3 querying mistakes you DON'T want to make ❌

Where I break down querying blunders that I want you to avoid

Querying is about getting your book in front of as many agents as possible, hoping one will bite, then jumping to sign the first offer that comes your way — right?

Not quite.

Querying isn’t just about getting a “yes,” its about getting the right yes.

While it is a numbers game, successful querying also requires thought and strategy. You wouldn’t cast your net into a polluted pond hoping to catch fish, right? You would cast it in an environment that gives you the best chances of catching healthy fish. You’d also make sure you have the strongest net possible to increase your odds of success.

I recently worked with three clients who ran into problems during the querying process — not because they weren’t talented writers, but because they rushed in without a clear game plan. One nearly signed with an illegitimate agent, another rushed to blast off as many queries as possible, and a third started querying far before she was actually ready.

While these are all very different issues, they have something in common: they show why patience, research, and a thoughtful approach to querying are just as important as having a great manuscript.

Each one of these blunders is completely avoidable, so let’s break down what exactly happened with these three situations so you don’t make the same mistakes.

Mistake #1: Accepting any agent who shows interest

One of my clients was thrilled when an agent requested her full manuscript — as she had every right to be! But after sending it over, she received a strange email from the agent with some resources on marketing and promotion (not typically a major discussion point at the full-request stage of querying, especially for fiction). No other agent had ever sent her anything like this before, and it gave her pause.

When the agent expressed interest in representation, my client did the right thing and started digging into the agent more. First, she checked QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace, two essential databases for vetting agents. But the agent wasn’t listed on either. This was a major red flag.

QueryTracker uses a strict vetting process before adding agents to its database, and any agent who has made a legitimate book deal should have a listing on Publishers Marketplace.

Had this agent been part of a well-known agency and was just starting to build their own list, it would make sense that they wouldn’t have been listed on Publishers Marketplace yet, but that wasn’t the case here. She was operating alone, at her own agency, without any visible track record of book sales. And when an agent has no proven sales and their agency has no demonstrated industry credentials, there’s no way to know if they’re going to be able to sell your book.

In the publishing industry, there isn’t any specific certification an agent needs to begin representing authors. That unfortunately means anyone can say they’re a literary agent and allegedly operate as one.

As a result, the burden falls on authors to ensure they’re working with legitimate professionals — which is critical, because signing with a bad agent can set your career back more than waiting for the right one.

If you’re at all questioning an agent’s reputability, here’s how to vet them before signing an offer of rep: