One thing I've noticed during this time of Covid is that people are leaning into their creativity. We are naturally having to be resourceful to cope with this peculiar situation and I feel like, at least for me, it is forcing me to face and move through some mental blocks I've had. I'm noticing that people are dusting off manuscripts that have been stuck in a drawer, that those who have extra time and solitude are recognizing the gift it also brings, and that overall a deeper commitment to self-expression is emerging.
Through all of this, I've been talking with a dear colleague, Jennie Dunham, who is a successful New York literary agent. Apparently, books are still being sold and readers are still buying books! So she and I have put our minds together to create a publishing salon series to demystify the world of publishing, as a way to make it more accessible.
While most of my time is devoted to story development, helping writers discover what wants to be birthed, I believe that stories are ultimately meant to be shared. And as we all know, there are so many ways to share them! Our intention is to create an intimate setting that offers a rare window into the lens of a professional literary agent and a space where writers can learn how publishing works.
We're kicking off our inaugural event, Prepare to Share Your Work, on Sunday, July 12th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST via Zoom.
Details are below, along with my recent interview with Jennie, in which she offers her personal take on the role an agent plays in a writer's career, what in a submission catches her eye, and how to think about the path of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.
If you're curious to learn more, I hope you'll consider joining us in July. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions!
Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent in New York City since May 1992. In August 2000 she founded Dunham Literary, Inc.
She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients have had both critical and commercial success. Books she has represented have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers in adult hardcover fiction, children’s books, and children’s book series.
Her clients have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Anthropology and has a master's degree in Social Work from New York University. She frequently speaks at writers conferences and events.
KARIN GUTMAN: At what point did you realize that you were meant to be a literary agent? What drew you to this work?
JENNIE DUNHAM: I have always loved books all my life. I love stories they contain and the beautiful objects they are as well. I wanted to be involved with books from an early age, but when I was young I didn’t know that anyone else was involved in making books other than authors. So that’s what I wanted to be. And then I learned about editors, and that’s what I wanted to be. And then when I graduated from college, someone gave me the book AUTHOR AND AGENT about Eudora Welty and her agent. And I thought, hmmm, I need to consider that too.
I like to say it was by accident because the first job I was offered after college was at a literary agency, and I took it. That’s where I realized that I love finding projects and advocating for authors. Coincidentally, I later worked at the agency that represented Eudora Welty for years before starting my own agency.
KARIN: What kinds of books do you like? What is your taste?
JENNIE: I like literary, character-driven writing with a strong narrative. As I’m reading a story, I want to be surprised, and I don’t want to feel I’ve been there already. It’s a challenge for writers to create fresh stories, but when I find one, it’s a thrill.
KARIN: I understand you get thousands of query submissions each year. What catches your eye?
JENNIE: I always look for an author’s strong credentials and platform. I look for a fresh premise, unusual characters, and a strong voice in a project. I’m very interested in #ownvoices, LGBTQA, and diversity in general. I was an anthropology major in college which means I was interested in other cultures and voices long before it was trendy. I always like to find out or learn something new.
KARIN: How often do you actually find a writer via a query submission? What are some of the other ways that you find writers?
JENNIE: This is unpredictable. I receive a lot of queries, and it’s great to know that writing is a vital, important part of people’s lives. A key way that I get new clients is by referral from current clients. I also attend conferences and workshops, so I meet new writers that way, especially when I give critiques.
KARIN: What is the number one thing you look for when you take on a new writer for representation?
JENNIE: Getting an agent doesn’t mean that a writer’s work is done; it means the work a writer does will change. An agent is a team member, so I’m looking for someone who has creative talent and has learned enough about the business of publishing to understand how to be an asset to the team we’re making. Agents deliver good news and bad, and someone who can accept the tough news and move forward is essential to a long term relationship. I also appreciate writers who meet deadlines.
KARIN: What do you think of this more recent emergence of self-publishing? Would you recommend writers pursue this path? Who should pursue traditional publishing?
JENNIE: Self-publishing has made it easier than ever to make books available to the reading public. The bar is high to get published traditionally, and many writers get frustrated so they stop trying and turn to self-publishing. Because it’s so easy to turn to self-publishing, the quality of self-published books varies widely. Once a book has been available to a wide number of people, most often publishers will feel the book has had an opportunity to reach readers already so they won’t be interested. Traditional publishing usually brings a book credibility, visibility, and distribution. Self-publishing, however, allows a writer full control over the look of the book.
KARIN: Right now, in the time of Covid, are deals still being made? I know a lot of writers who are using their time to get their books done. Is it a good time to be reaching out to publishing agents?
JENNIE: Books are still selling! Agents, editors, and authors are making deals, and readers are buying books. During the pandemic, there are fewer distractions and meetings, so it’s a good time for writers to work on their projects. But it’s also not a bad time to submit. While agents and editors are being cautious, everyone is looking towards the end of the pandemic whenever that may be. At all times, people need stories, but the types of stories that people are drawn to changes depending on what’s happening in the world.
KARIN: I’m excited to co-lead the Publishing Salon series with you! How might this be helpful to writers?
JENNIE: Writers know what they’re trying to say, so I find that sometimes they have trouble seeing holes in the plot or how a character isn’t developed enough. An agent or editor can provide feedback which will help writers improve their writing dramatically. It’s also useful to hear feedback given to other writers. Sometimes the lightbulb moment in understanding what isn’t working on the page comes from recognizing the same problem on someone else’s page.
All aspects of book publishing need big blocks of solitary work to write, read, and edit. Connecting with other people feels great after hours of concentrated work alone. It is always invigorating for me to go to conferences and workshops to meet people and discuss their writing. I’m excited about this event!
Publishing Salon
Prepare to Share Your Work
Sunday, July 12th
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST
with
Karin Gutman and Jennie Dunham
Hosted via Zoom
The path to publishing a book can be confusing and overwhelming. How can you catch the attention of a literary agent? How do you write a good query letter? Do you need to write a book proposal? And what is an author's platform and why does it matter?
The Publishing Salon is designed to demystify the world of publishing. Through a series of intimate and dynamic conversations, Spirit of Story founder Karin Gutman and esteemed literary agent Jennie Dunhamoffer insights and practical steps for navigating your way to finding a home for your work.
For this inaugural event, Prepare to Share Your Work, Karin and Jennie will provide an overview of how traditional publishing works. This path typically involves a submission process via a literary agent to land a book contract. We’ll discuss the key players, how a book gets sold, and the best way for an author to approach sharing their work in a professional landscape.
We’ll devote a full hour to providing feedback on the premise and first page of up to 10 premium participants, whose work will be shown live on the screen as specific feedback about it is shared. If you are not ready to present your work, you can still take advantage of this unique opportunity to listen to the discussion. We'll dedicate the last 30 minutes to an open Q & A for all participants to ask questions related to the publishing process.
We hope you’ll join us for the kick off of this series. This forum is a way to support you and your book projects by illuminating the path forward!
To learn more about Jennie Dunham and Dunham Literary, visit her site.
See all interviews
