Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Say you submitted a crappy query letter when you were still learning the ropes. Then you polish and polish and polish some more until you think it's to the level you and other's think acceptable. Can you re-submit the new letter to an agent who already rejected you? If so, what is an acceptable length of time to wait? Do you mention your earlier attempt? (I would imagine not, but figure I should ask)

Sorry, but from everything I've heard, it's generally a bad idea. The only exception I know of is if the agent explicitly left that door open. Unless this is the case, I'd avoid it if I were you, to avoid coming off as unprofessional.

Good to know thanks. Then I should definately hold off till I'm confident in my query letter (in another thread) lest I burn any more bridges.

Here's my post on that: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/05 ... redux.html

The first draft of my query letter always got instant turn-downs, usually within twenty-four hours. Now I'm on my third draft, and I'm still getting rejecting, but it's usually taking a week or so--I suspect I'm moving up the ranks, at least. I choose to believe so, anyway.

I've read about a few people on Query Tracker's forum that had success after evaluating a query and resubmitting. I think that as long as you do it within reason, it actually shows grit.

id say it depends on how much has changed with a novel...
in the past ive pitched an agent... she said she liked it but ultimately passed... i worked on another book, then a year later i did a rewrite of the book she passed on.... very different in my opinion, especially the first 30 pages
although she didn't recognize the book, she passed again... but still... the point is, she didn't recognize it... so if there's enough time between pitches, and you're not pitching the same thing, why not??