5 Reasons an Agent Might Say No
Rejection is an unfortunate, but inevitable, part of the querying process for memoir manuscripts. Agents receive thousands of book queries a year, and they have to pass on the vast majority of them. In fact, many memoirists end up querying 50-100 agents before they get a “yes.” However, there are still concrete ways of improving your chances of catching an agent’s attention. The odds of getting interest from agents increases when you understand what they’re looking for, and what might make them pass on a project.
Want to learn why agents might say “no” and how to maximize your chances of a “yes”? Read below to find out.
Where can I find an agent?
“Publishers Marketplace” is the best place to research agents and also to learn about trends in book deals and sales records. You can become a member for 25 dollars a month, or purchase a “Quick Pass” for ten dollars, which gives you one-day access to premium features of the site. If you’re looking to avoid fees, “Writer’s Digest” and “Poets & Writers” have free lists of agents that you can check out as well.
What does the querying process look like?
The query process looks different depending on the agent / agency you’re reaching out to, and also the genre you’re writing in. Always be sure to check the agency website for the specific materials they’re looking for. For instance, some agencies may request book proposals, while others may just be looking for a query letter. Here’s a general outline of the querying process:
STEP 1: You send a query letter pitching your book to the agent. Generally these are sent either via email or an agency form. Be sure to look at the submission details on the agency’s website for the specific materials they want. While most will ask for a query letter and perhaps a few pages, others want additional materials as well.
STEP 2: Agent says “yes, send me more” or “no thanks.” If an agent is interested, they’ll usually ask for more pages, and potentially the full manuscript. If they aren’t interested, they’ll respond with a “pass” (usually something generic like, “I didn’t connect with this” or “This isn’t the right fit for me.”) Some agents may provide personalized feedback on why the project wasn’t right for them. Finally, many agents will not respond at all, which likely means it’s a “no.”
STEP 3: After seeing the full manuscript and/or book proposal, the agent either says “no thanks” or asks for a phone call. If the agent passes on a full manuscript and/or proposal, they will often provide some feedback as to why it didn’t work for them (although, frustratingly, some will send generic rejections). If an agent loves what they see, they’ll generally ask for a phone call with you. That is usually a very, very good sign!
STEP 4: Agent extends offer of representation. This typically happens on “the call,” once the agent has a chance to talk with you and see if you seem relatively easy to work with. You’ll want to make sure you have questions prepared for the agent so you can decide if the agent is a good match for you. Just like dating, finding an agent is a two way street – this is the person who will be representing your work, so you should be as picky about them as they are about you!
Why might an agent say no?
They don’t know how to market it. An agent might feel like a particular project is out of their wheelhouse when it comes to pitching it to editors. For instance, if you’ve written a highly academic memoir and the agent has little experience with that, they may not feel confident in their ability to sell it. Or they may believe that this story isn’t timely or relevant enough to compete in the current marketplace.
There isn’t a clear audience. An agent could struggle to see the readership for a memoir like yours. That might be due to a niche, too-narrow topic or a lack of “platform” by the author, which may make them worry about the book having a broad enough readership. Concerns about audience may result from a lack of clarity in the author’s pitch about who the book is for.
The story doesn’t feel “unique” or compelling enough. There are many, many published memoirs, resulting in an overly saturated market. If your story comes across as too generic and/or similar to existing memoirs, it may be difficult to capture an agent’s attention. This can stem from a lack of dramatic tension in the manuscript itself, and/or a writer being unable to articulate their distinctive angle / approach in the query letter.
The writing isn’t ready. Obviously, the quality of the writing is a key factor in an agent considering a project. If they feel the writing is subpar, either in the query or the manuscript, they may question whether the author has the ability to pull off a high-quality final product.
There are red flags. Coming across as disrespectful or difficult, either in your email exchanges or “the call,” can raise serious red flags for an agent. Keep in mind that the agent is working for free until your book sells – that means that they want someone who is easy to work with and will be worth the time investment. It’s completely appropriate to ask questions and follow up with agents in a respectful way, but when that crosses a line, it can be difficult to recover from.
How can I make an agent say yes?
Perfect your pitch. Make sure your query letter is as strong as possible before widely querying agents. For tips on how to write a strong query letter, check out my blog post here.
Build your platform. Ramping up your following is a great way to prove to agents that there is an audience and market for your book. That might mean joining communities that may become your future readers (for instance, going to foodie conferences if you’re writing a culinary memoir), or publishing shorter pieces in literary and/or commercial outlets. However, platform does not mean you have to be a “famous” person or have thousands of social media followers. For more on that, read this article.
Revise your manuscript. Be sure you’ve revised your manuscript thoroughly and received extensive feedback – this could mean hiring beta readers or a developmental editor, or participating in a writing workshop. The greatest chance you have of finding an agent is producing the very best manuscript possible.
The process of querying agents can be long and challenging – and yet, with some insight into what agents are looking for (and not looking for), you’re one step closer to securing the “yes.” Need more guidance on how to get an agent? Reach out below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.