1
A literary agent asks for a query and first ten pages pasted into a form; the writer does not attach the full manuscript.
8 Manuscript Submission Examples
Use these examples to study structure, specificity, tone, and variation. They are demonstrations—not claims about a real person or organization unless the example itself makes that explicit.
Before you copy
What to notice in the examples
A strong submission matches the recipient and category, follows formatting and file instructions exactly, includes the requested supporting materials, and makes it easy for the reader to identify the work and contact the author.
- Target publication, agent, editor, or opportunity.
- Eligibility and genre/category fit.
- Required manuscript format and file naming.
- Cover/query information and requested supporting materials.
- Submission channel, deadline, and tracking record.
2
A journal requests a blind manuscript, so the writer removes identifying information from the story file while keeping contact details in the submission system.
3
A contest accepts PDF only and caps entries at 5,000 words; the writer checks both before paying the fee.
4
A small press asks for a full nonfiction proposal rather than a completed manuscript, so the package includes overview, market, chapter outline, samples, and author platform.
5
An anthology accepts simultaneous submissions but requires notification upon acceptance elsewhere; the writer records that condition in a tracker.
6
A publisher requests a synopsis under two pages, so the writer does not send the five-page version used for another submission.
7
An academic journal requires anonymized citations to the author’s prior work during review, so the manuscript follows the journal’s blind-review instructions.
8
A magazine submission includes the requested short bio in the form instead of adding an unrequested cover-letter attachment.
Keep the underlying decision or pattern, then replace the subject, evidence, relationship, constraints, and tone with details that belong to your situation. If your final line still works after swapping only one noun, it may be too close to the example.