These days agents and publishers don’t have the time to critique your query letter or manuscript. They won’t even tell you why you got rejected to allow you to do better next time.
Let me give you the inside scoop of the top 9 reasons a query letter submission gets rejected. Use this list to check your next submission BEFORE it goes out!
TOP 9 REASONS YOUR QUERY LETTER MAY GET REJECTED
1. No Unagented Submissions.
Some publishers don’t accept submissions from the general public — Only from agents. Locate a good literary agent first!
2. No Writing Platform.
A writing platform is your ability to drive sales through your fame or media experience. That means you’ve done TV interviews, radio interviews or written for a newspaper before. If your goal is to be placed with one of the large publishing houses like Random House, Penguin, Harper Collins etc. THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER YOU without an established platform.
3. No Market Information.
You did not identify the size of your market in your query letter. You failed to provide statistics that justify the number of potential readers for your book. Because, of course, publishers and agents are in it for the money.
4. Your Query Letter is Sloppy.
You have typos, misspellings and grammatical mistakes in your letter. Agent’s and publishers expect you to be a professional writer — that means no mistakes. If you have mistakes you will be rejected immediately. Hire an editor or get someone to review your work.
5. Your Book Has No Market.
It doesn’t matter how good your writing is, if no one cares about your topic it won’t sell. A good clue your book is unmarketable is if you can’t find books similar to yours in the bookstore or you don’t have a clue which section your book belongs in.
6. You Are an Unpublished Writer.
Some agents only work with authors who have been published previously.
7. You Didn’t Identify the Correct Agent/Publisher.
Some agents and publishers specialize in certain genres. So, if your book is a romance novel don’t submit it to an agent who specializes in science fiction.
8. The Agent/Publisher is Not Taking Submissions.
The book publishing industry has seasons as well as peaks and valleys. Some agents/publishers are busy with other projects making it impossible to review any new submissions.
9. Your Writing is Not Good.
Your writing does not flow and does not capture the reader’s attention. Contrary to what most people think, if you are the best writer in the world your work will still be rejected if you don’t have the things mentioned above.
photo credit: andreasnilsson1976
3 comments ↓
Hey Sydney,
If I sent you a copy, would you critique the Query I’m sending to selected agents/agencies for the genre at no cost to me?
Hi, I have written a book for older children/teens/young adults about a little girl with a burning desire to have a pony of her own & the amazing pony that she rescued. It is a true story, very heartfelt & touching. It talks about Christianity/Jesus/Salvation, as well as dtermination, hard work and faith. I have no idea where to look for an agent. I can see this book on shelves in both Christian bookstores & traditional bookstores as well. I am confident that it will sell, but I need guidance in finding an agent. Can you lead me down that path. Once I have names of good agents in the Christian/animal loving world, I can send them my query letter & get going!! Please consider helping me, I am new to this & have no where to start. Thanks!
About 20 years ago I sat down to my typewriter and wrote a 300 page (8.5′” X 11″) in 1 month, less Sundays. It is about a Christian band that got it’s start in high school. I had tried to get a publisher (a traditional publisher) but got 20-30 rejection letters. Finally, I wrote to Cambridge Publishers (a traditional publisher) and they wrote back and told me that they would publish it if I paid them $10,000. I guess they also had a subsidy program. I had about $300 to my name so I couldn’t do that. Others told me that they would do it if I took out the Bible studies led by the students in the book, in other words compromise. I don’t do that.
Since then I have written many books, only a few are published and only because I paid. Because I got tired of the catch 22, “You can’t get published by a traditional publisher unless you already are published by a traditional publisher.” Someone has got to break that vicious cycle.
Stefanie, all I can say is keep writing and don’t give up. Remember, the Lord loves people who want to get His Word out. There are some good subsidy (self) publishers, Zulon is good, I talked to the owner, they are like traditional but you pay them. Tate Publishers is good, I met with the owner. My books are on Amazon and my website.
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