The Art of Resubmitting to Agents
- By: Jessica Faust | Date: Sep 25 2018
I get a lot of questions about whether or not you can resubmit the same book or the same query to agents and I always say, “go for it.”
At BookEnds we welcome a resubmission (within reason). Why? Because we know that becoming an author takes time and practice, that the “ah-ha” moment exists when you suddenly see what you’ve been missing (sometimes for years) and that a large number of our own clients, some of them our bestselling clients, were once rejected…by us. We also, in all honesty, don’t like to miss out on anything.
That being said, there is an art to resubmitting and doing it in a way that helps you and doesn’t offend even the most jaded agent.
Do’s
- Do resubmit if you have fully revised the query.
- Do resubmit if the manuscript has gone through a complete overhaul (more than a 20% revision).
- Do resubmit if the agent gave suggestions in her rejection that inspired your revision.
- Do tell the agent that she had seen the manuscript once before, but it has since been revised.
- Do remember that agents want great books and if you have one, they will be/should be excited to hear from you.
- Do remember the worst that can happen is a rejection. There is no such thing as a blacklist.
Don’ts
- Don’t resubmit the query more than once. If you’ve fully revised the query (but not the overall idea for the book) and you still get rejected then you need to consider that the problem is the book and not the query.
- Don’t spend years and years and years on the same book. Just like the query, the book only gets one more chance. After two rejections from the same agent, I strongly recommend you wait (for that agent) until the next book is done.
- Don’t resubmit if the changes to your manuscript are less than a 20% revision.
- Don’t pretend the agent won’t either remember you or have a record of your previous submission.
- Don’t ever think that you only get one shot and you’re done. That attitude will never get you ahead in this business.
- Don’t let fear hold you back from submitting to any agent.
Thanks for the insightful article, Jessica! I’ve found treating people like people is a tried and true method in all areas of life. Respectful, personalized, professionalism in all communications.
Thank you for this information. I have always wondered if it was okay to resubmit.
On another subject, I have a narrative non-fiction pb that received a lot of positive buzz at the SCBWI LA Conference. It is now ready to submit to the right person.
Good luck!
Do encouraging comments + rejection = Beat it, Bozo? Maybe not. Good to know.
Go away awhile. Rest brain. Guzzle martini. Guzzle martooni. Throw up in toilet. Hide desktop computer under mattress. Replace wrecked computer with laptop. Let ideas perk. Write notes on restaurant napkin. (CLOTH???) Pay for restaurant napkin. Rewrite and reorder chapters. Rewrite query. Resubmit.
Thank you for this article. When you say two rejections and its probably the book, not the query and that we need to move on. Do you mean try different agents, or just forget about trying to get the book published?
Yes, I’d like to hear the answer to this too.
I’m sorry. Two queries to the same agent.
If you have multiple queries out already (haven’t heard back yet), and meanwhile you do a significant rewrite of your first chapter and pitch, should you contact the agents you haven’t heard from yet and send them the revamped materials? Or just wait until you hear back and then consider requerying?
If you think your book is stronger with he rewrite you can absolutely reach out about sending updated materials!
So much of this is common sense. A no is a no but if the book went through a huge edit and the author and editor feel it is better, than yes, resubmit. By resubmitting a clean slate must follow. A new query. A new synopsis and so on.
Does the author need to tell you they are resubmitting?
It’s not necessary, but it doesn’t hurt at all. It’s good to acknowledge that up front.
Last year I finished my manuscript and unfortunately made a rookie move on querying before allowing time to pass. After six months and a couple beta readers I see what revisions need to be made to make the story and writing better. Unfortunately I also have a good amount of queries out there. Should I contact those agents to retract my original query until my manuscript has been revised? I did send it out to a lot and I just want to make sure I don’t either burn bridges or ruin a chance for them to see a better product.
Is the query changing or just the book? I suggest you let the queries sit. If you get requests let them know you’re revising and submit when it’s ready.
Perfect. Thank you for the advice. Overall, no the query will not be changing. It will just be a few plot points throughout. I was just worried about how (if it happens) to handle a request from an agent if I was also planning on doing some revisions. Again thank you very much!
Hello, great info! What is your opinion on notifying an agent who is currently sitting with your submission that you have made manuscript revisions? I have heard that some see this negatively and will reject it, whereas some don’t mind and would like to see the revised piece instead.
If they are significant and the manuscript is better in your opinion, you can absolutely do this.