Poll: How many pages is a partial?

LizzieFriend · Apr 29, 2011

Hi everyone,

I'm guessing this is one of those doesn't-really-matter-you're-really-over-thinking-this situations, but I just wanted to do a quick poll: What would you send if an agent asked for "a partial manuscript" rather than something specific like a number of pages or chapters?

Three chapters? 50 pages? Thanks!

James D. Macdonald · Apr 29, 2011

First three chapters or 50 pages sounds fine. Unless they have specific guidelines.

Corinne Duyvis · Apr 29, 2011

I'd go with whichever is longer or whichever ends on the strongest cliffhanger

Susan Coffin · Apr 29, 2011

I'm with first 50 pages. However, don't most agents define what thier partial is?

LizzieFriend · Apr 29, 2011

Thanks, everyone! I sent along the first five chapters, since it was about 50 pages.

This was pretty much the range of answers I was expecting--I just wanted to make sure I wasn't somehow assuming something completely incorrect.

@Susan In my experience they always have, but for some reason this time they didn't. Who knows--the agent possibly just forgot to add it to the request. Either way, just wanted to make sure!

maestrowork · Apr 29, 2011

In my experience, the agent always specifies, either the number of pages or chapters. I've never encountered one who just said, "Send me something."

PinkAmy · Apr 30, 2011

LizzieFriend said:
Thanks, everyone! I sent along the first five chapters, since it was about 50 pages.

This was pretty much the range of answers I was expecting--I just wanted to make sure I wasn't somehow assuming something completely incorrect.

@Susan In my experience they always have, but for some reason this time they didn't. Who knows--the agent possibly just forgot to add it to the request. Either way, just wanted to make sure!

Congrats, I would have done the same thing. I've never been asked for a partial w/o specifications before either. GL!

Jamesaritchie · Apr 30, 2011

First three chapters, or the first fifty pages, whichever is shorter.

Poll: How many pages is a partial?

LizzieFriend

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Corinne Duyvis

My New Cat Is Too Big for Shoulders

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

LizzieFriend

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

PinkAmy

New kid, be gentle!

Jamesaritchie