Literary agents receive hundreds, if not thousands (depending on the agency) of query letters every day. That’s a lot! There’s no way they can read every single one and respond. So, unfortunately, most of them end up in the rejection pile.
As a writer, it’s important to understand why agents reject query letters. Understanding the why behind the rejection will help you avoid query letter writing mistakes and increase your chances of having your letter read instead of tossed.
Why Literary Agents Reject Query Letters: 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Not Following Submission Guidelines
The fastest way to get rejected is to ignore an agent’s submission guidelines. Each agency has specific requirements for query letters. Not following the guidelines shows a lack of professionalism. The agent may see you as someone that’s difficult to work with.
2. Generic, One-Size-Fits-All Queries
Agents can spot a mass-sent query letter from a mile away. When you address them as “Dear Agent” or mention genres they don’t represent, it’s clear you haven’t done your research. Explain why you’re specifically choosing them. Show that you’ve done your research.
3. Poor Opening Hook
You only have a few seconds to capture an agent’s attention. As soon as they open your letter, they need to see something interesting. Your query letter should start with a compelling and engaging hook about your story, not a long section about how your book is going to be the next bestseller.
4. Unclear Genre or Market Position
Agents need to know how to sell your book to publishers. If you can’t clearly identify your genre or target audience, or if you claim your book will appeal to “everyone,” it implies that you don’t understand the market. Be specific about where your book fits in the current marketplace.
5. Unprofessional Tone
While creativity is valued in writing, query letters are business documents. Using overly casual language, making jokes about how much agents will regret rejecting you, or including gimmicks (like writing from your character’s perspective) often leads to immediate rejection.
6. Insufficient Plot Information
Many writers focus too much on themes or character backgrounds and forget to outline their plot clearly. Agents need to understand what actually happens in your book. Vague descriptions or focusing solely on themes without concrete story elements won’t convince them to request more. Agents reject query letters that tell them nothing about the story.
7. Poor Writing Quality
Your query letter is a sample of your writing skills. Grammatical errors, typos, or wordy sentences indicate that your manuscript might require extensive editing. Take the same care with your query as you did with your manuscript.
How to Improve Your Chances
To avoid query letter rejection, you should:
- Research each agent thoroughly before querying
- Customize each letter to the specific agent
- Keep your query short (250-350 words)
- Focus on your book’s unique elements while clearly stating the plot
- Show professional awareness of your genre and market
- Proofread multiple times
- Get feedback from other writers before sending
Conclusion
Remember that query letter rejection is often part of the publishing journey. Many successful authors faced numerous rejections before finding the right agent. Take time to revise and perfect your query letter just as you did your manuscript. Consider joining writing groups or hiring professional editors to review your query before submission. The extra effort could make the difference between getting a rejection letter and requesting more pages.
Your Turn
Have you written a query letter that got a rejection letter in return? Did you give up, or revise your letter and try again?
