Top Ten Ways To Annoy Literary Agents

by | Book Publishing, Submit A Book For Publication | 5 comments

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Deadline: Thursday, February 22nd

Updated September 2023

At Writer’s Relief our submission strategists are always on hand so our clients know the best ways to interact with literary agents. Even if you’re not a client, here are some deal breakers you’ll want to avoid when submitting your book.

1. Beginning your novel with long descriptions of the weather or the scenery. Avoid an “information dump” right off the bat, including drawn-out descriptions of the main character or backstory.

2. Beginning your novel with a cliché. If it feels even mildly familiar, skip it.

3. Asking an agent for a detailed critique of your submission or for a detailed explanation of a rejection.

4. Writing clueless query letters. Queries that brag, grovel, and show a lack of professional know-how are a no-go to literary agents.

5. Missing deadlines. Writers who promise a synopsis within a week should deliver.

Submit to Review Board

6. Insisting on becoming “part of the process” in areas best left to other professionals. Writers should not push their cover art ideas on a literary agent or second-guess the agent’s advice on legal contracts. There’s a big difference between integrating yourself in the process in an intelligent, well-informed way and being a royal pain.

7. Querying with inappropriate material. Agents who specifically represent one genre (westerns) are annoyed by submissions of other genres (horror). Do your research, or have Writer’s Relief do it for you.

8. Being a prima donna. If you land a contract, this is not the time to become high-maintenance.

9. Trying to get noticed with gimmicks. Agents aren’t impressed by authors who use weird fonts, odd-sized typefaces, or fill their queries with emojis.

10. Reacting immaturely to rejection. Blasting an agent for rejecting your novel by blogging about them will only tarnish your reputation as a serious and professional writer.

5 Comments

  1. Elizabeth

    Thanks, it is good to know what not to do as well as what to do.

    Reply
  2. Tony James Slater

    Oh, and I heard – I mean, I’m not sure about this one, but I seem to recall someone mentioning – that they’re not too keen on you following them around their hometown with a balaclava and a baseball bat.
    Or sending them photos of yourself naked (this one I know FOR SURE, because the restraining order is still on my file).
    Oh – oh – and they can’t STAND it when you frame them for crimes they didn’t commit! They get, like, seriously put out! Ahhh, good times.
    I’d better go ring my lawyer.
    Tony

    Reply
  3. Johnny Shabazz

    I wish agents would at least use a collection of general feedback replies from which they could choose for each response. Just general, initial direction for the newbie to learn from. Something as basic as categories like: subject not interesting, query was weak, not marketable at present, etc. It would be no more effort than choosing the pre-canned response they presently use and they could have whatever legalese/disclaimer of their choice to cover themselves. Right now, I feel like I’m merely sending flares off into a great big abyss.

    Reply
  4. Cricket Freeman

    As a literary agent for 20+ years, I agree with your list wholeheartedly!

    To succeed: Be professional. Be respectful. Be informed.

    Cricket Freeman
    The August Agency LLC
    http://www.AugustAgency.com

    Reply
    • Blog Editor

      Thank you, Cricket!

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

 

 

See ALL the services we offer, from
FREE to Full Service!

Click here for a Writer’s Relief
Full Service Overview

Search

Reviews

“Getting that first poem published was the hardest threshold to cross. My team at Writer’s Relief kept encouraging me…then came the acceptance! We celebrated…then I continued writing, and Writer’s Relief continued doing the wonderful work they do!”

—King Grossman, Writer
(Watch King’s video testimonial here!)

“Every piece I have sent out with their help has been accepted for publication! I am looking forward to working with the team on getting my new novel out into the world.”

Services Catalog

Free Publishing Leads
and Tips!

Featured Articles



Featured Video

Follow us!



YES, IT'S MY LUCKY DAY!
Sign me up for
FREE Publishing Leads & Tips
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

WHY? Because our insider
know-how has helped
writers get over 18,000 acceptances.

FREE Publishing Leads and Tips! Our e-publication, Submit Write Now!, delivered weekly to your inbox.
  • BEST (and proven) submission tips
  • Hot publishing leads
  • Calls to submit
  • Contest alerts
  • Notification of industry changes
  • And much more!
close-link


STOP! BEFORE YOU GO...
Sign me up for
FREE Publishing Leads & Tips
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

WHY? Because our insider
know-how has helped
writers get over 18,000 acceptances.

FREE Publishing Leads and Tips! Our e-publication, Submit Write Now!, delivered weekly to your inbox.
  • BEST (and proven) submission tips
  • Hot publishing leads
  • Calls to submit
  • Contest alerts
  • Notification of industry changes
  • And much more!
close-link

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This