Everywhere I look, writers are asking the same questions: How do I write a query letter? How do I find the right agent? What’s the best way to get noticed? Those are important steps but they skip over one of the most crucial questions of all:
Am I actually ready to submit?
As a literary agent, I read thousands of submissions every year. I see the same patterns, the same avoidable missteps. What many writers don’t realize is that the real work starts before you hit send. In this post, I want to pull back the curtain and share what I see from the other side of the inbox. I want to help you figure out if you’re truly ready to take that leap and the mistakes to avoid.
This is part one of a four-part series.
1. A Finished Draft Isn’t the Same as a Ready Draft
You’ve typed The End. Congratulations! But don’t confuse a completed manuscript with a polished one. Too often, I see submissions that feel rushed, unpolished, full of typos, critical structural issues and more. Writers eager to get out there before their work is fully refined. Agents aren’t looking for potential; we’re looking for readiness. And a poorly crafted query or manuscript is a surefire way to get rejected.
Let me break it down:
Beta readers can be such an asset. They aren’t for everyone, but having someone read your work and provide feedback is a good idea. Now, I know a lot of writers will disagree. I’ve heard it all: “I don’t want anyone to steal my story” and “I don’t know how to find beta readers” are two of the biggest complaints. Many people give their work to their mom (Bless!) or bestie, but unless they are also writers of your genre, have a Master’s degree in creative writing, or working in the publishing industry, they may not be the best person from whom to receive feedback. Beta readers are everywhere. You can join a local or on-line writing group to commiserate and collaborate with like-minded writers. A quick google search can guide you in the right direction. There are also book doctors, editors, and even beta readers for hire. They are out there. It’s a good idea to find your people and hone your skills before you start querying.
Work the WHOLE manuscript! Not just the first three chapters. Don’t be this person: There are writers who concentrate on polishing the pitch and the first three chapters but nothing else. I see this so often. There are workshops for perfecting the first three chapters, query letter boot camps, and so on. This is due to most agents requesting a pitch, synopsis and first three chapters.
First the reason why:
Query lets us know if you understand the book business, can position your book, pitch it effectively and write coherently.
Synopsis: lets us know if the story is intriguing or not.
First three chapters: Lets us know if you can actually write effectively enough to grab our attention and get us excited to keep reading. We want to be invested.
The trifecta of pitch, synopsis, and chapters lets us know if you have that ‘it’ factor.
However, if the first three chapters are all you work on, by chapter four it can fall apart. I cannot even describe how disappointing this is and how often it happens. Don’t let this happen to you!
Sometimes all you need is a month or six away from your manuscript to go back to it with fresh eyes. You’ll be surprised how much of it you’ll have forgotten. You’ll find holes in the plot, typing errors, things that don’t work. You also might delight in your brilliant writing and pithy dialog! It’s worth the wait. Agents will still be there when you get back.
Proofread both the manuscript and the query letter. This is a good time to have your mother or bestie proofread the query. Sometimes mistakes are made and that’s okay, but if you have glaring errors in your query letter, like the wrong agent/agency name, sloppy typos, incomplete sentences and major grammar issues, that’s not going to bode well for you.
Get your comp titles together. Know your genre or blended genres and know them well. More on that in the query section.
Here is one very important note: DO NOT QUERY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A FINISHED MANUSCRIPT! (This goes for fiction only. I’ll get into non-fiction another time.)
One of the most frustrating things as an agent is to read a brilliant pitch, love the synopsis and the writing, then request the full manuscript only to be told it is not complete. Or it’s with beta readers and not ready yet.
Questions and comments I’ve fielded: “I’ll send it in six months when it’s complete.” “Can I send you a partial now and see what you think?” “I need more time.”
Questions I ask: “Why is this not ready?” “Why are you querying me without a completed, vetted manuscript ready to fly?”
This indicates you’re not prepared, you haven’t done your homework, you’re going to be high maintenance, I may not be open for submissions when you ARE ready to send it in.
When I open to submissions I’m looking for a client at that time. Not six months later. My time is booked solid with existing clients and projects. I have to be judiciously selective on when to add a new client (and when to let one go). I do not want to take on clients I don’t have time to work with (I’m very hands on with clients and mapping their careers).
Please complete the manuscript before the querying process.
That being said, once you have a finished manuscript, you’re almost ready to submit. But there’s more! All of which I’ll cover in the next three parts. They are:
2. Writing a solid query. This is not a tutorial on how to write one, but what you need to get noticed and the components of a great pitch.
3. Get Ready for the Long Haul. What to expect after you hit send
4. What Happens Next. Little details and actions make a difference. How to handle rejection and acceptance.
In the coming weeks every Thursday I’ll talk about the other side of the query, what happens when something lands in my inbox, examples of great pitches, how to handle an agent call, how to choose and make the most of writing conferences, a few war stories, what green/red flags I look for in writers during the editor/writer calls, and more. Stay tuned!
Drop me a note or ask a question!
I love when agents share information like this - thank you!
I’m curious about pitch sessions at conferences, do you need full manuscripts then? I’ve always had a full prepared but I’ve heard agents recently say I could send when I’m ready (and I am ready but my understanding is they’d be fine with a couple weeks).
I am absolutely the person who polished my first three chapters until they gleamed like a sports car while the rest of my manuscript looked like caffeinated raccoons assembled it. I spent months perfecting my opening hook and learning every agent's favorite coffee order, then realized chapter four contained a plot hole you could drive a semi-truck through. Nothing says "professional writer" like having your protagonist mysteriously forget their own backstory halfway through the book.