ASK A LITERARY CONSULTANT
Helen Corner Bryant considers the right time to let your precious manuscript out into the world
Q When an author edits, what stage is considered enough to send to an agent? By this I mean what are the issues which would be considered as unacceptable in a manuscript?
A This question could be debated for a long time! When should you stop editing and when is a MS ready to submit?
I think it’s when it feels clean and as polished as you can make it. You’re looking to submit a solid version of your MS – one that could require further revision if the agent is interested and has suggestions for improvement and then your editor and so on. However, you can do the work yourself to nail most of the technical bits so an agent or editor won’t pick up on things such as: weak character; overwriting; sloppy scenes where nothing much happens; telling rather than showing; flat scenes where the balance leading up to the climax is off; a distant, inauthentic voice; an off-balance flow of external/internal/ plot versus emotional narrative; a need for more authentic dialogue with good cushioning, and for me, the all-important tension thread with a healthy dose of pacing. If you can focus on cleaning the above issues out, you’ll be well-placed to approach the trade.