The biggest mistake when querying literary agents: Never send it without an edit
The Biggest Mistake when Querying Literary Agents: Never Send it without an Edit
Have you finished writing your novel, memoir, or nonfiction book proposal, and you feel like it’s time to wow literary agents with your brilliance?
If so, you aren’t alone.
The Never Edit Myth
Some writers are falling for a myth that advises not to get their work professionally edited before securing a book deal (let alone before finding an agent who excitedly says yes to their query).
The myth suggests foregoing that edit because the publisher will foot the bill for a copyedit sometime after the book deal and before it’s published. While publishers do in fact do this, the lie obscures how agents are so busy going through the slush pile, they’re looking for any reason to say no.
Don’t give them that reason.
Let me give you a breakdown of what happened with one of my clients, a novelist in a similar situation. Let’s call him Clive.
Clive had studied at a prestigious MFA writing program and already published his debut novel with a Big 5 imprint a few years prior. But now, for his sophomore effort, he needed a new agent because his first one since gravitated toward selling nonfiction and therefore let him go.
He was referred to me by a mutual connection, who knew I had experience helping writers find agents (more on that, working on nonfiction, below). That was what Clive wanted. He spent years writing an epic bildungsroman, and just wanted a break while he outsourced the agent research phase.
Makes sense, right?
Wouldn’t you also want to let someone else handle boring research for you?
The Mistake I Won’t Let Happen Again
Outsourcing is a great idea. However, this is where we made a mistake. The same mistake happened with another writer before I wised up and changed my process.
You may also make this mistake for your own work if you’re not careful.
I made the assumption that because they had gone through an MFA or similar program, that they knew what they were doing in terms of story structure, plot, pacing; character development, sensitivity to cultural standards set by an evolving contemporary readership, or—most importantly—an awareness of whether they had accurately rendered on the page their vision of the story they had in their minds.
These writers were smart people. Yet I learned a bit too late that their manuscripts were not ready for submission.
I agreed to their request to find agents on their behalf. This was perfectly OK to do, except for the timing.
Anyone who’s researched literary agents knows how not glamorous a task that is. It takes time. Time away from your family, from writing your next project, or from other business. Even if you have titles to comp—one of the best ways to find an agent—it may not be as easy as you’d think.
I found thirty agents for Clive and prioritized them based on the likelihood who would respond favorably to his book premise. An executive agent in New York wanted to see more.
Clive and I celebrated over the phone, and in passing he mentioned something that happened in his book. I paused. It was not in the manuscript. His vision for the ending of the book—the whole point—was still in his head but not on the page.
I had read the manuscript but had not been hired to edit it. I enjoyed what I read. But revealing that missing element completely changed the trajectory of the book. When it was clear his intentions for the book were not rendered as such, I guided him to the decision to shelve the list of agents until his book accurately reflected his vision.
It was a good call, as the agent, who’s been in the business for almost as long as I’ve been alive, loved Clive’s prose but ultimately turned it down.
So, you don’t want to jump in too soon and have an intrigued agent reject you because you weren’t prepared. You only have one shot with querying each agent for a particular book project.
A Solution
Luckily, preventing such problems is fairly simple.
Always find an editor you trust and who can fully align with your goals for the book, and provide you with both encouraging and necessary feedback.
That may be easier said than done.
But if you’re serious about writing and publishing, you treat it like a business. Even the most entrepreneurial writers know when to delegate. Stick to your zone of genius, and outsource the rest.
For example, another client, a plastic surgeon, came to me with disparate notes and hired me to make it the best book possible. We were “buddies” at a Tony Robbins event three years earlier, and he trusted my judgment. I developed and organized the book and had him write new material. He then asked me to write the book proposal, as well as find literary agents and write his query letter.
Because I was familiar with the project, I was able to pique the interest of a senior vice president at a large New York agency who had shepherded one of the surgeon’s comp titles. He loved the proposal and set off to pitch publishers on his list.
In short, to get a literary agent, you need to:
Have your manuscript or book proposal professionally assessed and edited;
Craft a query letter that accurately, succinctly, and powerfully presents what your offer;
Determine which among the hundreds of agents are the best ones to query.
It can be that easy.
But you must show your best work. You must be able to prove that you have an amazing story idea and you can fulfill its promise. Otherwise, what you’ve captured on the page may not adequately reflect your goals and vision for the book.
Take action
That’s why I’ve created a specialized, packaged service that helps you put your best foot forward.
I help you create your book proposal, aligning with your unique idea and identifying how you and your platform can be leveraged to supplement the publisher’s marketing efforts.
I craft a query letter that lets your book idea and qualifications shine.
I provide a comprehensive edit of your manuscript.
And I help you prepare such supplemental material as a synopsis and elevator pitch.
If you’d like, let’s hop on a quick call together to see if this package is right for you.
Just book a time to chat that works for you:
https://calendly.com/stanleydankoski/30min
During that call, we’ll look at how you can benefit from contacting targeted agents from a position of strength and confidence that you’re presenting your best material, and what your best next steps would be if you decide to pursue this strategy.
Spots are limited, and there’s zero obligation to work with me, but if we do end up being a fit I’ll invite you to become a private client of mine and I can do all of this for you (so you can sit back and relax while I do all the hard work).
Look forward to speaking with you!
Best,
Stanley