With the deluge of manuscripts that most agencies receive on the daily, it's no surprise that agents now are more selective than ever. Making the wrong impression in the first few lines - or even the first few words - could be enough to land your precious baby in slush pile hell forever.
How can you save your baby? Make sure it isn't one of these five manuscripts that agents are tired of seeing.
1. The Lindisfarne Gospels
2. Sir Thomas More
Was Shakespeare really the mysterious hand D? Would it have been to controversial to perform during the reign of Queen Elizabeth? Do agents really care? Hasta la vista!
3. Lord Byron's Don Juan
What are those weird white stains?
4. Bruce Springsteen's Setlist for the Roxy, 1975
Was the night of October 18, 1975, part of Springsteen's 6-night gig in Los Angeles, one of the most epic Springsteen performances ever? Probably. Is the live version of "Thunder Road" that was included on the Live '75-85 5-record LP, featuring an ethereal yet heartrending piano introduction by Roy Bittan, legendary? Yes. Are you doing this agent any favors by reminding them that Springsteen likely has the whole concert audio locked up somewhere in a vault? No. Do not submit.
5. Contract to Satan, Signed in Blood
The YA vampire romance trend peaked in 2013; it's probably good to give agents some breathing space before sending them you name scrawled in distorted lettering over the symbol of a pentagram. A few years may seem like a long time, but trust us, soon the occult and supernatural will be seen as retro - and that much cooler!
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