After reviewing thousands of queries over the years, I’ve noticed certain patterns emerge—patterns that often lead to instant rejections. Today, I’m sharing the top five ways writers sabotage themselves when querying agents, and more importantly, how to avoid them.
I’ve provided helpful articles and a checklist so you can keep it all straight, at the end of this article.
- Querying Too Soon
I see this constantly: writers finish their first draft and immediately start querying. While the enthusiasm is admirable, it’s a bit like trying to sell a house before the walls are closed and the roof is on. Your manuscript needs to be edited, vetted (think beta readers), and polished before you send that first query.
Here again is that self-imposed deadline. You just want to hurry up and get it out there – and 99 times out of 100, that’s the worst thing you can do.
Writers have shared that they’ve been advised their manuscript only needs to be “serviceable” or “mostly ready” to start querying. This couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s often said that “editors don’t want to edit anymore,” there’s a bit of nuance to that. If your book is 90% polished and only requires minor tweaks, editors are generally willing to step in because they’ve already fallen in love with your story and voice. This is assuming the shaky 1% isn’t the entire premise the novel is hinged on.
However, at this early stage, acquisition editors are the least of the issue. Most agents (including yours truly) do not do heavy-lift edits. Again, a few little tweaks are fine, but highly polished is always preferred.
Expecting anyone to see potential in a manuscript that still feels unfinished is a risky gamble. Agents nor editors are going to fall in love with a pitch, or what the book “could be”. You need to show right out of the gate that you can and are putting in the work to make this book the best it can be.
What to do instead: Get feedback from knowledgeable critique partners; run it by a developmental editor, or maybe get a writing coach if you need extra help. When you think it’s ready, wait another week, then do one final pass. Trust me, you’ll catch things you missed before.
- Not Researching the Right Agents
I can’t tell you how many queries and in-person pitches I receive for genres I don’t represent or for projects that aren’t a fit for my list. Writers often take a “spray and pray” approach — querying every agent they can find without considering whether that agent would be a good match for their work. This wastes both the writer’s and agent’s time.
What to do instead: Research agents who actively represent your genre and have a track record of selling similar books. Look at their recent sales, read interviews, and follow their social media. Pay attention to their submission guidelines and current wish-list. Most importantly, look at their current client list—does your work align with their tastes?
Remember, you’re not just looking for any agent; you’re looking for the right agent who will champion your work.
- The Kitchen Sink Synopsis
In writing a synopsis some writers endeavor to cram in every character, subplot, and twist, while others are so vague that I have no idea what actually happens in the book. Neither approach works.
What to do instead: Focus on your main character, the central conflict, and major plot points. Think of it like writing a two-page version of your entire book—including the end. This isn’t the time to be mysterious, agents need to know the full story arc so they can see whether the story holds together before they invest hours of their time. (Link to my template below)
- Overlooking Submission Guidelines
Each agency has specific submission guidelines, and they exist for a reason. When writers ignore these guidelines—sending attachments when asked for pages in the body of the email, querying genres note represented, or including materials we haven’t requested—it signals that they either haven’t done their research or don’t respect our time.
What to do instead: Think of these requirements as trip-wires. Agents want to know you’ve taken the time to know who they are, rather than just taking a shot-gun approach. Read the submission guidelines carefully. Then read them again.
When you’re agonizing over sending the five requested pages – and sending that extra page or two “to complete the chapter” or finish a thought, err on the side of caution. Only send the exact number of requested pages.
Create a spreadsheet as you’re researching to record different agencies’ requirements. It takes more time upfront, but it prevents automatic rejections – which is usually the result of not following the requirements.
- The Follow-Up Faux Pas
The waiting period after sending a query can feel eternal. I get it. But sending daily follow-ups, demanding immediate responses, or arguing with rejections are surefire ways to burn bridges in this industry.
What to do instead: Check the agent’s expected response time. If they don’t specify one, a polite follow-up after 6-8 weeks is reasonable. Keep the tone professional and courteous. Maybe start working on your next project.
**IMPORTANT: I do not recommend reviewing your manuscript and making changes –big or small—and then emailing the agent saying, “If you haven’t started reading yet…I’d like to send this “better” version.”
This tells the agent: 1. You were not ready to query. 2. You did not have the manuscript professionally edited. 3. You are rushing the process. Refer to Step 1 above. This is also another reason why you don’t do a 50 agent mass submission—in case you find errors or get great feedback from an agent who passed that you want to incorporate before continuing to query.
To be honest, querying agents is a lot of work and can be frustrating. To do it successfully requires more than just good writing—it requires professionalism, patience, and attention to detail. Hopefully these suggestions will help ease the pain a bit.
More Good Stuff
Related Articles
The Art of Patience: The Consequences of Rushing Your Manuscript
Pitching An Agent: Insights From the Other Side of the Table (includes a helpful list)
Agents are People Too: A Plea for Respectful and Considerate Querying
ReneeFountain.com (for free synopsis, proposal and query letter resources)
Your Pre-Query Checklist
Manuscript Readiness
□ Manuscript has gone through multiple revisions
□ Beta readers/critique partners have provided feedback
□ Professional editing completed (optional, but highly recommended)
□ You’ve done a final polish pass after letting it rest
□ Manuscript is formatted with 1” margins, Times New Roman 12-font, double spaced
□ You can confidently say it’s your best work
Agent Research
□ Created a targeted list of agents who represent your genre
□ Verified each agent’s current submission status
□ Reviewed their recent sales and client list
□ Read interviews/social media to understand their preferences
□ Checked if they’re accepting queries
□ Documented their specific submission requirements
Query Package
□ Query letter follows standard format (250-350 words max; single page, single spaced)
□ Synopsis focuses on main plot, character arc, and includes the ending
□ Sample pages match each agent’s requirements
□ Bio includes relevant writing credentials (if any)
□ All materials follow requested formatting guidelines
□ You’ve either attached the samples, or pasted in the body of the email per agent guidelines
□ You’ve proofread everything multiple times
Submission Organization
□ Created a tracking system for queries
□ Documented each agent’s response time expectations
□ Prepared different versions of materials to match requirements
□ Have a system to track personalization for each agent
□ Set up a dedicated email folder for agent responses
Professional Mindset
□ Prepared for the waiting period
□ Have a new project to work on while querying
□ Understand this is a business transaction
□ Ready to receive feedback professionally
□ Committed to the long-term process