Top 10 Reasons Your Submission Was Rejected

Kim and James discuss the top 10 reasons why a literary agent would reject your submission.
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Since interning at BookEnds as an undergrad in the summer of 2015, James has (basically) never left. He's just continuously level-up-ed inside of BookEnds. Now he is the Literary Assistant and Social Media Manager for the team. He’s been a reader since his mom gave him the first A Series of Unfortunate Events book and ordered the sequels regularly through Scholastic book orders. James is currently growing his own list and is actively seeking submissions in adult literary and upmarket fiction, mystery, thrillers, and suspense. He is also accepting submissions in all sub-genres of Young Adult fiction, and is actively looking for Picture Books that make him laugh.
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With a client list including women's fiction, mystery, young adult and romance, Kim enjoys working on a wide range of books. She's currently eager to grow her list in the areas of women's fiction, suspense, and young adult. Most especially, as an Autism mom, she is dedicated to representing the stories and voices of individuals with special needs and their families. Originally from Pennsylvania, Kim currently resides in New Jersey with her son (knock-knock jokester extraordinaire), daughter (budding Francophile and resident drama queen), husband (80s aficionado and sports trivia master) and Winston the twenty-pound cat.
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Connect with James: jamerrson
Connect with Kim: bookendskim

[@melanievallely9539]

Thank you so much for your videos - I've been binge-watching them this past week. I'm getting to the end of my revisions, and your videos have eased so many of my fears about querying. I appreciate it!

[@jennymaupin1953]

Thank you so much for this info. There is a lot of confusing information out there.

[@lesliescott6507]

You guys seriously make me want to query BookEnds. lol Love it.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Wow! we hope you do :)

[@lesliescott6507]

Maybe one day soon!

[@arceydear7078]

Thank you so much for this vlog. It is very helpful.

[@lovetrustandpixiedust]

Thank you for sharing these invaluable tips and insight, Kim and James! Helps loads as I'm preparing to query soon.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

We are so happy to hear that! Best of luck, Joyce.

[@britsaunders2151]

Subscribed just because I want that video on pacing. Thanks for posting!

[@birdwitch610]

Ahh Kaz, LOVE the Six of Crows series! Peaky Blinders meets Ocean’s 11 plus magic, so so good. More videos on YA please!!

[@sachacumming6629]

Thanks for the great video, super helpful. I'd love to see you guys make a video on pacing.....

[@eliasmcclellan7940]

These are good reminders as I get ready to get back in that game. Thanks for the tips.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Get back in the game!! Good luck :)

[@sophieoddling]

I was wondering how much of a deal-breaker it is when your name is googled and it shows that for a brief moment in your life you desperately wanted to see your book as a tangible entity so you self published? I didn’t always include this information in my queries (now I do) because I just didn’t realize it was a big deal. Especially because the book I self published is NOT the book I am sending out queries for. I’ve gotten a lot of rejections and I don’t know if it’s because my book isn’t right or if it’s because I self published something else once upon a time. Thanks! Always love your videos!

[@DraeBox]

They talk about this in one of the videos about querying. They (at least at BookEnds) don't mind but they like to be told briefly about your self-publishing experience in the bio section of your query, and prefer not to receive manuscripts for previously self-published novels. The impression I gained from watching whichever (on querying) video it was, was that as long as you learned something from doing it, it doesn't hurt. So if it's clear your currently-on-submission project isn't the same as your previously self-published book, I think you're OK. Although, I'd have to guess that not all agents are as open-minded and with the times as James and Jessica are.

[@ArtemisMS]

Question for you guys! If you get a submission rejection that praised the story and characters but ultimately said it was a pass due to "didn't fall in love," can you read anything into that, or just chalk it up as bad luck?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Good question! I wouldn't call it bad luck, per se, but just a mismatch of interests in some way. In any case, if they recognize the story and characters as good, they are probably saying that their pass came from a subjective place. It could be that the agent didn't click with the voice, or thought the story concept was good but execution didn't interest them, or they don't think they're the right agent to bring it to its full potential, or something else. It will vary for every agent, so when you get feedback like that, it's probably not worth worrying over or making changes for, just acknowledging that writing and reading are subjective! Hope this helps :)

[@brandonalston1578]

Great video guys!

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Thanks Brandon!

[@garykleinberger3704]

Your videos do help alot. Very nerve whacking when i send something and hoping for good news. I hate being rejected maybe now i wont be. Does your agency accept picture book manuscripts?

[@WriterandPhotographer]

I feel a little better after watching your video that some of my many recent queries may not put any agents off too much. I guess I don't understand why there is frequent mention of YA, MG and picture books, but not any mention of chapter books? I have authored the first in a chapter book series, but it doesn't seem like there are many agents who have an interest in this space.

[@gdeec]

We have different readers, opinions and stories. As a reader, I skipped many pages and when I wrote my own story, I wanted it to be an easy read. It may not win any awards, may not have the best grammar and punctuation for the academics, but it is mine. :-)

[@HOODIE_99]

good advice , you've got to look at what could be criticized from the onset , but what i would say is whats good for one reader may not be good for another !. She prefers milder book & the other guy did'nt mention all the genre's!. I write horrors !.So if she read's mine she would'nt like them at all . Don't forget some extreme language can actually entice readers fully , especially if its horror .Horror needs to be gruesome which balances the narrative .I've read a lot of professionally experienced Authors/Writers and yawned through them being so bored ! . Don't forget everybody ain't professionally graduates in English or speak that way . Normal everyday folk need a great character writing author , true to life writer , and enhance the reading experience .Nobody's looking for perfection . Its excitement .IF Literary agents take excitement away whats left ? A BOREING BOOK.

[@Exorbity]

I'd like to hear all-knowing reasons from the agents who rejected J.K.Rowling, lol.

[@lynnevanspro]

I apparently have a habit of showing, but then immediately "telling". My editor caught it, thankfully, so I'm fixing it. But I'll describe an emotion well and then I'll *name* the emotion right after. So I show AND tell? I'm so weird...

[@ClintLoweTube]

Most books are heavy on telling. Few authors can show.

[@tonyparete6892]

Number one reason you got rejected: you didn't know/bribe/kiss the ass of the rejecting agent ahead of time.

[@azuarc]

How often is a submission rejected for the side materials rather than the query itself, and what are the red flags there?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

By side materials, do you mean manuscript and synopsis? We would only reject on manuscript and synopsis if we were to request them :)

[@LauraWilsonAnderson]

These videos make me paranoid. I'm going to scour my query letter as soon as I finish these videos! And - omg I hate track changes... LOL.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

LOL you got this!

[@katerinalongoria9750]

If you are seeking traditional publishing do you need critique partners or beta readers?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

You don't NEED them, though they are useful and we highly recommend them.

[@katerinalongoria9750]

BookEnds Literary Agency thank you!

[@alexiszhoujones]

This was helpful but the background noise was very distracting, with all the pen clicking and desk tapping 😖

[@r.s.4085]

I just got a rejection! Not as bummed out as I thought. It sort of just--was. 🤷‍♂️ Not discouraged, I've had rejections with other books before. Not my first rodeo. I was curious what the problem may have been. I've gotten a lot of great feedback and praise from CPs and Betas (even from some paid beta reading services out there by actual editors, with degrees and all that jazzy goodness). And I researched this agent extensively! (not in a creepy way!...I hope 😬) We even shared interests in certain MG series! And had a similar sense of humour. They even liked a few of my posts on Twitter, and follow me on Twitter. All the things they said they wanted in a MG book were things my MS checked off. Fantasy Science Fiction Strong voice Female MC STEM Diversity Whimsical High concept and so on... My point is that I'm a little confused what that could mean. If a lot of other people are telling me it's good or great, and it's been edited, and it SEEMED to fit criteria they mentioned very recently wanting in a MG book, then what else could be the issue? I don't want to bother them and ask them directly! I'd feel pushy, even if I was polite about it. (Anxiety isn't fun!) Their exact words (after thanking me for my submission and interest and also being really kind and supportive) were: "Unfortunately, I'm not the best fit for this manuscript at this time." As agents yourselves, what does this strange language mean? 🤔 Any insight is MUCHO appreciated! Thank you so much! I love your videos, and the dynamic between you all! Oh, and James...I'm working on a YA Fantasy...it's a dark fairy tale of sorts called CAGED (there's this girl in a large birdcage with no memory of her life before--Wyndylla Hoxley--and she's being held captive by a faceless woman with a body that turns into purple smoke, who wants to turn her into a bird for some unknown reason--Mother Violet.)......you've been warned. 😈 "There once was a girl in a cage." Sincerely, R.S. Rutherford ♥💙💚

[@leenaronalds4155]

What's with all the laughing? What's so funny?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Frankly this was very early on in our video-making adventure, and it's natural to feel nerves when there's a camera pointed at you. But also, we like to have fun with these videos, as no one wants to make OR watch boring videos. That's not our thing.

[@simonperry8569]

@@BookEndsLiterary Fair enough, but it comes across as rather smug and condescending. Oh no, we've got another shit query from an author, as he sits in his Nike hoodie, then sends the manuscript windmilling across the room. "Fancy another de-caffe, walnut latte, Kim?"

[@BookEndsLiterary]

@@simonperry8569 We're sorry you feel that way. We think the content we've been shared across our social media platforms over the past two years prove us to be anything but smug and condescending. Even in our Nike hoodies. Take care!

[@mr.anonymous5196]

The title should read: ‘Top Ten Reasons Literary Agents Reject Your Query Letter.’ You call yourselves agents? Passive voice...duh.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Not to worry, Mr. Anonymous. We did that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaXHkmxnpLSVpbM -- Hope you learn something.