Ms. Jessica Watterson
Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
Should you query this agent?
Get answers to this, and many more agent questions at QueryTracker.
Closed to Unsolicited Queries
General
Jessica Watterson
Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
1155 Camino Del Mar, PMB 515
Del Mar, CA 92014
- Website:
- dijkstraagency.com
- Twitter:
- @JessWatterson
- AALA Member:
- No
Query Methods
Genres
This agent is seeking the following genres:
Fiction
Chick Lit
Children's
Commercial
Contemporary
Historical
Middle Grade
Multicultural
Offbeat/Quirky
Picture Book
Romance
Upmarket
Women's Fiction
Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Pop Culture
Join Now (FREE) to learn more about this agent. (Such as how often and how quickly each agent replies to queries.)
Known Clients (current & past)
Emily Albright
Skylaar Amann
Lori Ann Bailey
Wendy Bennett
Melissa Brown
Debbie Burns
Jade Chandler
Isabel Cooper
Dylann Crush
Rosie Danan
Beth Ehemann
Betsey Grace Groover
Amanda Heger
Sophia Henry
Jamie Howard
Kc Lynn
Alexa Martin
Martha Mayberry
Amber Lynn Natusch
Kristin Rockaway
Katie Ruggle
Cindy Thomas
Lillie Vale
Tara Wyatt
Author Comments
Comments by authors about this agent.
dfwallace
03/10/2023 03:11 PM
I was dropped as Jessica's client MID-SUB via email (no, she did not call me) last year. I saw an announcement that she newly repped someone, so while she appears to be closed to queries, I just want to recommend DM-ing me here if you're thinking about querying her or before you accept her offer of rep. I'm happy to share my experience (but it's fair to say that I would not recommend authors to query her bc she was not a good advocate for me).
BlackRose
01/17/2023 12:42 AM
@dfwallace She has a history of doing this. Very similar thing happened to one of my CPs.
bonecabela
01/09/2023 10:30 AM
@emmadeards I don't think the agents monitor this account. I would check with Jen about contacting Jessica.
emmadeards
01/09/2023 02:56 AM
Hi, I just got a referral to you from Jennifer Azantian, what would be the best way for me to submit my work to you?
SabbeJones
09/25/2022 11:00 PM
Does anyone have any idea when Jessica Watterson might reopen to queries? She said she answers every query, but I submitted on 3/31/22. I nudged with a message on 8/22/22 and got the following auto reply:
This is an automatic reply to verify I have received your message. I will be back to you as soon as I can.
If this is a check in to see if I am still considering your work, I apologize for how long it is taking me to read, but I do answer all queries in the order they are received. So until you hear otherwise your work is still under consideration with me. :)
Thanks for your patience.
Jessica
So now, I'm more confused than ever, wondering if I am in a maybe pile. However, it's been over a month, and I haven't gotten any other type of response, so I'm wondering if it's truly a CNR. In the meantime, my MS, query, and synopsis have gone through heavy revisions. I'd love to submit new materials, but if I withdraw, I won't be able to send them.
This is an automatic reply to verify I have received your message. I will be back to you as soon as I can.
If this is a check in to see if I am still considering your work, I apologize for how long it is taking me to read, but I do answer all queries in the order they are received. So until you hear otherwise your work is still under consideration with me. :)
Thanks for your patience.
Jessica
So now, I'm more confused than ever, wondering if I am in a maybe pile. However, it's been over a month, and I haven't gotten any other type of response, so I'm wondering if it's truly a CNR. In the meantime, my MS, query, and synopsis have gone through heavy revisions. I'd love to submit new materials, but if I withdraw, I won't be able to send them.
wordgirl251
04/12/2022 10:35 AM
QM: sent query on 11/27/2021; YA 94,000; speculative fiction about the pandemic
Pass: 3/18/2022
I'm adding this comment because I want to say how kind and compassionate Jessica has been. I first "met" her doing a first page critique through Manuscript Academy and she asked me to query her when she reopened, so I did. In her rejection, she wrote personally about how she still believes in my project and referred me to two other agents in other agencies. I genuinely appreciated her acknowledgement of my work and those referrals. If I don't find representation with this project, she will be at the very top of my list for my next project!
Pass: 3/18/2022
I'm adding this comment because I want to say how kind and compassionate Jessica has been. I first "met" her doing a first page critique through Manuscript Academy and she asked me to query her when she reopened, so I did. In her rejection, she wrote personally about how she still believes in my project and referred me to two other agents in other agencies. I genuinely appreciated her acknowledgement of my work and those referrals. If I don't find representation with this project, she will be at the very top of my list for my next project!
Profile Update
Patrick (Admin)
04/01/2022 09:28 PM
Profile Update: Closed to queries.
sara_gilbert_writes
03/27/2022 02:37 PM
FQ: 3/27
Con YA 58k
Con YA 58k
BritMoss
03/23/2022 04:23 PM
FQ: 02/14/2022
FR: 3/23/2022
76K YA Contemporary
FR: 3/23/2022
76K YA Contemporary
Abigail
03/19/2022 09:49 AM
Form Rej 18 MAR 2022
-------------
QM sent 09 JAN 2022
Mystery 77k
-------------
QM sent 09 JAN 2022
Mystery 77k
LookingForAnAgent
03/18/2022 09:59 PM
58 day rejection cont romance
“Thank you again for submitting to me. I personally read every query I receive, and unfortunately, do not feel I am the best agent to champion this project. Please know this industry is incredibly subjective, and while I am not a match for this, the next person who reads might be that perfect fit.
Please know that I wish you all the best in your publishing journey and am so very appreciative that you thought of me for your work.“
“Thank you again for submitting to me. I personally read every query I receive, and unfortunately, do not feel I am the best agent to champion this project. Please know this industry is incredibly subjective, and while I am not a match for this, the next person who reads might be that perfect fit.
Please know that I wish you all the best in your publishing journey and am so very appreciative that you thought of me for your work.“
amandamarieo
03/18/2022 09:14 PM
FQ: 1/8/22
Form Rejection: 3/18/21
Historical Romance, 95k
Form Rejection: 3/18/21
Historical Romance, 95k
hellojohnna
03/10/2022 05:45 PM
EQ
1/30: CNR: so sad, but my query was 60 days which is beyond their limitation guidelines.
90K romcom
Update: 3/10 - she rejected it. I appreciate that she still responded!
1/30: CNR: so sad, but my query was 60 days which is beyond their limitation guidelines.
90K romcom
Update: 3/10 - she rejected it. I appreciate that she still responded!
Patrick (Admin)
02/19/2022 03:26 PM
You are correct, SarahKam, about how QT and QM work. Thank you for helping out.
SarahKam
02/19/2022 03:03 PM
linny2, I'm not an expert, but I think if you mark it CNR here, it doesn't change anything on the agents' end. It's basically you marking for your own records that you haven't heard back from an agent and are considering it over.
If you want the query status on Query Manager (I assume that's what you're talking about) to change, you need to officially withdraw the query. Usually QM has a place where you can send the agent a note and just say something like, "Thank you for your time, but I've decided to withdraw this query from your consideration."
If you want the query status on Query Manager (I assume that's what you're talking about) to change, you need to officially withdraw the query. Usually QM has a place where you can send the agent a note and just say something like, "Thank you for your time, but I've decided to withdraw this query from your consideration."
linny2
02/19/2022 02:17 PM
When the query is CNR does the query status change from “No decision has been made…”
Thank you!
Thank you!
RayNan
02/01/2022 10:41 AM
1/23/22 EQ 93k historical military fiction
2/1/22 CNR
2/1/22 CNR
acolvin09
01/24/2022 01:11 PM
EQ: 1/24/22
adult SFF @99,797k
adult SFF @99,797k
qbee2001
01/14/2022 11:47 PM
Queried 11/10 idk if I should nudge. I might just let it sit until it closes out.
meganthebookworm
01/13/2022 03:51 PM
Query: 11/12
Full Request: 11/18
Submitted: 11/18
Rejected: 1/13
She gave me the kindest, personalized rejection I've ever gotten. She loved the story, said I'm a strong writer and that she wants to see this book on the shelves, but she was worried it didn't have a big enough hook that she could get it past an acquisitions board. If I don't get an agent with this project, she wants me to submit to her again. She was so sweet that I definitely will.
Full Request: 11/18
Submitted: 11/18
Rejected: 1/13
She gave me the kindest, personalized rejection I've ever gotten. She loved the story, said I'm a strong writer and that she wants to see this book on the shelves, but she was worried it didn't have a big enough hook that she could get it past an acquisitions board. If I don't get an agent with this project, she wants me to submit to her again. She was so sweet that I definitely will.
Join Now (FREE) to learn more about this agent. (Such as how often and how quickly each agent replies to queries.)
Agent Interviews
Interviews with this agent from across the web.
None found for this agent
Success Story Interviews
Read interviews with authors who have signed with this agent.
Profile History
- Last Update:
- 04/01/2022 - Closed to queries.
Disclaimer
Always verify agent's information before sending your query, and review the agent's website(s) for more up-to-date information.
Though we do our best, QueryTracker can not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided.
An agent listing on QueryTracker is not an endorsement or recommendation of that agent by QueryTracker.
Before contacting an agent, authors should verify and assess the agent's requirements and suitability by visiting the agent's website(s), and becoming familiar with ways to spot and avoid bad agents. A good place to start is Writers Beware, a watch group that helps inform and protect authors from shady practices.