A few months ago, I started sending queries to literary agents for my historical fiction novel Shame of Kings. So far, I’ve received a bunch of form rejections, and I’ve included the numbers below.
I use Query Tracker to stay organized, and it is a fantastic tool. I know there are other ways to do this, but I find Query Tracker to be very useful. It lets me easily see who I have queried, and it provides a ton of statistics to help you select agents to query.
If my numbers are right, I’ve sent out 36 queries and received about ten rejections. This may be a little higher, as some of the rejections come to my email, and I may not have recorded them in Query Tracker. In case this is new to you, most agents ask for a query letter and also a certain number of pages or chapters and sometimes a synopsis.
I’m okay with these numbers, but I of course would like agents to ask to see my entire book. This is not making me doubt myself in any way. I have identified 284 agents who say they represent Historical Fiction authors, so I have a long way to go.
I have read that other authors and agents suggest sending out queries in batches of ten or so and then making adjustments if the initial queries aren’t successful, and that’s what I am doing now. I sent out five more this week, so hopefully something good will come from that.
In case you haven’t queried before, here are a few of the rejections I’ve received for Shame of Kings:
#1
Dear Will,
Thank you for your submission. I'm sorry, but your project does not sound like a fit for me at this time, and so I will have to pass. Thank you for considering me and best of luck with your future queries.
Sincerely,
#####
#2
Dear Will,
Thank you so much for your query, but I am going to pass at this time. Unfortunately, I don't believe I'm the right agent to champion this piece. Thank you for considering me for your work, and I wish you luck in your writing future.
In your search for the perfect agent, you may want to check out Writer's Digest Guide to Literary Agents blog. We have found it to be a great resource for finding new agents who are looking to build their lists.
Warm regards,
#####
Literary Agent
##### Literary Agency
#3
Thanks for thinking of me, Will, but this doesn’t sound like the right project for me.
I do appreciate the query.
#####
If you’ve sent out queries before, perhaps these look familiar. Query Tracker lets you record rejections as “form rejections” if that’s what you get.
Now I’m not mentioning these rejections to whine about the process and my lack of success (so far), or to discourage you, but just to show you how it’s going for me. Like I said earlier, there are many more agents out there to contact.
With each batch of queries, I’ve made some changes to the novel and the query letter. Some very smart beta readers gave me suggestions on the book. I have made some significant changes such as removing the prologue, adding several thousand words to the final chapters to make the ending better, and continually editing. I believe these changes have improved my book.
I have also changed my query letter, but I admit this is a strange task. Like many authors, I have read countless articles about writing query letters and listened to authors and agents on podcasts. I’m trying to produce an effective letter, but I just don’t know. I guess I could say that since I have only received form rejections or nothing back at all from agents that my query letter is not good enough. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not sure about my letter. I am trying to follow all the suggestions, tips, and advice but…
The thing that bothers me about querying and the form rejections is that they don’t indicate if the agents didn’t like your query letter or the pages you sent them or both or maybe something else. Agents often say that they receive hundreds and even thousands of queries, and I don’t doubt it. I don’t know how they sift through the queries; however, as an author, I would like to know a bit more about why they reject my queries.
Querying is tough, but I’m not stopping. I still have at least 248 agents to query, and I’ll send more if I need to. Pessimism is never the answer.
Now, on to something new. I’m starting a new newsletter, and I’m calling it “AI is For Sheep.” Over the past year, I have become increasingly concerned about how people are looking at AI programs like ChatGPT as wonderful additions to our lives. I don’t like the idea of using AI for writing or any form of art. As a teacher, I think these programs are simply bad for kids. Anything that does the thinking for kids can’t be good.
So I’ve started the newsletter with two main goals. One, to post information and comment on things I see wrong with AI. These will include writing, art, education, military applications, medicine, and more. My second goal will be to promote creators and thinkers who are not using AI in their work. I hope to post information about them and to interview them.
Please check out the newsletter. As I am just getting started, I hope you will subscribe, and I really hope you will comment and share the newsletter with your friends, and readers, and colleagues. I am optimistic that this will be interesting and successful, and I hope you will join me.
Thanks for letting us in on the query process. That's a hard row and requires a lot of patience! We'll look forward to good news!
Thanks