Submitting your manuscript to a literary agent is a crucial step in getting your book published. Agents are busy professionals, and a poorly formatted manuscript will likely end up in the rejection pile before it even gets a proper read. This guide will walk you through the essential formatting elements to impress agents and increase your chances of getting noticed.
Understanding Agent Expectations
Literary agents receive hundreds, if not thousands, of submissions each year. They need to quickly assess whether a manuscript is professionally presented and worth their time. Consistent formatting shows professionalism and respect for their time, significantly improving your chances of securing representation. Remember, this is your first impression – make it count!
Key Formatting Elements Agents Look For:
- Clean and Professional Appearance: Avoid distracting fonts, unusual spacing, or amateurish formatting.
- Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting throughout the entire manuscript.
- Standard Font: Use a widely readable font like Times New Roman, Courier, or Garamond in a size 12.
- Margins: Use standard margins (typically 1 inch on all sides).
- Line Spacing: Double-space the entire manuscript, including dialogue.
- Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the header or footer.
- Paragraph Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph (typically 0.5 inches).
- Chapter Titles: Use a clear and consistent style for chapter titles, usually centered and in a slightly larger font size.
Detailed Formatting Instructions:
1. Manuscript File Type:
Submit your manuscript as a .doc or .docx file. Avoid PDFs unless specifically requested. This allows agents to easily edit and annotate your work.
2. Title Page:
The title page should include:
- Manuscript Title: Centered and in a larger font size.
- Your Name: Centered below the title.
- Your Contact Information: Your email address and phone number (optional). Do not include your full address.
3. Chapter Formatting:
- Chapter Titles: Center each chapter title on a new page, using a slightly larger font size than the body text.
- Page Breaks: Begin each chapter on a new page.
- Consistent Formatting: Maintain consistent line spacing, font size, and indentation throughout each chapter.
4. Dialogue Formatting:
- Quotation Marks: Use double quotation marks (" ") for dialogue.
- New Paragraph: Start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.
- Attribution: Place the attribution (e.g., "he said," "she whispered") after the closing quotation mark, followed by a comma.
5. Handling Scene Breaks:
Use a consistent method to indicate scene breaks, such as a page break or a centered line of asterisks (*****).
Beyond Formatting: The Query Letter
While this guide focuses on manuscript formatting, remember that your query letter is equally important. It's your elevator pitch, selling your book and yourself to the agent. A strong query letter, alongside a perfectly formatted manuscript, dramatically improves your chances of success.
Final Checklist Before Submission:
- Proofread Carefully: Multiple times! Typos and grammatical errors are a significant turn-off for agents.
- Seek Feedback: Ask beta readers or critique partners for feedback on your manuscript before submitting it to an agent.
- Follow Submission Guidelines: Adhere strictly to the agent's specific submission guidelines, which may vary.
By meticulously following these formatting guidelines, you demonstrate professionalism and respect for the agent's time. This significantly increases your chances of your manuscript being read and considered, bringing you closer to publication. Good luck!
