Hello all 
I recently started querying agents about a month ago. So far, I have received fourteen rejections and no requests for partials. Not to sound like an egomaniac, but I feel that my query letter is written quite well—short, sweet and to the point; lists the word count, genre and is very formal; however, I have zero in the way of publishing credits, but I've read multiple times that this isn't a big deal. I've started to wonder whether the controversial content of my book is what the reason could be for so many agents turning away from it. In short, the book is a psychological study about a female minor exploring the realms of her sexuality, and does include a consensual relationship with a much older, professional male (the query insinuates this). I then think—this is 2010, anything pretty much goes. It definitely isn't a cozy read. Is it true that it being literary fiction also works against it?
I recently started querying agents about a month ago. So far, I have received fourteen rejections and no requests for partials. Not to sound like an egomaniac, but I feel that my query letter is written quite well—short, sweet and to the point; lists the word count, genre and is very formal; however, I have zero in the way of publishing credits, but I've read multiple times that this isn't a big deal. I've started to wonder whether the controversial content of my book is what the reason could be for so many agents turning away from it. In short, the book is a psychological study about a female minor exploring the realms of her sexuality, and does include a consensual relationship with a much older, professional male (the query insinuates this). I then think—this is 2010, anything pretty much goes. It definitely isn't a cozy read. Is it true that it being literary fiction also works against it?
. If anything, my character has a few shades of Esther Greenwood with a little bit of Lolita's motives thrown in (not to say that my book is as significant as the books where these memorable characters are derived from).
