By Rebecca Lawrence

Welcome to the Booker Albert Biweekly! I'm thrilled to be writing this week’s newsletter about the query process!

Did We Read Your Query Before Rejecting It?

I think most people who are in the query trenches wonder how much time literary agents dedicate to each query they get. Literary agents receive hundreds and sometimes thousands of queries per month. Personally, I try to give every query a fighting chance when it comes through my inbox. I think most agents are genuinely interested in hearing what you have to say—after all, if we don’t read our queries, how can we find our next client?

BUT there are some reasons your query might be rejected before it is even read. After speaking with my fellow agents, I’ve compiled a list of what you can do to ensure that we actually get to your query.

Automatic Rejections

Adhere to the Guidelines

Every agency has submission guidelines, and they exist for a reason. These guidelines help agents manage the volume of queries they receive and ensure they’re reviewing submissions in a way that best fits their workflow. If an agency requests a query letter, a synopsis, and the first ten pages, don’t send a full manuscript or just a blurb. If they specify genres they represent, don’t send something outside of those categories. Ignoring guidelines often results in an automatic rejection.

It is also a good idea to do some quick research on the agent that you want to submit to. For example, I do not represent picture books. Anything tagged as a picture book in my inbox will be automatically rejected.

If your book includes triggering topics, consider each agent’s Manuscript Wishlist to see if they have specified what topics they don’t represent. It also would be a good idea to include trigger warnings in your query letter.

Only Pitch Unpublished Books

This may seem like an obvious rule, but I still receive queries for self-published books multiple times a month. If you’ve already self-published your book and are seeking representation, most agents will pass. Traditional publishers generally want first-time English rights, meaning the book hasn’t been published anywhere before.

This includes querying foreign rights. If you published your book in Australia and want to release it in the U.S. or Europe, an agent still can’t represent it in the same way as an unpublished manuscript. At Booker Albert, we are primarily interested in First Time English Rights.

Only Pitch the First Book in a Series

If you’re writing a series, that’s great! But when querying, only pitch the first book. If an agent is interested, they’ll ask about series potential. Including a lengthy explanation of multiple books in your query can be overwhelming and unnecessary—focus on making the first book stand out. If you have already self-published the first book in the series, we typically are not interested in the rest of the series.

Your Sample Pages Should Start on Page 1

Unless an agent explicitly states otherwise, always submit sample pages starting from the beginning of your book. The opening pages are designed to hook the reader, and agents want to see how you introduce your story. Submitting a random chapter in the middle of the book can make it difficult for us to evaluate your writing properly.

Pay Attention to Word Counts

I sometimes hear people say that because Harry Potter broke the wordcount for its target audience that means that word count standards are meant to be broken. While there are always exceptions, these exceptions mostly center on already successful authors. As a debut author, a mismatched word count will result in agents (and acquiring editors for that matter) to automatically reject the pitch. Most agents look for books that fall within standard industry word count ranges for their genre. A debut novel that is far too short (e.g., a 30,000-word adult fantasy) or far too long (e.g., a 250,000-word YA novel) raises red flags. Do your research on the expected word count for your genre before submitting.

Include a Pitch in Your Query Letter

If I see a query letter that is only a paragraph long, it’s usually missing a crucial element: the pitch. A query letter should introduce your book, provide a brief but compelling pitch (similar to a book jacket summary), and include relevant information about you as the author. Agents need to know what your book is about before they can decide whether to request more pages!

There are tons of resources out there on how to write a great query letter. If you want to pursue a career as an author, researching this query-letter-writing process is key!

If You Have Submitted to Another Agent at the Same Agency

Most agencies have policies about querying multiple agents at the same firm. Some allow it, but many don’t. Here at Booker Albert, we want you to make sure the agent you have submitted to has passed before submitting that manuscript to another agent at our agency. Before sending a query to a second agent at the same agency, check the agency’s website. If their policy states that a rejection from one agent is a rejection from the whole agency, don’t submit that manuscript again unless explicitly invited to do so.

Bad Practices

Avoid Bad Comps

Some writers try to justify their book by explaining why the market needs it or by comparing it to wildly successful bestsellers. While recently published comps are helpful, saying your book is “the next Harry Potter” or “better than The Hunger Games” can come across as unrealistic.

Don’t Apologize or Undermine Your Work

Many writers include lines like, “I have no experience yet” or “This probably isn’t good enough, but…” in their queries. Confidence is key! Agents want to see that you believe in your book. Let your writing speak for itself without unnecessary self-doubt. If you have no relevant writing qualifications, that is okay! But pointing it out is probably unnecessary. Instead write your bio about yourself, where you live, what you do. If you don’t include it, we will assume that you don’t have any previous writing or publishing experience.

Skip the Cliffhangers in the Synopsis

Your synopsis should include all of the twists and the end of the book. Agents aren’t afraid of spoilers! Avoid saying things like, “To find out what happens next, you’ll have to read the manuscript!” Agents need enough information to decide if they want to see more.

These are just a few common reasons your query might be rejected before an agent fully reads through it. If you’re unsure about query etiquette, a quick Google search or a YouTube video on “how to write a good query letter” can be incredibly helpful. Research is key. Agents want to find great stories, so give your query the best chance by following these simple guidelines!

We look forward to reading your work!

Squire: A Graphic Novel Worth Your Time

As an agent who is an artist, I love to see stories conveyed visually on the page. Last month I was loitering around Barnes & Noble and stumbled upon Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh. I love the aesthetic. There’s something about a beautifully illustrated coming-of-age tale that pulls you in, but the reason I picked it up was to experience the compelling action scenes. Conveying action (especially fight scenes/hand-to-hand combat) is difficult in written form, and when a graphic novel can successfully do this, it displays a mastery of both written and visual storytelling.

Blurb

In a war-torn empire where only the privileged can become knights, Aiza, a determined girl from an oppressed class, dreams of earning her place among them. When she is accepted into the competitive Squire training program, she sees it as her chance to prove herself and secure a better future. But as she undergoes grueling training and forms unexpected friendships, Aiza begins to uncover dark truths about the empire and the role of the knights she once idolized. Faced with a choice between loyalty and justice, she must decide where she truly belongs before it’s too late.

A laugh-out-loud spicy adventure romcom. Perfect for fans of The Lost City, Lyla Sage and Christina Lauren.

A surprise gift is exactly what Adriana Jones needs to improve her vacation, and a bracelet with gems will do the trick. Except once it’s on, she’s faced with two problems:

—The bracelet is actually meant for Andrew Jones—the renowned and utterly gorgeous archaeologist.

—It will not come off, no matter how hard she tries…

Andrew Jones needs this bracelet if he wants to find an ancient lost treasure deep in the jungles of Colombia. And there’s no way he’s letting Adriana’s mistake cost him his career. There’s only one solution: Adriana must accompany him on his quest. Trekking through jungles and crawling through crypts wasn’t on Adriana’s vacation agenda, but an adventure with the very sexy Dr Jones might just be the treasure she’s been seeking…

What to expect:

• Forced Proximity

• Opposites Attract

• Fish out of Water

• Destination romcom

• Slow burn

• Spicy

It sounds super fun! Paperbacks will be available for purchase on May 8th, 2025, and the eBook will be available on May 2nd, 2025.

Instagram: @oliviajacksonbooks  @onemorechapterhc

Stay tuned the first Thursday every month at 10 AM.

If you have a topic that you think I should write about or you want to write an article for us, email me at [email protected] with your bio and topic. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives.

Of course, authors or industry professionals if you want to write about something email me!

Authors, do you want to submit a book to us?

Check us out at the Booker Albert website.

Happy reading,
Rebecca Lawrence