Checklist de Submissão de Manuscrito
You have written the book, revised it, and gotten feedback. Now you are ready to submit. This checklist covers the practical details that can make or break a submission — not the creative work, but the professional presentation that gets your manuscript read instead of rejected on sight.
Before You Query
This means revised, not just drafted. You have incorporated beta reader feedback, done at least two full revision passes, and proofread the final version. Do not query a first draft.
Literary fiction: 70,000-100,000. Fantasy: 80,000-120,000. YA: 55,000-80,000. Romance: 50,000-90,000. A debut novel at 200,000 words is a hard sell regardless of quality.
Pick two or three published books from the last five years that share your audience. "For fans of [Author A]'s worldbuilding and [Author B]'s character voice" signals market awareness.
Use resources like QueryTracker, Publishers Marketplace, and Manuscript Wish List. Read interviews with agents on your list. Never query an agent who does not represent your genre.
Query Letter
A query letter is a business letter, not a creative writing sample. Keep it tight: hook, book summary (think back-cover copy), bio, and housekeeping details.
Name the protagonist, state what they want, what stands in their way, and what they stand to lose. Do not summarize the entire plot — create intrigue, not a book report.
Mention a specific book the agent represented and why it connects to yours. "I admire your diverse list" is not personalization — it is filler.
Publication credits, relevant degrees or expertise (a doctor writing medical thrillers), and contest wins. Leave out your day job unless it is directly relevant. No credits is fine — say nothing rather than padding.
Manuscript Formatting
12pt Times New Roman or Courier, double-spaced, 1-inch margins on all sides, 0.5-inch first-line indent, left-aligned (not justified). Page numbers in the header with your last name and title.
Each chapter should start on a new page, roughly one-third of the way down. Use your word processor's page break function — never hit Enter twenty times.
A blank line alone can be ambiguous (is it a scene break or a formatting error?). Use a visible marker so the break survives reformatting.
Most agents want .docx. Some accept .pdf. Check each agent's submission guidelines — sending the wrong format signals carelessness.
Submission Materials
The synopsis covers the entire plot including the ending. Write it in present tense, third person, focusing on the main plot and protagonist's arc. Name no more than four or five characters.
Unless specifically requested otherwise, send the first pages of your novel. Agents want to see where the reader starts, not an out-of-context highlight reel.
One agent wants 10 pages pasted in the email body. Another wants 50 pages attached as a .docx. A third wants only the query with no pages. Follow the instructions exactly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Your mother's opinion is not a professional credential. Let the writing speak for itself. Similarly, avoid "this is the next Harry Potter" — let the agent make comparisons.
Query one agent per agency at a time. If they pass, you can sometimes query a colleague — check the agency's policy. Querying multiple agents at the same house looks unprofessional.
Record: agent name, agency, date queried, materials sent, response deadline, and outcome. This prevents duplicate queries and helps you follow up at appropriate intervals.
A brief "Thank you for your time" is appropriate if the agent sent a personalized rejection. Otherwise, no response is needed. Never argue, explain, or ask why. Move on to the next query.