You’ve heard ‘agents are extremely selective’ and all the other catch-phrases we use to express why we cannot take on you as an author. We mean what we say. But, even if your work is good, great even, we have to pass and here’s why:
- The industry is competitive so new authors have be able to break out of the pack.
- The industry is saturated in many markets like YA and women’s fiction so new authors have to be very unique with fresh concepts and fabulous writing that can hook readers.
- We have a client working on something similar so we can’t take on a new work in that space as it’s not fair to our first priorities: our clients.
- We like it very much, but we don’t love it. This is a very fine line, admittedly. It’s hard for writers to hear that an agent likes it very much but cannot offer representation. But in the long run you’ll want an agent that is head over heels for it.
- Your submission requires more work than time we can give. Agents have limited time available to work on major editorial tasks. The time we do have for that goes to our clients first.
- We aren’t the best agent for it. Some agents are more specialized in nonfiction, YA, or commercial fiction–for three examples–and those agents can be better for you. Don’t get tied to the idea of working with an agent you follow on Twitter or an agent that you think might be the best fit. Find the best representation for your work and whose agency has a track record that can support your books.
- We get referrals that usually take precedence over work coming in unsolicited. Referrals come in from clients or people we know in the industry so these are part of our job. I always appreciate referrals and put those ahead of unsolicited work because they are part of the relationships we build as agents in our industry and with our clients.
- We have a full client list so taking something new on has to ‘wow’ us to make room. When we are busy with client work we’re familiar with and reading queries that are just okay, and we come across a query and submission that gets our heart rate up, raises our eyebrows, and we get thinking about who to submit it to–that’s a ‘wow’ factor. Always try to bring the ‘wow’ factor. If you don’t think your query and sample material are ready to wow us, then don’t submit yet.
- The feedback we’re getting from editors in your genre is not supportive of growing authors in that space. We might have taken on an author in your genre and it didn’t get good feedback from editors because of competitive and saturated markets, which always makes us hesitant of getting back in the ring. We want success for the authors we represent.
Conclusion: be ready to stand out from the pack with your outlook and your work; do your research; always get set to ‘wow’ agents; and finally, good is good, but great is great–so agents and editors alike will know.
A pass is never what you want to hear, but it can be more complex than ‘not right for us at this time.’
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Tags: agenting, competition, getting an agent's attention, quality, queries, submissions, why agent's pass
I often read the horror stories from the slush pile and think, I can do better–I have definitely done better! But this is a great list of reasons why one can still be rejected, even if one stands out among the slush. It’s actually reassuring that it’s not the writing that is tragic, but possibly other factors working against you. And yet, still hope-dashing because there are so many reasons to be rejected. It’s bitter-sweet.
There are other factors at work, not always, but often.
I’m actually shocked agents can take on anything at all. I have Netflix now, and I watch a few minutes of a movie, then move on to the next, simply because there are so many. I think if I had a slush pile of books, I’d just keep churning through until I perhaps got to one that was so blatantly, commercially, instantly salable, that I’d have to compete against other agents for it. I would be a suck agent. :-) I have to give props to agents who find anything at all. Perhaps one should be in charge of my Netflix?
Ha! Good analogy. Netflix to slush pile.
Yes, the slush pile is a mix bag. You have to keep going through the ‘To Whom This May Concern’ to get to the ‘Dear Ms. Watters’ etc.
Often that happens too: the instantly saleable ones you have to compete for–BUT, it’s worth it because you know editors will compete too.
I think your Netflix comparison is reflective of reading in general today. There is SO MUCH out there to read. From Twitter to blogs to books so that in itself is why agents have to be picky about what they represent. We’re are competing for readers’ time.
I guess proper addressing and query format is a bit of a skill-tester, yet the cruel part of me enjoys the idea of actual skill-testing questions. Say a randomly-generated quiz that asks questions such as when to use lie vs lay, or how many dozen adverbs per page are acceptable. (The last question is a trick question!) Writers are lovely people who spend way too much time watching the first seven minutes of every movie on Netflix, and we need to put them to work being productive members of society! :-)
I like the idea of a grammar skill test! My big pet peeve is the em dash. When it’s used right it works so well, but often this is a big blunder.
carly … this is the best, and most concise, piece that i have seen on this subject.
thanks …
………….. tom honea asheville, nc
Thanks, Tom! Much appreciated.
Shouldn’t it be “fewer than 1% of all queries” rather than “less than”?
I think it’s debatable as some sources say you use fewer with countable nouns, but I went with Oxford Dictionary here: http://oxforddictionaries.com/page/grammartiplessorfewer. The use of less when it’s a measurement.
Thanks for keeping me on my grammar toes!
I think there are incredible writers out there with an intriguing manuscript, but somehow we fail to “wow” agents with our query letter/hook. Sort of like inventing a great product, but you need the professional copywriter to “sell” it for you.
For me, it’s so difficult putting a 100K word count manuscript into one paragraph to “wow” the agent…and we only get one shot. Once we fail at it, even if we do figure it out eventually, we have burned that bridge because we should not requery that agent.
[sigh...]
Some agents are open to a requery, others aren’t. Most I’ve dealt with are if you revised the manuscript (and the query) in the interim.
If it’s been ample time and you’ve made ample changes then a requery is an option. Often if I pass, but write a long editorial letter I usually suggest I’m open to resubmission.
Think of it on the flip side, from an agent’s perspective: we don’t know you or your manuscript so you have to do a great job selling us. It’s a tough thing to get your head around, but if you work for a year on your 100k ms you need to spend A LOT of time perfecting that query letter/pitch to get our attention.
Keep at it! :)
I am the 1%. Does that mean I’m gonna get Occupied? :-D
Occupied by representation? I think that’s a good 1% to be in.
Hi Carly. Do you represent authors of middle grade fiction? I just wanted to double check before I submit a query email. Thanks.
Hi Rita. I don’t at this time, but Curtis Russell at our agency does so do address it to him.