Preparing your manuscript for agents or publishers

Appearance is important when submitting manuscripts to publishers - a tatty, dog-eared effort does not get the reader well intentioned to your work. So how do you submit a book-length manuscript? Here are some tips:

The manuscript should be neatly and clearly typed. Make sure your printer is producing clean copy, without smudges

 

Print double spaced on one side of the paper only. Double spacing and adequate margins leave room for copy editing by the publisher

 

The title page should contain the following information: title of the work, your name and your address

 

Start each new chapter on a new page, give the chapter number and title (if any), and space before beginning the text.

 

Number each page consecutively throughout the manuscript. Do not begin each new chapter at page 1

 

Do not staple pages together - the publisher needs to be able to read it. Better go for rubber bands

 

You may make minor corrections to a manuscript by printing neatly and legibly in ink but any page with more than two or three corrections should be re-typed

 

When you submit a manuscript, provide some general information such as whether you've been published before and something about your background

 

Enclose a self addressed, stamped envelope, but be aware that publishers are under no obligation to return manuscripts

 

Submit an outline of the story. An outline of two pages should give the publisher a clear idea of what the book is about.

 

Good luck!

 

John Dean