What are the top reasons literary agents reject a manuscript? Seven literary agents each share the top three reasons why they turn down a manuscript.

FEATURED AGENTS:

Cortney Radocaj, Literary Agent, Belcastro Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CortneyRadocaj
• Website: https://www.cortneyradocaj.com/
• Agency page: http://www.belcastroagency.com/about_us/

Kaitlyn Johnson, Literary Agent, Corvisiero Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaitylynne13
• Freelance editing: http://www.kjohnsonfreelance.com/
• Agency page: https://www.corvisieroagency.com/kaitlyn-johnson.html

Kat Kerr, Literary Agent, Donald Maas Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekatsmews
• Website: https://thekatsmews.com/
• Agency page: http://maassagency.com/kat-kerr/

Kelly Peterson, Literary Agent, Rees Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LitAgentKelly
• Website: https://www.litagentkelly.com/
• Agency page: http://www.reesagency.com/kelly-peterson

Maria Heater, Literary Assistant, Nelson Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariatheheater
• Agency website: https://nelsonagency.com/

Megan Manzano, Literary Agent, D4EO Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Megan_Manzano
• Freelance editing: https://www.meg-edits.com/
• Agency page: https://www.d4eoliteraryagency.com/p/megan-fell-in-love-with-reading-and.html

Naomi Davis, Literary Agent, BookEnds Literary Agency

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaomisLitPix
• Agency page: http://bookendsliterary.com/about-us/

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS VIDEO:

• How to know when a book is ready to query
• Too much editing is required before an agent can send the book to an editor
• Genre uniqueness
• Character voice
• Showing vs. telling
• The first page isn’t strong enough
• The story starts in the wrong place
• Distant POV
• The manuscript doesn’t fulfill the promise in the query letter
• Subjectivity
• Passion for a project
• Plot arcs
• Character arcs
• A story that jumps around too much (chaotic timeline)
• Poorly-executed prologues
• Bad pacing
• Info-dumps
• Lack of editorial vision to make the story work
• Plot holes
• Offensive or unnecessary content
• Lack of representation
• Harmful stereotypes
• World-building
• Problematic content or representation
• The writing isn’t ready (amateur writing)