Manuscript submission.. the beginning, the middle, and the end.

[Yokomsa]

Ok, lets pretend that I have written a pretty good book and I have sent some query letters out to agents and a few are interested in reading some of what I have written.

I know that most agents have requirements for submissions, but from those with experience on this issue...

1. How many pages do they initally request?   10 pages?  First chapter?

2. If they only want the first chapter... will they then ask for the whole book if they like what they see?

Can someone kinda give a walk through on the manuscript part?

Thanks!

[Guardian 452]

Not that I've actually submitted anything yet, but...

As I understand it, your best bet is to contact the various agencies to see what they're after.  Either check out their website (assuming they have one) or sending a query letter with a SASE to inquire as to their policies.

I think the best bet would be to do it this way, much as you would with a publisher.  While I can't say from experience, my best guess is that agents/agencies have their own "slush plies" the same as publishers, and I'll wager that asking them before submission would put you head and shoulders above the competition!

Just my 2 cents...

[prophet224]

From Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America:
http://www.sfwa.org/writing/

The second paragraph goes over manuscripts.   Hope it helps!

[Richelle Mead]

Are you talking about the initial query or after they've contacted you?  Some agents only want a query letter, no pages.  If they do take excerpts with the query letter, their website should spell out exactly what they want--and you should do it!

Now, if you're talking about after you've queried and peaked their interest, then it's totally variable what they'll want, and they'll tell you.  For that second contact, 50 pages is pretty common.  However, sometimes an idea will so seize an agent that they'll ask for the entire manuscript right away.  I had that happen twice in my querying process--one of which led to my agent.  Just hope that if they do ask for the whole manuscript, they'll take it electronically.  Shipping's a bitch.

[Yokomsa]

I am talking about the whole process.  I found a sample query letter from an agent's site and I am going to craft my query letters based on the one I found.  It seems pretty good.  50 pages sounds pretty good and I have some pretty good attention getters and hopefully interest maintainers for those 50 and after that!

I will hope and pray for those e-submissions when the time comes!  Got to think positive here!   


Thanks for the link on the manuscripts!  I have put it in my favorites!

Stephanie