, additional payments to the IRS to be made.

Is that going to stop me from signing a brilliant client with a fantastic manuscript? Heck no. But it’s something to be aware of.

I can’t speak for other agents, but I think if you take a look at some other agency client lists, you’ll find international authors. Most agents aren’t going to turn away good writing just because making those payments is going to be complicated!

How many times should you revise your novel before trying to get an agent?

Until it’s ready, Kathy. There’s no magic number, but if you’ve polished it, and shown it around to your writer’s group, and feel that each word you’ve chosen is the right one, then you’re ready to send it out.
She also asks:

If you find what you think is your “dream agency” should you only submit to them?

You can submit to them first, if you like, and allow them some time with it, but I’ve said it before, I’m not a huge fan of exclusives. Get your manuscript out there! You may think Agency A is the bee’s knees, but Agency C or D or Q may surprise you, and be an even better fit. You won’t know unless you try.
Sarah wonders:

Do you only accept submissions from residents of the US, and do the writers have to be a certain age?

Nope, Sarah. I’m open to all! kt literary client Lili Wilkinson is a happy resident of Australia, fer instance. As for age, you don’t have to be a certain age, so long as your writing is strong enough. I just haven’t yet seen a novel by a teenager that was on par with the submissions I’ve received from authors with a few more years of experience under their belt. But I’d love to be proven wrong.
Meanwhile, Gabby ponders:

I don’t know what to do. You see, I had an amazing idea for a novel but it seems just like everything else I’ve read. So the whole idea seems ridiculous, like I need to make up something that no one has read before.

Well, Gabby, there’s a school of thought that there are only five original stories out there, and every novel ever written is based on them, but that’s not really helpful to you, is it? Justine Larbalestier had some great advice on this topic during her “January is Writing Advice Month.” In terms of finding ideas of your own, she suggests, “take a plot from somewhere else: a fairy tale, a movie, a novel, manga, anime, anywhere at all really. But change it. Change it a lot.” That’s just the beginning of it. Read the whole thing, and see if that doesn’t help you come up with an original idea.
And another teen reader writes:

I want to write an autobiography, but I’m only 16 years old. Would it be wrong to write your life story when your life isn’t over?

Not wrong exactly, but what’s so great and important about your life that a memoir or autobiography at this stage is going to be worthy of being published? Maybe you’re a movie star (like Miley Cyrus) or a royal (like Prince William or Harry) — then I’m sure you have tales to tell, even if you’re just a teenager. You don’t have to be famous, either — if you’ve lived through an extraordinary event, you may have an important story to tell. But for most of us — and I think back to my own teen years — a memoir of me at 16 would have been pretty dull. It’s not that your life isn’t over yet, and therefore not worthy of being told, just that it may not be all that readable.
Thanks for the questions, guys! Please keep ‘em coming by emailing me at daphne.unfeasible@gmail.com