PublishingFoundational
Submission Package
The materials sent to an agent or editor for consideration.
Principle
The package should answer the recipient's practical questions before they have to ask.
Takeaways
- Fiction packages often include a query, sample pages, and sometimes a synopsis.
- Nonfiction packages may require a proposal, chapter outline, sample chapter, and platform notes.
- Instructions matter; ignoring stated guidelines is an avoidable rejection risk.
Overview
A submission package is the assembled set of materials used to evaluate a project. Its contents vary by category, recipient, and stage, but the function is constant: it lets the industry reader assess premise, prose, market position, completeness, and author fit efficiently.
Examples
- An agent asks for the query, first ten pages, and a one-page synopsis.
- An editor receives a proposal, sample chapter, and author platform summary.
- A small press requests the full manuscript and a brief cover letter.