Many writers have the same fantasy: It involves writing “The End!” at completion of a first draft, sending it out to a top agent, and watching a six-figure contract magically appear in their inbox. Violà! But for most writers, this isn’t how it goes (even though we wish it was!). The challenge is that writing the perfect manuscript, navigating the slush pile, and finding the dream agent are all difficult. On top of that, hitting the market at the exact best time for success is like playing darts in mittens.
At the Manuscript Academy, after thousands of agent consultations, we’ve gathered our top pieces of advice to navigate the traditional publishing submission process and give yourself the best shot at securing your dream agent. Here are our top 10 tips:
1. Do your research
First off, you’re reading this article. Bravo! This means you’re close. There are a lot of amazing tools and information to help you navigate this industry — take advantage of those resources.
- You can use our sister site, ManuscriptWishList.com, to find agents who could be a good fit
- Look up submission requirements for each agent you want to query – these may include page limits, synopsis requirements, response time expectations, and other guidance
- Listen to podcasts to learn about publishing
- Read or watch interviews with agents to learn to speak publishing fluently
2. Wait one month after writing “The End” before you start querying
Think you’re ready to query? Stop! Don’t query until you’ve rested your manuscript for at least one month. It’s easy to get too close to your work. Resting will help your editorial eye. There is nothing worse than the feeling of knowing you jumped into the game too early, so rest it up.
3. Pick your beta readers and critique groups carefully
Before you send your manuscript off to agents, get feedback from beta readers familiar with your genre. You’ll need readers who have a fierce editorial eye and the ability to communicate honestly and effectively to help you improve your manuscript. In turn, learn how to receive critical feedback. It can be hard, but essential for growth. This doesn’t mean you take every piece of advice. This is your work. As Taylor Swift once wrote, “We make the rules.”
4. Put extra attention into your first pages
A snazzy first sentence is like the perfect bait on a line — it’ll help the agent to bite. First lines should provide insight into your entire book, encapsulating the core emotional theme.
First pages are an art that is tough to explain. Like a perfect meal, all elements need to be just right. Think of your first pages as the first course: teasing what’s to come while setting the theme for the meal. You also don’t want your reader to feel as though they’re left out of an inside joke or scrambling for comprehension so long, they might give up. Yes, this is meta, I know. My advice is to read the first pages of 20 books you love. Look at your first page again. Revise until you (or your beta readers!) have that feeling of being pulled into the work.
5. Keep your query letter short
A query letter is the formal letter you use to introduce your book; it’s like a cover letter for your story. Query letters are incredibly tough to write — almost as hard as writing an entire book — but don’t despair. Allow yourself to move slowly and give yourself enough time to write an effective letter. We recommend you keep your word count under 350 words. This is short, but too much information can be overwhelming to the agent. Be concise. Be clear. Make sure it’s easy to understand your pitch in a quick 30-second look. For fiction, make sure you highlight the main character’s journey, what they want, and what gets in the way.
6. Prepare three versions of your synopsis
Many agents ask for different lengths, so to avoid scrambling, have your synopsis ready to go in one-page, three-page, and five-page (double-spaced) formats. It can feel like a daunting task to summarize your book, so we’ve created a nifty breakdown of the elements of a good synopsis for you here!
7. Craft a cohesive submission
Submission strategy is crucial. The first pages should align directly with your query. There is nothing worse than an agent getting all excited about a story, then jumping into the pages and reading something completely different than what they expected. Prologues, I’m looking at you! If you have a prologue, you might even consider skipping it and starting at chapter one for the agents who request a query plus 10 pages, then sending your prologue with the work when you get full manuscript requests. Remember, the goal of your submission is to get a request for the full manuscript, not to tell the entire story.
8. Query in batches
We recommend sending between 5–20 queries per cycle, depending on your genre and how many possibilities you have for agents to target. Use your rejections to make sense of where you are in the process. Are your rejections all form letters? Find more beta readers. Do more research. Give the story another edit. Try, try again.
9. Prioritize your mental health
Rejections are an inevitable part of the process, but that doesn’t make it easy. Mental health during this process is essential. One great strategy I’ve heard is to give yourself a treat for every five rejections — it’ll be a reminder that you’re one step closer to your goal. If you can’t handle reading the rejections yourself, send them to a trusted friend to read, or set up a dedicated email and give them the password. Have them filter the information and deliver the feedback to you in a way you can manage.
10. Know when it’s time to set aside a manuscript
This one is the toughest: It’s okay to put a project aside and start another. Most great writers have put aside projects. It’s not a failure, but an important part of your journey to become a published author. Each of these projects gets you closer to the perfect book, at the right time, and the right place. Plus, once you have a contract, an old project might be easier to sell. If you’re lucky, it can be a win-win.
As a former white-water paddler, I liken the entire publishing experience to a flowing river. Sometimes it’s difficult to take the leap into the turbulent water from solid ground, but it’s always a thrill. Once you’re on the ride, it’s about navigating the clearest way through the rapids. Sometimes you’ll need to search for an eddy to rest, but the experience of creating your best work and putting it out into the world is always worth the ride. I wish you the best of luck on this adventure.
