Guest blogger, Carole Gift Page, concludes her Ten Steps in Writing a Novel.
STEP TEN: SUBMIT THREE SAMPLE CHAPTERS AND YOUR SYNOPSIS (OUTLINE) TO A PUBLISHER. You may begin submitting your proposal as soon as you have several chapters completed. It’s permissible to try one publisher or several, as long as you let the editors know you are querying several publishers at once. If your proposal interests them, most publishers will want to see an entire manuscript from an unpublished novelist.
A novelist with several books to her credit may receive a contract on the basis of a proposal. Regardless of your status, I suggest you begin submitting your proposal before completing your novel. It may take months to receive a reply, and in the meantime you can continue to write. You may be fortunate enough to have your novel completed about the time you find a publisher who wants to take a look at it.
Your proposal should be as polished and error-free as you can make it. First impressions count. There is no excuse for a sloppy manuscript. Enclose a brief letter of introduction (one page,) stating your writing background and qualifications, what your novel is about, and your target audience. Most publishers want to know six things about your manuscript: Subject, Purpose, Theme, Method, Importance, and Market. When mailing or emailing your proposal, put your cover letter first, followed by your synopsis, then your sample chapters (usually the first three). Who knows? You may have written the Great American Novel the whole world is waiting to read!