 Publishing is a wonderful business, but also a challenging one. Not only do you have to have a polished manuscript and an awesome query letter, but to be traditionally published, you need to get your work in front of an agent. Unfortunately, most authors make the mistake of approaching an agent too soon. While you need excitement and confidence in this business, you can’t neglect research and skill. But with these six points, you’ll be well on your way to standing out from the crowd. 1. Too many agents see samples of first drafts. This goes without saying: get feedback on your manuscript from a trusted critique group or book coach. 2. Many agents see books that are good, but not commercial. Authors frequently hear, “I like this, but I don’t think I can sell it.” Here are some questions to ask yourself:
3. An agent could be passing because your book lacks tension. Go back and analyze your scenes. What really happens? Write it down. You may find that you’ve written too much about the ordinary. Here are some areas to check:
 4. If you’ve been around the writing community very long, you’re going to hear, “Show, don’t tell.” Many authors don’t advance past this point. Remember that readers want to see out through your character’s eyes. They want to experience your unique world. Learn to slow down as you write. Pay attention (once again) to the five senses. 5. Many authors start their book in the wrong place. Is the opening of your book compelling? A study of the ordinary world principals from Chris Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey could be of help here. Also, make sure you get to your inciting incident quickly. An inciting incident is an event in the main protagonist’s life that sets off the main conflict and propels the plot forward. This event takes your character out of their normal world or situation and changes everything. 6. Sometimes a story is just not a good fit for an agent. Because writing is art, all art is subjective. Finding the right agent who “gets you” and your manuscript can be a challenge. While no one likes getting rejections, keep in mind that agents juggle a lot of things. Some seasons they are more open to new clients, and sometimes they have to take time to focus on themselves. Bandwidth and burnout can be a real issue for literary agents.  Perseverance is key in this industry, and we should always be learning and improving. It’s important to surround yourself with encouragement and people who can cheer you on. Because so many authors quit early on, you’ve got to remember to just keep going. You never know when you’ll meet your perfect agent at a conference, and everything will fall into place. And you’ll be ready, because you’ve done your due diligence. Enjoy the journey!  Brandy Vallance is a literary agent with Barbara Bova Literary Agency, and an award-winning author. She is the winner of two national writing awards, one of which included a $20,000 prize. Her novel, THE COVERED DEEP, has been featured in USA Today and Writer’s Digest. Romantic Times called WITHIN THE VEIL “passionate and riveting” and Publisher’s Weekly encourages those who like sweeping Scottish sagas to dive in because “the journey is wonderful.” Brandy loves helping writers break the chains of fear and self-doubt. You can find out more at brandyvallance.com.  Attend a Writers Conference in 2026:
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