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Your submission package
Given the difficulty of getting agents and publishers to take on your
work, it’s really important to make sure that you present it in the best
possible way.
The guiding principle should be that less is more, so don’t send a
full manuscript, as it’s very unlikely to be read. Far better to tempt them
with a submission package that will leave them wanting to see the rest of
the manuscript. You cannot sell your work at this stage, only engage their
interest in considering it properly.
Your submission package should consist of:
- A concise and attention-grabbing letter. Do mention anything of
real interest or relevance, but don’t dwell on how much your mother liked
your book, how many drafts you’ve done, or who has already turned it down.
Include brief biographical details, and a paragraph or two which makes
your manuscript sound as intriguing and original as possible. If you
can customise the letter to say why you are sending it to them (because
they represent or publish a certain author, for instance), then this shows
that you have chosen them, rather than just moving on to the next name on
the list.
- A succinct and clear synopsis of your work in the form of a
chapter-by-chapter outline. This should be no more than three pages in
length and some American agents specify a one-page synopsis. It is an outline of what happens in the story, if it’s fiction,
and a chapter outline, if it’s non-fiction. This is not a selling
blurb, so even if you think you’d rather keep the ending secret, put it in
the synopsis.
- Two or three sample chapters of your manuscript. If it’s
fiction, it’s better to send the first three, but with non-fiction you can
choose the strongest or most interesting chapters. You should always
include the first chapter, as how your manuscript starts is very
important in terms of engaging readers. If your chapters are very
long, send just one, but in any case 5,000 words is quite enough for the
agent or publisher to judge your style and writing ability.
- If your manuscript is a non-fiction book, it might make sense to
include a brief biography, which should concentrate on showing your
qualifications for writing the book.
- Similarly, if it is a non-fiction project, it might be appropriate to
do a market breakdown, analysing the existing competition and
saying how you think your book would fill the gap you’ve identified.
Also make sure that:
 | Your material is well-presented, with a well laid-out letter, and that
the rest of the material is cleanly presented in double spaced type. |
| Go through the whole package carefully before you send it, to correct
grammar and spelling errors. |
| Do not email it unless the agent or publisher specifically asks for
emailed material. It creates extra work for them in printing it out and
many of them just won’t bother. |
It’s worth remembering that agents and editors usually read submissions
in a certain way. First they’ll look at the letter, then, if that catches
their interest, they’ll read the synopsis and only after that get on to the
sample chapters. Don’t forget that they are busy people and have a lot
of submissions to get through, so you need to make sure you get their
attention right from the start.
If you feel you need help with getting your submission package ready, you
could consider using our Submission
Critique service.
Finding an agent
Making submissions
Avoiding rejection
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© Chris Holifield 2006
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