Tell me about partials, please.

[Southpaw]

Not that I’m even querying yet but this question has been eating away at me so… What is a partial?
After a whole lot of refining the search here, I found one buried post stating that partials are normally the first 30 pages. Do you concur?
Thanks. :)

note: ooo, Should this have been posted under FAQ instead?

[CheekyWench]

A partial is whatever they want. First 10 pages, first 30-50 pgs, first 3 chapters, etc. It varies between agent and publisher. I have yet to be asked by someone for just the term "a partial" and never tell me straight out, "please send me the first 30 pages."

[seun]

It's dependent on the agent but a partial in my experience is usually the first three chapters although I have seen the odd request for the first 50 pages or even the first 5. In any case, an agent will specify what they want.

[Southpaw]

Thanks Cheeky. Thanks seun. It's nice to know they don't expect you to know everything. :)

[Jamesaritchie]

In the old days, a partial was always the first three chapters, or the first fifty pages, whichever was shorter, plus an outline of the remaining chapters.

This is still fairly typical, but you just never know for sure until/unless an agent or editor spells it out.

[shaldna]

A partial can be as little as the first page and as much as the first 10k or 100 pages. It varies from agent to agent and from publisher to publisher. But they will generally state what they want in a partial should they request one.