When is it time to revise your query package? (& more questions) 🤔

Answering your questions to help you through the query trenches

I know how frustrating the querying process can be — especially when you receive rejection after rejection with no indication as to what in your query package isn’t resonating with agents. If this is your situation, how do you determine when, whether, and how to revise your query letter or sample pages? If you aren’t getting any feedback from agents, what can you do to end your streak of rejections and get closer to a full request — and hopefully an offer of representation?

I get these questions from authors all the time. So today, I’ll be sharing my insights on some of the most common querying concerns, along with my tips for revising your query package to give yourself the best possible chances in the querying trenches.

Here are the questions we’ll cover:

• Why don’t agents send personalized feedback with their rejections?

• At what point should you consider revising your query?

• When you don’t get personalized feedback from agents, how do you figure out what’s wrong with your query?

• How do you make your query letter the best it can be?

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Why don’t agents send personalized feedback with their rejections?

Form rejections are the standard in the publishing industry because agents are ultimately trying to get back to as many querying authors as they can and don't necessarily have the time to reflect on and articulate why each project isn't right for them. That’s why they most often send out form rejections rather than specific feedback.

I totally understand how this lack of insight into their evaluation process can be frustrating, but remember that a form rejection doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your query package.