Why Your Book Isn’t Getting Noticed by Agents Plus 7 Fixes

September 09, 2025

Want more insider tips, tools, and guidance? Subscribe to my FREE Writing Mentor Newsletter and get expert advice on writing and getting published, delivered straight to your inbox

Why Your Book Isn’t Getting Noticed by Agents Plus 7 Fixes

You’ve written, revised and polished your manuscript. You’ve sent out query letters with high hopes… and then silence. No requests for full manuscripts. No offers of representation. Just the sinking feeling that your book is invisible. I’ve been there many times, and it's nothing short of heart-breaking. While I do write for the love and joy of writing, after the two years it takes to bang out a novel, external validation is important to me, like it is to many writers.

Here’s the truth, literary agents aren’t just looking for good books, they’re looking for irresistible opportunities. Publishing is a business and if your submission package isn’t hitting the mark, it will be passed over in seconds.

The good news? You can fix that, starting today.

Here are 7 reasons agents may be overlooking your work and how to turn it around.

1. Your Query Letter Isn’t Hooking Them

The problem: Agents receive hundreds of queries every week. If your opening lines don’t grab attention, they won’t read further.

The fix: Lead with a sharp, intriguing hook, not a plot dump. Boil your story down to one or two compelling sentences that highlight the core conflict and stakes. Then, briefly summarise your protagonist’s journey and why it matters. When quering agents, I always placed a hook in italics at the top of all my documents, including my query letter and synopsis. This way, the agent knew what they were dealing with, immediately.

2. Your Manuscript’s Genre and Market Are Unclear

The problem: Agents need to know where your book fits in the market. If your genre is muddy or your audience undefined, they won’t risk it.

The fix: Be crystal clear about your genre, target readership, and comparable titles. A strong comp titles section in your query helps agents quickly see the book’s potential audience.

Publishing trends are cyclical, if your genre isn’t selling now, it will come around again. This is something I struggled with, with my last manuscript which fell somewhere between commercial women’s fiction and romantic fiction. As romantic fiction is selling like hot cakes, I should have focused more on that and while the book remains on submission, I am considering a rom com rewrite as overall the feedback has been incredibly encouraging.

3. You’re Querying Too Soon

The problem: Sending out your book before it’s truly polished is a common mistake and agents can tell.

The fix: Do multiple rounds of revision. Work with critique partners or a professional editor. Make sure your first chapter is exceptional. Agents often make their decision within the first few pages.

4. You’re Targeting the Wrong Agents

The problem: Not every agent represents every genre. Querying a thriller agent with your cosy romance wastes everyone’s time.

The fix: Research agents thoroughly. Read their wish lists, client lists, and interviews. I’ve previously recommended tools like QueryTracker and Manuscript Wish List to match your book with agents who actively seek your genre, and I stand over those recommendations.

5. Your First Pages Don’t Deliver

The problem: Even if your query intrigues, weak opening pages can kill interest fast.

The fix: Start your story in the right place, no backstory dumps, no lengthy descriptions before the action begins. Focus on character, voice and tension from the first sentence.

6. You Haven’t Built Any Writing Credentials

The problem: While not mandatory, a lack of credentials can make you harder to sell. Agents want to know you take writing seriously.

The fix: Submit short stories to literary magazines, enter contests, or join recognised writing organisations. Mention these in your bio to show you’re committed to your craft.

7. Your Submission Package Looks Unprofessional

The problem: Typos, inconsistent formatting or ignoring submission guidelines signal a lack of professionalism.

The fix: Follow each agent’s guidelines to the letter. Use clean, standard manuscript formatting. Proofread everything, twice. Learn more about my querying package support services here.

Getting noticed by agents isn’t just about writing a good book, it’s about presenting it in the most compelling, professional way possible.

Start by:

Sharpening your query letter.
Clarifying your genre and market fit.
Perfecting your first chapter.
Researching agents who actually want your kind of story.

The publishing world is competitive, but these changes can dramatically increase your chances of getting a request to read more of your work.

Still Not Convinced?