What NOT To Do When Submitting to An Agent

by Tessa Emily Hall @TessaEmilyHall

I’ve worked at Hartline Literary Agency for a little over a year now—first as an intern for Cyle Young, then I began to work with him as a Jr. Agent. Learning about this side of the industry has been enlightening, to say the least. Although I’m primarily a writer at heart, the publishing process is fascinating to me as well. It’s thrilling to witness the multiple stages that a book undertakes along its path to publication.

My favorite part of this business, however, is helping other writers further their career and potentially play a role in the unfolding of their dreams.

My least favorite part? Having to say “no”. Yet that’s a required task of the process. Although it’s tough, writers often make it a bit easier when they neglect to follow simple yet vital submission guidelines.

If you want to increase your chances of signing with an agent and make it easier for them to give you a “yes”, be careful not to make any of these common mistakes…

Here’s what NOT to do when submitting to an agent:

• Don’t send your query letter in an email that’s addressed to more than one agent. We received a submission like this recently, which was disheartening because the writer’s platform was attention-worthy. Unfortunately, the email was automatically deleted. 

• Don’t tell the agent that God has given you this story, He told you it’ll become a best-seller, or that you’re meant to submit to this particular agent, etc. Yes, this may spark the agent’s attention, but not in the way you’d hoped. In fact, it’s almost seen as a form of manipulation and will most likely result in an automatic “delete” as well. 

• Don’t misspell the agent’s name or confuse them with another agent who represents another genre. Double check the facts and your “to” field before you hit the send button.

• Don’t boast about your book or writing credentials. (E.g., “This is definitely going to be the next best-seller! It’s similar to The Hunger Games, but better.”) It’s fine to come across as confident; in fact, doing so will be a plus. However, there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance.

• In your query, don’t tell the agent all about your writing dream—how you’ve been writing since you were a kid, how you began writing this book five years ago and now you’re SO excited to find the perfect agent to represent this project! Yes, agents do love to help writers’ dreams come true. But they aren’t going to represent you for the sole purpose of helping your dream come to pass. 

• Don’t nag. Resist the urge to send them email after email asking if they’ve received your submission or why they’re taking forever to respond. Respect their time. Their first priority is given to their clients. It’s important to learn, as an aspiring author, the value of patience. The entire publishing process moves at a turtle’s pace. Keep this in mind as you begin to submit to agents, and be prepared for lengthy waiting seasons. 

• Don’t set all of your hopes on only one agent. Of course, it’s not wrong to have a dream agent, but keep a good head on your shoulders when you submit. If they send you a rejection, don’t let this keep you from further pursuing other agents. 

• Don’t write your query letter in fancy font/colors in hopes of standing out in the midst of the slush pile. You may stand out, sure, but probably not in a positive way!

Here’s what TO do when submitting to an agent:

• Follow submission guidelines which are typically listed on their website. 

• Research the agent to make sure they’re legit. 

• Write a concise query letter that piques interest. 

• Remain professional and respect their time. 

• Prove that you’ve done your research and are familiar with the type of clients/genre they represent. Side note: There’s a difference between research and stalking. ;) In the query, include why you chose to submit to them and why you’d like to work with them. 

• Include your platform specifics in the query. Are you actively working to build your online presence? What are your numbers—followers and stats? Platform is a huge selling point when it comes to garnering interest of both an agent and a publisher. 

Bottom line: 

Research is vital. Take your time. Don’t risk a negative impression for the sake of seeking representation ASAP. Yes, the rules might be overwhelming, but failure to follow them just might cost you your writing dream!

What’s the most surprising to you on this list? Have you made one of these mistakes when submitting to an agent?

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Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show teens they’re not alone. Her passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens lead her to a career as a Jr. Agent at Hartline Literary Agency, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Books imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. The debut novel she penned at 16-years-old, PURPLE MOON (LPC Books) was a Selah 2014 Finalist. Her second YA novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY, released with Clean Reads fall 2016.

When Tessa’s fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating her insulin pump, and acting in Christian films. She writes in a small town nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Southeastern coast. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on social media (@tessaemilyhall); her blog, Christ is Write; and website: www.tessaemilyhall.com