Depending on who you ask, the odds of getting a literary agent have been calculated to be anywhere between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 6,000. Obviously, this is just probability and it isn’t as if an agent will decide to represent one author and then reject the next 999 or 5,999. And if two fantastic authors show up one after the other, the agent will take both of them on.
The odds are based on the vast number of submissions agents receive each year through the slush pile. Sometimes they can amount to well over a thousand. As a result, agents have to be incredible selective about who they take on, especially since they already have a list of pre-existing clients.
That being said, authors can improve their chances by following a number of easy steps.
1. Follow submission guidelines
2. Tailor each cover letter individually
3. Ensure your synopsis is well written
4. Ensure your opening chapters are engaging and free of typos
5. Target the right agent
6. Understand the genre and age group you are writing for and identify comparative titles
By doing these 6 things when submitting to literary agents, you give yourself the best chance of gaining representation. For instance, if you target a children’s agent when you’re writing sci-fi for adults, that’s an instant rejection. If your opening chapters are dull and fail to hook the agent, that’s a rejection. If you address your letter to the wrong person or ‘Dear Agent’, that’s a sure-fire rejection. And if you submit seven chapters of your book taken from all different points of the story when the agent specifically requested three from the beginning of your manuscript…REJECTION!
Even though this is pretty basic advice that everyone probably already knows, a staggering amount of people fail to follow it. And that’s good news for anyone who does follow it. A well put together submission will help you stand out and instantly make you more appealing to agents.
Good luck!
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