Is your manuscript ready to be submitted?
When you’re writing by yourself and doing your own revisions, it can be really tricky to know when your manuscript is ready to be submitted – whether that’s to literary agents, publishers, or writing competitions. Here’s a useful checklist of things you might want to consider before hitting the send button!
How many rounds of self-editing have you done?
It’s really important to develop some self-editing skills, regardless of your goals. Editors, agents and publishers aren’t miracle workers, and the bulk of the work is going to fall to you. You need to be able to pinpoint places where your world-building is weak, identify characters (or scenes) that aren’t serving a purpose, and spot plot holes you’ve left dangling, or arcs that just aren’t working or adding to the story.
I always recommend the book Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King. It’s a brilliant book to learn how to develop self-editing skills.
Have you had beta readers or critique partners take a look?
Once you’ve done some editing yourself, the next step is beta readers, critique partners, or writer friends! Gather as much feedback as you can, and decide what resonates with you and if there’s anything you’d like to change based on those comments.
Feedback from beta readers and critique partners won’t be as extensive as what you might get from a “proper” edit, but reactions from readers are an important part of the process. They can help you figure out tricky plot snags or character issues.
Have you considered a development edit or assessment?
So many writers have their work rejected by a publisher or agent, then hire a freelance editor to do a critique to fix the perceived faults. But why not do this before you submit? Freelance editors can give you a more in-depth look at the problems in your manuscript, and help you find solutions. Literary agents have huge slush piles, so the nearer your manuscript is to a publishable state, the better chances you have. This isn’t a necessary step in the slightest, and I’m not suggesting you have to pay anyone in order to publish traditionally, but if it’s something you’re open to, it can’t hurt!

Have you let it sit, and come back to it with fresh eyes?
Have you ever looked at something you wrote a year ago, and spotted a whole tangle of problems you never noticed? We’ve all been there. Even just a few weeks’ distance from your project can help you see weaknesses you were blind to. Writing a book is such a close, intimate process, so distance can be really helpful.
Is it formatted and presented correctly?
This is crucial if you’re entering a competition or submitting to agents/publishers! Don’t give them any excuse to turn you down, and if they’ve given you formatting requirements, follow them to the letter. Guidelines vary, but it’s a good idea to use a standard font such as 12-point Times New Roman, include page numbers and a header with your name and the book’s title, and add a cover page with your contact details, your book title, and the word count. Have a look at my guide on formatting your manuscript if you need help.
Have you done a final check for awkward/clumsy wording and spelling mistakes?
This is another important one if you’re submitting to agents or publishers. It can be helpful to print out your writing, as we often spot more mistakes on paper than we do on screen. Another useful tip would be to change the font, if you’re checking on screen. You can use Word’s Read Aloud function, too.
With all these bases covered, you should be ready to submit your manuscript! And if you make a mistake, or realise you spelt your character’s name wrong on the fifth page, don’t despair. We’re all human, it happens to the best of us, and mistakes can always be corrected.
Keep writing. The important thing is that you’re putting your work out there, and constantly improving.
This post was originally written for Betterwrite Literary Consultants.
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Dear Rachel,
Its good to know traditional publishing still exists. I’ve written manuscripts based on Psychological profiling to build characters and also using my own case studies on anthropology, numismatic, history and more to romantic stories and tribal christian lore for novels, could you help to get me published. Im 64,enjoying retirement and just concentrating on writing and doing some digital art for book covers including waste to energy art for exhibitions and seminars on eco environment and organics, plus do a little tea tasting from time to time.
Yep, traditional publishing is definitely still going strong. Sounds like you’re enjoying your retirement! For help with getting published, have a look through the getting published and traditional publishing sections of the blog.