There are some tried and true principles to follow when you are querying a literary agent. Sometimes it’s easier however, to remember what NOT to do. Remember, a literary agent’s time is extremely limited and we get inundated with queries on a daily basis. Make sure you stand apart from the pack by being concise, courteous, having an awesome query letter, and perhaps most importantly, exercise patience! And now, without further ado, the top 10 things NOT do when you query:
10. Don’t write your query letter in iambic pentameter or some other poetic format. It’s not cute and it won’t get your query read any faster.
9. Don’t incorrectly spell the agent’s name! I have been queried by the wrong name (i.e. another agent’s name), been addressed as Mr., and yes, it’s a pet peeve of mine if you get my last name wrong. Google the agent, do your homework, get the gender right!
8. Don’t riddle your query letter with typos and grammar mistakes. This one is self-explanatory.
7. Don’t write only a paragraph or fail to have a proper query letter. I’ve had so many bizarre queries that have nothing to do with the story that’s being pitched or something really lazy like, “I like this story so I hope you do too.” If you aren’t passionate about it, why should I be?
6. Don’t write me everyday or even every week asking if I’ve read your query yet. My standard response time is 6-8 weeks and I can only respond if I’m interested in your query, due to the volume of inquiries I receive.
5. Please don’t call me to ask if I’ve received your query or to follow-up with me on your query. I’ll most likely screen your call or be really terse on the phone, which trust me, I don’t like to do but I have to, because my time is limited.
4. Don’t have unrealistic expectations regarding who should publish your book. I’ve received many queries where the writer has told me which publishers would bend over backwards to have this kind of book. You can certainly have your opinion and impressions but it’s our job to figure out who to ultimately pitch.
3. Don’t ignore the submissions instructions. That will get you an auto-ignore or delete. If an agent’s instructions say “no attachments,” please, don’t attach anything! If an agent says the first 20 pages copied and pasted in the e-mail, don’t include 30, for instance.
2. Don’t query an agent in an area that he or she does not represent. Do your homework, again, and don’t waste your time or an agent’s time by sending her a MS in an area she does not represent. If you are unsure you can certainly try to reach out to an agent via Twitter or e-mail first.
1. Don’t query an agent before your project is truly ready. That means it has to be absolutely polished, read by several beta readers, edited, put away in the drawer to rest, etc. Far too many writers query before the project is ready and unless the agent contacts you first to work on a project together (often the case for non-fiction) make sure your query is in top shape and vetted by others before you submit.
I hope you found those tips helpful! Good luck on your path to publication!
