How do I know when my manuscript is ready to be submitted?
When you write a book, it is officially called a manuscript until it’s published. However, one of the tricky things about writing is knowing when a manuscript is actually finished and ready to be submitted to an agent or publisher. Some writers spend months, even years, tweaking their work and others finish one draft and declare it finished. I follow a three-step process to help me get my manuscripts to a completed stage.
Editing:
After I finish writing, and before I let anyone else read it, I edit it twice. The first edit is done on screen and looks specifically for spelling and grammatical errors. This is also a good time to focus on tense shifts as this is something that is easily messed up during the writing stage.
During the second round of editing, I focus on the content. I make sure that the characters come across as authentic and well rounded, and that the plot is interesting and doesn’t have any gaping holes. At this stage, I don’t make any significant changes but rather make notes in the margins so that I can get feedback from my test readers first.
Test Readers:
The next step is to arrange a small group of test readers. Try and choose at least five people whose opinions you trust and give them an electronic or printed copy of your manuscript (whichever the individual prefers). Do not expect feedback from all five, but handing out your manuscript to so many people will guarantee that you get at least some feedback.
If you want any feedback on specific elements of the manuscript, attach a list of questions for the reader to keep in mind. This will help them focus on giving you the feedback that you need.
Make sure that when your test readers give you feedback you appreciate the compliments as well as the criticism. Read over all the feedback carefully and then let it sink in for a while, considering all suggestions. It’s important that you allow yourself at least 7-14 days for new ideas to be considered. Making drastic changes in haste usually leads to unexpected challenges with other parts of the manuscript down the track.
Edit Again:
The next step is editing the book based on the feedback you’ve received. You don’t have to take every suggestion on, but make sure to address any of the legitimate concerns the test readers may have flagged.
After this edit and one final proofread for any minor errors, your manuscript should be ready to be submitted to agents or publishers. After being so thorough during the revision process you can be confident that your work is worthy of consideration. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be offered suggestions for revision, but it does allow your manuscript to be read and enjoyed easily.
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Crystal Leonardi is an award-winning author and publisher. Her titles include Boy of Steel: Little Sebastian's Big Miracle (2021), 6 Steps to Self-publishing with Crystal Leonardi (2022), My Brother Sebastian: Explaining Cancer to Kids (2022), My Friend Alice: Explaining Disability to Kids (2023) and My Mate Jed: Explaining Stroke to Kids (2024). You can buy her books here.
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