How to Polish Your Manuscript for Agents

The dream of publication often hinges on a single, pivotal moment: an agent’s decision to read your manuscript. But in a sea of submissions, merely being “good enough” won’t cut it. Your manuscript needs to shimmer, to hum with potential, to demand attention from the first page. It needs to be polished to an irresistible gleam.

This isn’t about just fixing typos; it’s about refining your story, sharpening your prose, and presenting a professional, compelling package that shows agents you’re not just a writer, but a serious professional ready for a career. This comprehensive guide will equip you with the actionable strategies and concrete examples you need to transform your manuscript from promising draft to agent-ready masterpiece.

Beyond the First Draft: The Mindset of a Professional

Before we dive into the granular details of polishing, understand this: manuscript polish is a process, not a magical one-and-done fix. It demands patience, meticulousness, and the ability to view your own work with objective, critical eyes. This isn’t the time for ego, but for ruthless self-assessment and a commitment to excellence.

Think of your manuscript as a diamond in the rough. You’ve unearthed it, the core shape is there, but it’s still encrusted with flaws. Polishing is the art of cutting and refining those facets until light dances through it. Agents don’t just buy stories; they invest in writers who demonstrate a clear understanding of craft and a dedication to their art.

The ultimate goal of this polishing phase is to eliminate any reason for an agent to stop reading. Every awkward phrase, every plot hole, every grammatical error is a potential derailment. Your job is to create a frictionless reading experience that showcases your genius, not your amateur mistakes.

Strategic Self-Editing: The Macro Polish

Before you even think about commas, you need to address the structural integrity of your manuscript. This is the big-picture polish, often the most challenging but also the most impactful.

Plot Cohesion and Pacing: Is Your Story Air-Tight?

A compelling plot is the skeleton of your story. Without a strong one, no amount of pretty prose will save it.

• Identify Your Core Conflict and Stakes: Is it clear what your protagonist wants, what obstacles stand in their way, and what they stand to lose if they fail? Example: In a mystery, if the detective’s personal life isn’t impacted by solving the case, the stakes feel low. Elevate it: perhaps their career hinges on it, or a loved one is implicated.
• Map the Emotional Arc: Does your protagonist undergo a believable transformation? Are their choices consistent with their evolving character? Example: A character who starts as timid shouldn’t suddenly become recklessly brave without a clear inciting incident or internal struggle that leads to that change.
• Analyze Pacing Shifts: Does your story ebb and flow naturally? Are there areas where the plot drags (too much exposition, unnecessary scenes) or rushes (important moments aren’t given enough weight)? Example: If a critical twist is delivered in a single paragraph of dialogue without proper build-up, it feels rushed. Conversely, a chapter spent detailing historical lineage irrelevant to the plot will slow things down. Cut scenes that don’t advance the plot or develop character.
• Check for Plot Holes and Inconsistencies: Scrutinize every turn. Does a character suddenly gain a new, unmentioned skill? Does a timeline not add up? Example: If a character needs to pay for something but had their wallet stolen two chapters ago, that’s an inconsistency. Ensure magical systems, futuristic tech, or character abilities remain consistent within your established rules.
• Evaluate Scene Necessity: Does every scene serve a purpose? Does it advance the plot, reveal character, or build world? If not, cut it. Example: A lengthy scene describing the protagonist’s morning routine might be engaging for a moment, but if it doesn’t establish character relevant to the plot or move the story forward, it’s fluff.

Character Depth and Consistency: Are Your People Real?

Readers connect with characters. Agents look for characters they can champion and sell.

• Show, Don’t Tell Personality: Instead of stating a character is brave, show them facing a fear. Instead of saying they’re cunning, show them outsmarting an adversary. Example: Instead of “Elara was kind,” show her meticulously tending to a wounded bird, even when she’s late for an important meeting.
• Voice Differentiation: Do all your characters sound the same? Give each a distinct voice through their word choice, slang, sentence structure, and typical reactions. Example: A gruff detective will speak in short, direct sentences, perhaps with some cynical slang, while a sophisticated academic might use more complex vocabulary and nuanced phrasing.
• Motivation and Backstory Integration: Are your characters’ actions logically driven by their motivations and backstory? Is their history subtly woven in, not dumped in large chunks? Example: Instead of a chapter on a character’s traumatic childhood, sprinkle hints throughout their dialogue, reactions, and internal thoughts.
• Emotional Nuance: Do your characters experience a range of emotions, not just one or two dominant ones? Do their reactions feel authentic for their situation? Example: A character who is angry throughout an entire novel without moments of sadness, fear, or even brief joy feels one-dimensional.

World-Building and Setting: Is Your World Immersive?

Whether realistic or fantastic, your setting needs to feel grounded and alive.

• Sensory Details: Engage all five senses. Don’t just describe what characters see; what do they hear, smell, taste, touch? Example: Instead of “The forest was dark,” try “The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine needles, while the snap of twigs underfoot echoed eerily in the encroaching gloom.”
• Show, Don’t Explanate World Rules: Integrate your world’s rules and history naturally through dialogue, character actions, and environmental details, not through lengthy info-dumps. Example: Instead of a prologue explaining your magic system, show a character struggling to control their powers and the consequences of misusing them.
• Consistency: Are the rules of your world, whether magic, technology, or societal norms, consistent throughout the narrative? Example: If a certain spell requires an object in Chapter 3, it shouldn’t suddenly be cast wandlessly in Chapter 10 without explanation.

The Micro Polish: Precision at the Sentence Level

Once the macro structure is sound, it’s time to zoom in on the artistry of your prose. This is where clarity, elegance, and impact are honed.

Word Choice and Vocabulary: Every Word Counts

Lean, precise language is the hallmark of professional writing.

• Eliminate Redundancy and Repetition: Search for repeated words (especially within a single paragraph), repetitive phrases, and unnecessary adverbs. Example: “He walked very quickly and moved swiftly” can become “He strode rapidly.”
• Vary Sentence Structure: A string of short, simple sentences or overly complex ones can be jarring. Mix it up for rhythm and flow. Example: Instead of “She opened the door. She saw the monster. She screamed,” try “With a creak of rusted hinges, the door swung open, revealing the hulking silhouette of the monster, and a scream tore from her throat.”
• Strong Verbs and Nouns: Replace weak verbs (is, was, had, seemed) with strong, active verbs. Use precise nouns instead of generic ones. Example: Instead of “He was running fast,” try “He sprinted.” Instead of “She had a small house,” try “Her cottage nestled amidst wildflowers.”
• Abolish Crutch Words and Phrases: We all have them. Identify your personal crutches (e.g., “just,” “that,” “really,” “began to,” “suddenly”) and reduce their use or eliminate them entirely. Example: “He began to run” often works better as “He ran.”
• Use Figurative Language Sparingly and Effectively: Metaphors, similes, and personification add richness, but overuse or cliché detracts. Ensure they enhance understanding, not obscure it. Example: “Her eyes were like sparkling diamonds” is a worn cliché. “Her eyes, irises flecked with gold, held the glint of a hunter’s aim” is more impactful and specific.

Dialogue: Does It Sparkle?

Authentic, engaging dialogue drives character and plot.

• Listen to Real Conversations: Does your dialogue sound like people actually speak? Read it aloud.
• Purposeful Dialogue: Every line of dialogue should do at least one of the following: advance the plot, reveal character, build tension, or establish setting. If it doesn’t, cut it. Example: Small talk for small talk’s sake rarely serves a purpose in fiction.
• Voice and Subtext: Ensure each character’s dialogue reflects their unique personality and motivations. What are they not saying? What’s implied? Example: A character who nervously fidgets and avoids eye contact while claiming confidently “I’m not scared at all” reveals more through their actions than their words.
• Minimize Dialogue Tags: Use “said” or “asked” as much as possible; they disappear for the reader. Avoid fancy tags (e.g., “ejaculated,” “opined,” “intoned”) unless absolutely necessary for specific effect. Integrate action beats instead. Example: Instead of “I’m leaving,” she sighed heavily,” try “‘I’m leaving.’ She stood, her shoulders slumped, and walked toward the door.”
• Avoid On-the-Nose Exposition: Characters shouldn’t state things they already know for the audience’s benefit. Example: Don’t have Husband A tell Wife B, “As you know, our son Timmy is allergic to peanuts,” unless there’s a reason for him to *remind her of that fact within the scene.* Integrate information naturally.

Showing vs. Telling: The Golden Rule

This is perhaps the most crucial element of strong prose. Show the reader; don’t just tell them.

• Show Emotions: Instead of “She was angry,” describe her flushed face, clenched fists, rapid breathing, and terse replies. Example: “A tremor ran through her hands as she gripped the counter, knuckles white. Her breath hitched, and a low growl rumbled in her chest.”
• Show Information: Integrate backstory and world-building through character actions, reactions, and sensory details, not paragraphs of explanation. Example: Instead of “The city was ancient and wise,” describe moss-covered gargoyles watching over cobblestone streets, and the whisper of forgotten languages on the wind.
• Action Over Adjectives: Often, strong verbs and nouns perform the work adjectives try to do. Example: Instead of “The strong, powerful warrior fought bravely,” try “The warrior cleaved through the enemy ranks, his battle axe a blur.”

The Final Shine: Professional Presentation & Error Annihilation

You’ve refined your story and sharpened your prose. Now, it’s time to ensure your manuscript is pristine. This is the last line of defense against an agent dismissing your work prematurely.

Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling: The Non-Negotiables

Errors here signal carelessness and an amateur approach. They are unacceptable.

• Proofread Relentlessly: Read your manuscript backward. Read it aloud. Change the font. Change the background color. Print it out. Read it on different devices. Do whatever it takes to trick your brain into seeing it fresh.
• Focus on Common Errors:
  • Homophones: Their/there/they’re, your/you’re, to/too/two.
  • Apostrophes: Correct usage in possessives (singular vs. plural, e.g., author’s vs. authors’) and contractions. Misplaced apostrophes are a common red flag.
  • Comma Splices: Two independent clauses joined only by a comma (e.g., “The rain fell, he shivered”). Fix with a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction.
  • Run-on Sentences: Sentences that go on and on without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
  • Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure your verbs agree with your subjects (e.g., “The group is going,” not “The group are going”).
  • Dangling/Misplaced Modifiers: “Running through the forest, the trees blurred.” (Who is running?) Ensure the modifier clearly refers to the correct noun.
• Seek an Objective Eye: After you’ve done everything you can, a fresh pair of eyes will always catch errors you’ve become blind to. This is where beta readers and professional editors come in. While this guide focuses on your self-polishing, know that a final professional pass is often the smartest investment.

Formatting: The Industry Standard

Agents receive hundreds of submissions. Your manuscript needs to look professional and adhere to industry standards. This shows you understand the business.

• Standard Manuscript Format (SMF):
  • Font: 12-point, Times New Roman or Courier New (often preferred for ease of reading and line counting). Avoid fancy fonts.
  • Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout.
  • Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
  • Indentation: First line of paragraphs indented 0.5 inches. Do not use multiple tabs or spaces; use the paragraph formatting tool.
  • Chapter Breaks: Start each new chapter on a new page, with the chapter title (e.g., “CHAPTER ONE” or “Introduction”) about 4-6 lines down from the top.
  • Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the top right header, along with your last name and title (e.g., “Smith / Title / 1”).
  • Header: On the first page, include your name, address, email, and phone number in the top left corner (often single-spaced). Word count (rounded to the nearest thousand) can be included in the top right, below the page number.
  • No Extra Spaces: Only one space after a period or other sentence-ending punctuation.
• Consistency: Be consistent with everything – capitalization of chapter titles, scene break indicators (e.g., *** or #, centered), formatting of dialogue, etc.
• File Naming: Name your manuscript file professionally. Avoid “MyNovelFinalFinalV2.docx.” Use “Title_YourLastName.docx” or as specified by the agent.

The Objective Lens: Seeking Feedback (And What to Do With It)

You’ve polished, tweaked, and refined. But an author can never be truly objective about their own work. This is where external feedback becomes invaluable.

Beta Readers: Your First Line of Defense

Beta readers are non-professional readers who give you feedback on your story from a reader’s perspective.

• Who to Choose: Select readers who are part of your target audience and who are willing to be honest yet constructive. Avoid family and friends who will only tell you what you want to hear.
• Clear Instructions: Tell them what kind of feedback you need. Beyond just “I liked it,” ask pointed questions:
  • What parts dragged?
  • Were the character motivations clear? Did you connect with them?
  • Were there any plot points that confused you or felt unbelievable?
  • Did the ending satisfy you?
  • Were there any specific scenes that stood out (good or bad)?
  • Did the pacing feel right?
• Receive Feedback Gracefully: It’s challenging to hear criticism, but understand it’s not a personal attack. They are helping you strengthen your manuscript. Take notes, identify recurring issues.
• Discern and Prioritize: Not all feedback needs to be implemented. Look for patterns. If multiple beta readers point out the same plot hole or character inconsistency, pay serious attention. If one person offers a stylistic preference that contradicts your vision, you can likely disregard it. Your vision reigns supreme, but an informed vision.

Sensitivity Readers: Ensuring Authenticity and Respect

If your manuscript deals with characters, cultures, or experiences outside your own, consider employing sensitivity readers.

• Purpose: They ensure your portrayal is authentic, respectful, and avoids harmful stereotypes or misrepresentations.
• When to Use: If your story features a character with a disability, a specific cultural background, a marginalized identity, or a sensitive topic (e.g., trauma, mental illness), a sensitivity reader can provide invaluable insight.
• Finding Readers: Look for individuals with lived experience in the areas you are writing about, who are also skilled at providing constructive feedback. This is a paid service.

The Professional Editor (Optional, But Highly Recommended)

While this guide focuses on what you can do, understand that many successful authors utilize professional editors (developmental, line, copyeditors) before submitting to agents.

• Developmental Editor: Works on the big picture – plot, pacing, character arcs, theme. Often the first type of editor engaged.
• Line Editor: Focuses on prose at the sentence and paragraph level – clarity, flow, word choice, voice, show-don’t-tell.
• Copyeditor/Proofreader: The final polish for grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency, and formatting.

If you can afford one, a professional editor can elevate your manuscript significantly. If not, the meticulous self-polishing described in this guide is even more critical.

The Final Review: Your Agent Checklist

Before you hit “send” on that query letter, conduct one last, rigorous review.

1. Read Aloud: This is the single most effective way to catch awkward phrasing, choppy sentences, and dialogue that doesn’t sound natural. Your ear will pick up what your eye misses.
2. Search for Fillers: Use your word processor’s search function for words like “just,” “that,” “very,” “really,” “started to,” “began to,” “appeared to,” “seemed to.” While not all need removal, scrutinize each instance.
3. Check for Over-Description: Have you gone overboard with adjectives and adverbs? Is every tree, every cloud, every piece of clothing described in detail? Trim anything that doesn’t add to the immersion or understanding.
4. Verify Emotional Arc: Does your protagonist clearly change from beginning to end? Is their journey impactful?
5. Pacing Check: Are there any saggy middles or overly rushed endings?
6. Consistency Check: Characters, plot points, magic systems, timelines, physical descriptions – are they consistent from start to finish?
7. Formatting Adherence: Confirm every last detail of the agent’s submission guidelines. If they ask for a specific header or font, use it. Deviating shows you don’t follow instructions.
8. Final Grammar/Spelling Pass: Even after all your self-editing, use a reliable spell checker and grammar checker, but don’t rely solely on them. Read it yourself one more time.
9. Query Letter/Synopsis Alignment: Ensure your polished manuscript truly reflects the promise of your query letter and synopsis. There should be no surprise plot changes or character inconsistencies.

Conclusion: The Path to Professionalism

Polishing your manuscript for agents isn’t just a chore; it’s an integral part of becoming a professional writer. It demonstrates your commitment to craft, your respect for the reader (and the agent), and your understanding that a good story deserves to be presented at its absolute best.

By meticulously applying the strategies outlined in this guide – from macro-level structural edits to micro-level sentence refinements, from formatting precision to seeking invaluable feedback – you are not just making your manuscript better; you are elevating yourself as an author. This painstaking effort is what transforms a promising draft into an irresistible submission. Invest the time, put in the work, and give your story the shining chance it deserves. Your future agent will thank you for it.