Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss writing a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. This week, we tackle one of the most frequently asked questions in the history of the known world in your critique group and beyond: Is your manuscript query-ready?
Most writers will admit to querying too early and in the same breath warn you not to make the same mistake. But how do you know if your manuscript is ready to query? Read on to learn my six steps to identifying if a manuscript is query-ready.
Step 1 – Finish
It seems obvious, right? Don’t query before you have a completed manuscript. Almost every agent lists that in their query guidelines and it’s because it’s so tempting to “just send off a few to test the waters” or participate in a pitch contest when you’re “almost finished” or to pitch at a conference because you don’t want to have to wait until next year to try again. Don’t do it.
Because what happens if they do request? Sure, you can send it to the requesting agent when it’s finished, but now you’re even more likely to skip the next steps in the process in order to get the manuscript to them while it’s still fresh in their mind. And skipping steps means you’re not giving your manuscript the best possible shot at getting to yes.
Step 2 – Let it Rest
Every year, agent inboxes get inundated in the weeks and months after NaNoWriMo because people are anxious to get their brilliant new words out there as soon as the manuscript is finished. Don’t. Let it rest for a month. Then revise any structural or character issues that you already know are an issue. Only once it’s more or less in decent story shape should you move on to the next step: readers.
Step 3 – Get Readers
A good critique partner or beta reader is hugely important to the writing process. They can identify things that you’ve missed because you’re too close to the story. They can point out questions that you don’t answer on the page. And they can give you feedback on how your words made them feel. Don’t let an agent or editor be the first set of eyes on your manuscript besides your own. Make sure there are at least a couple of other readers in between your finished first draft and the query queue.
Step 4 – Revise One More Time
Once you’ve got some reader feedback, you can come back to your manuscript with fresh eyes and look for ways to make it even better. Need tips? Check out our posts on tightening, writing with all five senses, and dynamic dialogue.
Step 5 – Read it Aloud
I know, I know. Reading a whole manuscript aloud takes a long time. And your kids might look at your funny as you read to yourself on the treadmill (not that that’s happened to me. Nope, never!). But you’ll hear things when you read it aloud that your eyes will skip over if you’re reading silently. Even better? Change your font or put your manuscript on an e-reader so it looks even more different than the way you’re used to seeing it. This is a great way to find repeated words, weed out clunky sentences, and put that final level of polish on your manuscript.
Step 6 – Check Your Gut
Are you really confident that you’ve done everything you can to get this manuscript ready, or is that little voice whispering that you should fix a few more things that your readers pointed out on that last read? If you’re cranking up the music to drown out that little voice, consider revising one more time before you query.
Additional Resources
Still not convinced? Check out what other experts have to say on this topic:
Ready for more craft advice on writing middle grade or young adult fiction? Head back to our Master Your Craft page where you’ll find dozens of more topics to choose from!
I always read my work out loud, but I never thought about changing the font. Will try that next time. Thanks for the tip!