12 May Writer and Agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez and a Giveaway!

Welcome, Kaitlyn! I’m thrilled to have you here on “Writing Outside the Lines.” I can’t remember exactly where we “met” in the “kidlit-osphere”, but we’ve been friends for a while now. (Unfortunately, we haven’t met in person, and we need to remedy that at some point!)

Ok, let’s get going! First of all, wife, mother, teacher, writer, and literary agent at Context Literary. Did I miss anything? Oh, I can’t forget blogger! (and Soccer player?) Please tell us how you have been able to add hours to the day! I think you are magic (the good kind, of course!), but let’s hear what you have to say. How do you do it all, and even more importantly, how do you balance all of this?

Aw, you’re too kind, Ellen. I just love lots of things and want to do them all! They say you make time for the things you love, right? But also I’ve always been this way. A typical day for me as a kid was school, practice for whichever school sport I was in, travel soccer practice, homework, maybe TV (if time), then finally, bed. This continued in college, as well. I generally took about 18 units, worked as a tutor, a grocery bagger, and a teaching assistant–yes all at the same time. I just like being busy, especially when things are so fun!

I am exhausted just reading this!

Now that you are an agent as well as a writer, has adding this new hat to your life, forced you to make some difficult decisions about priorities? If so, will you share?

This agenting hat definitely helped me make some decisions about priorities. In fact, when Anna offered me the internship at Olswanger Literary, it was actually Veterans Day, and we were on our way to visit my grandpa and grandma’s grave. I remember sitting in the car, and my husband saying, “I totally support you in this, and I think you’d be great at it, but you need to make sure there’s still time for us.” Such a valid and realistic concept from my wonderful life partner. So I decided since a lot of my writing time was spent with my 9 picture book critique groups, I had to exit from a few of them, and also I’m so lucky to have CPs who understand that I may not always be able to be super active in our groups.

How long have you been writing picture books, and what made you want to add being an agent to that? 

I’ve been writing picture books for about 4 years now, and I wanted to become an agent for MANY reasons. After co-hosting our first contest, the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest, we got the chance to connect the winners (up-and-coming writers) to their prize donors (people in the publishing industry that were willing to help these up-and-coming writers with critiques and books), and I was just elated. I LOVE connecting people, and as you already know I LOVE LOVE LOVE critiquing picture books, and it dawned on me: that’s what agents do: they get to help edit and connect writers to publishers. I also didn’t have the best experience with my first agent, though it was a good experience overall, and I learned a lot from her. There were things I could see that could be improved, so I decided to follow Gandhi’s advice and be the change I wished to see in the world. (I sure hope I’m achieving it!)

You are definitely achieving it! 

As an agent, can you tell us what you’re looking for? 

When I read manuscripts, I’m always looking for a connection, something that I, and other readers, can connect to. This means I tend to lean more towards character-driven stories, an emotional connection, comedy, and/or learning. These all may seem disconnected to you, but that’s who I am as a person, I’m very empathetic, my life has always been filled with laughter–I may have been the class clown and definitely have a family where our idea of a good time is uproarious laughter–and I’ve always loved learning and teaching. So, if you can connect with me on one, or ideally, multiple of these levels, then I’m hooked! For more info check out my MSWL: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/kaitlyn-sanchez/

Aside from balancing the work, do you find that being a writer yourself helps you in your agenting, and vice versa?

Omg, yes, so much so! I’m one of those people that likes to experience things first. That’s why I was so happy that I got to complete three NASA internships before I became a math teacher, and why I love that I am a writer while I’m an agent. I can relate to my team even more because I’ve experienced many of the things they’re experiencing.

You mentioned the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest, but I know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Will you tell us about that and your other ones? 

You are so sweet to ask, Ellen. These contests are so important to me. They were inspired by Susanna Hill and Vivian Kirkfield’s contests that help writers grow, connect, and build their websites, too. The Spring Fling Kidlit Contest was the brainchild of Ciara O’Neal when our critique group had no next contest to participate in, and I’m so happy she let me help bring it to the masses. The Fall Writing Frenzy was my brainchild, inspired by a post from SCBWI British Isles and my desire to connect people in a contest format without having a hierarchy of winners. Finally, Kidlit Zombie Week is the brainchild of Jolene Gutiérrez after our critique group discussed Brian Gehrelin’s blog post about selling his debut book. It’s hosted by our whole critique group, 6 Ladies and a MANuscript, and is coming in June! They all have lots of prizes, but our main goal is to help writers grow and connect.

I love the name of you critique group! How cute is this little zombie? And props to Kristin Wauson on this image!

I can’t wait for the new contest! 

As a writer, do you have a routine?  If so, will you please share it?

I don’t have a routine; I’m a HUGE advocate of writing when you’re inspired, but I also get motivation to write from my critique groups. If I’m at a time when I’m not inspired to write, but I have a week coming where I’m meant to share a story with my group, or where I’m critiquing a fun story that reminds me of one of my own, then it gives me the drive to dive into my writing. Though I don’t have a routine, my body sort of does. I often find myself doing my creative writing on the weekends and that state between restfulness and wakefulness is most often when I’m inspired.

What is the most rewarding part of writing for you? Of agenting? What is the most difficult part of both?

The most rewarding part of writing is when I get that image from my mind on the page exactly as my body intended. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience, like “Did that really come from me? Sweet!”

I can’t choose just one most rewarding part for agenting because I have SO much to be proud of when it comes the the amazing team I get to work with! One of the most rewarding things for me is when they NAIL their edits. Whether from my feedback or for an R&R, all my clients are stellar at editing, mainly because they know their stories so well and are just truly talented that when they get a note, they don’t just take that note, they always go beyond! And of course, getting those emails that a team member has an offer, signing contracts, sharing announcements, and someday soon, holding their books in my hands are also just phenomenal.

The most difficult part of writing is the struggle when I know something has potential but it’s not getting there. But that’s what taking time away and sharing with critique partners is for, right?

Hmm…the most difficult part of agenting is probably getting lots of passes. We know going in that editors only have a select number of books they can work on and that they have to fall head-over-heels in love with a manuscript to bring it on, so passes are just a part of the job, but when you get pass after pass after pass, as we do some times during the year, it can be very difficult, but that’s why we have a team. Commiserating with each other in our Team Sanchez Facebook group or during our team video meet ups is so helpful. I just adore this supportive team!

I can definitely relate to that, “I know this can be great,  but I can’t get it quite right” feeling. VERY frustrating! By the way, I love that you have a Team Sanchez Facebook group! What a great idea!

Where can we find you online?

Everywhere! Haha jk! Thanks for asking, here’s some places you can find me:

Website: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/

Twitter: @KaitlynLeann17 https://twitter.com/KaitlynLeann17?s=09

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kaitlyn-Leann-Sanchez-Author-2078363339152222/

Instagram @KaitlynLeann17

Is there anything you want to add, that I didn’t ask you? 

Thank you so much for taking the time to ask me these fun and thoughtful questions. This Kidlit community is just so amazing and supportive; I’m so happy to be part of it. Also, I was reflecting recently on my feelings about being published. I was feeling down that I haven’t been published yet; I felt like a failure. Thoughts of “Why hasn’t this happened for me yet?” have been creeping in and bringing me down. Technically, it has happened, but my first book was canceled, so it feels like it hasn’t. Then I stopped and remembered blog posts I’ve read from wonderful people like Hannah Holt, Vivian Kirkfield, and many more where they shared how long it took them to get their first picture book published, and it reminded me that there’s still plenty of time. I tend to have that millennial, “It’s gotta happen right now” mentality, and that’s not how this business, or even this life, to be honest, works. There’s a reason my stories haven’t been picked up yet, and the reason isn’t yet clear, but as Katie Frawley reminded us in a recent blog post on the Math is Everywhere Blog, if you believe it will happen, it will, so just keep going. I’m also a huge fan of Dory, so I’m all about the “just keep swimming” mentality. So, I guess I just want everyone to know that we ALL struggle in this industry (no matter what it seems like on social media) but being there supporting each other, helps get us all through!

 I totally agree! We’ve got to keep swimming, And personally, I think I would have given up if it weren’t for the support of the KidLit community, so I’m with you there! 

Kaitlyn, thank you so much for visiting us at “Writing Outside the Lines.” It’s been a pleasure “speaking” with you. 

AND NOW…DRUMROLL! Giveaway time! Kaitlyn has generously offered to critique a picture book or the first five pages of anything else. To be in the running for this generous prize, please comment on this post. AND if you let me know if you are a follower or you just signed up, you will get an extra chance to win. 

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Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is a mom, wife, literary agent, middle school math teacher, and picture book author. She’s also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. In her free time, she loves to play soccer, binge-watch TV shows, and, of course, read, especially when she’s all cozied up with her husband and daughter reading together.