Quite simply a manuscript, ms, is the complete work of original fiction that a writer submits to a literary agent or publisher for consideration for publishing.

Obviously, a literary agent is one who “agents” literary works to publishers. They are the guide; they know this industry’s landscape. In exchange for their hard work, expertise, and well curried connections, they share in the financial reward of your publishing deal. Don’t begrudge sharing your good fortune, for without them you might not have any fortune.

As far as finding a publisher, make sure they accept un-agented submissions, and follow their submission guidelines to the letter; to the LETTER.

So you found a publisher of your genre that doesn’t require representation by an agent.

You’re great. You’re wonderful. So prove it. Clean up your ms before sending it out.

1. Check the formatting.
   1. Use Microsoft Word. I know that MS isn’t including Word in some new computers. Double-check that you have the software that you need.
   2. Generally, use Times New Roman, pt 12.
   3. Double-spaced lines.
   4. Page breaks at the end of chapters. If you hit enter repeatedly to move to the next page, things will change as you go through when you self-edit.
   5. Center chapter designations. Don’t space over or tab over and try to eyeball the center. It looks sloppy.
   6. Turn on the show/hide function and get rid of all the times you used the tab button for no apparent reason in the middle of a sentence.
   7. Leave on show/hide and use the find function to eliminate everywhere you used two spaces. That was typing class 101. Now it is one space between sentences. Just one.
2. Print it. It isn’t a waste of paper, if you believe in its worth.
3. Read the printed ms aloud, with pen in hand. If you can get a buddy to read along on their own printed copy, they will catch the times where you said something that isn’t printed. It is probably better than what is printed. They will also catch conflicting timeline elements or if someone says they never xyz, and in the next chapter you accidentally have them do xyz. Respect any questions and comments this buddy makes. It’s not the time to be defensive. Be appreciative of their investment of time in your ms.
4. Go to the document and make the changes that you wrote on the print copy.
5. Prepare the cover letter and synopsis, and submit your next Great American Novel.

I read this book when it came out in 2000. Looking at it again just now, I think I’ll read it again. The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner. It’s worth reading. (Cactus Rain Publishing receives no compensation for this recommendation.)

Best wishes. I hope all goes well on your journey to becoming a published author.