How Should Authors Format Sample Chapters for Literary Agent Submissions?

Sample chapters are often the first substantial piece of a book that a literary agent reads. Their presentation should make the writing easy to assess without drawing attention away from the manuscript itself.

A clear manuscript submission format UK literary agents can read comfortably usually uses simple typography, consistent spacing, standard margins and professionally labelled files. It should look like a working manuscript, not a finished book interior.

Authors do not need decorative fonts, designed chapter pages, illustrations around the text or retail-style promotional material. Agents are assessing the writing, structure, voice, pacing and commercial potential. Complicated design can make that work harder to evaluate.

The most important rule is to follow the individual agency’s submission guidelines. One agent may request the first three chapters as a Word document, while another may ask for the first 10,000 words pasted into an online form. A technically perfect manuscript can still create a poor impression when it ignores explicit instructions.

Read the Submission Guidelines Before Formatting

Do not prepare one fixed package and send it unchanged to every literary agent.

Before submitting, confirm:

• Whether the agent represents the genre
• Whether submissions are open
• How much material is requested
• Whether the agent wants chapters or a word count
• Whether the opening pages are required
• Which file formats are accepted
• Whether attachments are allowed
• Whether the material should be pasted into an email or form
• Whether a synopsis is required
• Whether a proposal is required
• Whether simultaneous submissions are accepted
• How the email subject should be written

Some agents ask for:

• First three chapters
• First 30 pages
• First 10,000 words
• First 50 pages
• Complete manuscript
• One sample chapter
• Proposal and sample material

Send the amount requested.

Do not send extra chapters because you believe the story becomes more exciting later. If an agent asks for the opening, they are evaluating whether the manuscript engages readers from the beginning.

Use the Opening Chapters Unless Told Otherwise

The safest sample is usually the start of the manuscript.

Agents want to see:

• How the book opens
• Whether the premise becomes clear
• How the voice is established
• Whether the pacing works
• How characters or arguments are introduced
• Whether readers are given a reason to continue

Sending chapters 7, 12 and 19 may showcase dramatic scenes, but it prevents the agent from judging whether the book builds effectively towards them.

For nonfiction, the opening should introduce:

• Reader problem
• Book promise
• Author approach
• Main argument
• Structure
• Relevant authority

For fiction, it should establish:

• Character
• Setting
• Conflict
• Tone
• Stakes
• Narrative direction

When an agency asks for the “best three chapters”, the author may have more freedom. Even then, explain the selection and ensure the extracts make sense without extensive missing context.

Do Not Design the Submission Like a Published Book

A submission manuscript is an editorial document.

It is not:

• A print-ready interior
• A marketing brochure
• A typeset proof
• An eBook preview
• A book proposal cover design
• A retail sample page

Avoid:

• Ornamental chapter headings
• Drop capitals
• Decorative borders
• Background images
• Coloured text
• Multiple display fonts
• Full-page illustrations
• Headers styled like a printed novel
• Forced right-hand chapter openings
• Unnecessary blank pages

Simple formatting allows the agent to focus on the writing and make comments easily.

A traditionally published book will later be designed according to the publisher’s production standards. The submission does not need to predict that final appearance.

Choose a Readable Font

Use a standard, readable font.

Common choices include:

• Times New Roman
• Arial
• Calibri
• Georgia
• Garamond

A font size of 11 or 12 points is usually suitable unless the agency specifies something different.

Avoid:

• Script fonts
• Decorative serif fonts
• Condensed type
• Very small text
• Unusual downloaded fonts
• Several fonts in one manuscript

The goal is not to demonstrate visual creativity.

A conventional font reduces the risk of display problems when the document is opened on another device.

If the agency provides a preferred font, use it.

Use Consistent Line Spacing

Many agents and editors prefer double spacing or generous line spacing because it improves readability and allows room for comments.

Possible approaches include:

• Double spacing
• 1.5 spacing
• The exact spacing requested by the agency

Do not add blank lines between every paragraph unless the manuscript’s style genuinely uses block paragraphs and the submission guidelines permit it.

For most fiction manuscripts:

• Indent the first line of each new paragraph.
• Do not add extra space between ordinary paragraphs.
• Use a clear scene break when the setting, time or viewpoint changes.

For nonfiction manuscripts, block paragraphs may sometimes be acceptable, particularly when headings, examples and lists are used. Consistency matters more than choosing a visually fashionable layout.

Set Standard Margins

Use standard margins, usually around 2.5 centimetres on each side.

Margins should provide enough space for:

• Comfortable reading
• Comments
• Printing
• Digital annotation

Do not reduce margins to fit more words into the requested page limit.

If the agency asks for 30 pages, they expect 30 conventionally formatted pages, not 45 pages compressed into smaller type and narrow margins.

Manipulating the formatting to send more material can appear careless or deliberately uncooperative.

Align Text to the Left

Left-aligned text is usually the safest choice for submission manuscripts.

Avoid full justification unless specifically requested.

Justified text can create uneven spaces between words and may make an untypeset document harder to read.

Chapter titles may be:

• Left aligned
• Centred
• Presented consistently according to the author’s chosen simple style

Do not mix alignment styles unpredictably.

Indent Paragraphs Consistently

For fiction, use the paragraph settings in the word-processing programme instead of adding several spaces or repeatedly pressing the Tab key.

A typical first-line indent may be approximately 1.25 centimetres.

The first paragraph after a chapter heading or scene break may be left unindented, depending on the author’s style. Apply the approach consistently.

Do not use:

• Several manual spaces
• Random tabs
• Different indents in each chapter
• Empty lines to create visual spacing

Proper paragraph styles make the document easier to edit and convert later.

Mark Scene Breaks Clearly

A scene break should be visible even when a line appears at the top or bottom of a page.

Common markers include:

• Three asterisks
• A centred hash symbol
• A simple extra line with a clear marker

For example:

Avoid relying only on a blank line. A blank line can disappear during conversion or look like accidental spacing.

Use one scene-break style throughout the manuscript.

Do not insert elaborate decorative symbols in a submission file.

Start Each Chapter Clearly

Each chapter should begin with a clear heading.

For example:

Chapter One

or

Chapter 1: The Empty House

Start the chapter on a new page using a proper page break.

Do not press the Return key repeatedly to force the next chapter down.

A manual page break remains stable when text is edited. Repeated empty paragraphs can move unpredictably and create large gaps.

Use the same chapter-heading format throughout the sample.

Add Page Numbers

Number the pages unless the agent’s system or guidelines say otherwise.

Page numbers may appear in:

• Header
• Footer

Keep them simple and easy to identify.

The title page may be unnumbered, with numbering beginning on the first manuscript page, or it may count as the first page. Either approach can work when applied consistently.

Page numbers help agents refer to particular passages and prevent confusion when a document is printed.

Include a Simple Header

A manuscript header may include:

• Author surname or pen name
• Shortened book title
• Page number

For example:

KHAN / THE WINTER ROOM / 14

Do not overcrowd the header with:

• Full address
• Website
• Social handles
• ISBN
• Copyright notice
• Marketing slogan
• Complete submission history

Keep it understated.

If the author is using a pen name, use the public author name in the manuscript and provide the legal name privately where needed for professional correspondence.

Prepare a Clean Title Page

A title page may include:

• Book title
• Subtitle where relevant
• Author name
• Genre
• Approximate word count
• Contact details where requested

For example:

THE WINTER ROOM
A psychological suspense novel

by Amina Khan

Approximate word count: 82,000
Email: [professional email address]

Do not include:

• Retail price
• ISBN for an unpublished manuscript
• Copyright registration claims
• Reader reviews
• Promotional quotations
• Cover artwork
• Sales projections
• Awards the manuscript has not received

An unpublished submission does not need to imitate a published copyright page.

State the Word Count Honestly

Use the complete manuscript’s approximate word count, not only the sample length.

Round the figure sensibly.

For example:

• Approximately 72,000 words
• 68,500 words
• Projected final length: 80,000 words

If the manuscript is incomplete, state this clearly.

For a proposal-led nonfiction project, write:

“Three sample chapters complete. Projected manuscript length: 65,000 words.”

Do not describe an outline and two chapters as a nearly completed manuscript.

Name Files Professionally

File names should allow the agent to identify the author, project and document without opening every attachment.

Suitable examples include:

• Amina-Khan-The-Winter-Room-Sample-Chapters.docx
• Daniel-Reed-Book-Proposal.docx
• M-Rose-Novel-Synopsis.pdf
• Priya-Shah-First-Three-Chapters.docx

Avoid:

• final.docx
• booknewversion6.docx
• sampleLATESTreallyfinal.docx
• document1.docx
• myamazingnovel.docx

Use the same author name and title consistently across the query, synopsis and sample chapters.

Send the Requested File Type

Common submission formats may include:

• Microsoft Word document
• PDF
• Text pasted into an online form
• Text pasted into an email

Word documents are often useful because they allow comments and track changes.

PDFs preserve the appearance of the file, but they may be harder to annotate or process through some agency systems.

Do not send:

• Pages files
• Image-only scans
• Locked documents
• Password-protected files
• Cloud links unless requested
• ZIP folders containing many documents
• Unusual proprietary formats

When submitting through an online portal, check whether the file uploaded successfully before closing the page.

Keep Formatting Stable Across Devices

Before sending the file:

• Save it.
• Close it.
• Reopen it.
• Check chapter openings.
• Check scene breaks.
• Check page numbers.
• Check special characters.
• Review it on another device where possible.
• Export a PDF copy for your own records.
• Confirm that no comments or tracked changes remain.

A file may look correct on the author’s computer while displaying differently elsewhere because of missing fonts, manual spacing or incompatible formatting.

Standard styles reduce this risk.

Remove Track Changes and Comments

Before submission, create a clean version.

Remove:

• Editor comments
• Private notes
• Highlighting
• Deleted text
• Tracked revisions
• Placeholder questions
• Internal production instructions
• Personal remarks about agents or publishers

Use the word-processing programme’s inspection tools to check for hidden information.

Comments can reveal:

• Legal name
• Editor identity
• Sensitive discussions
• Earlier titles
• Private feedback
• Unresolved factual concerns

Save the clean submission as a separate file so the working editorial version remains intact.

Check Document Metadata

Document properties may contain:

• Legal name
• Company name
• Previous author
• Editing history
• File location
• Template details

This can matter particularly for authors using pen names or submitting sensitive work.

Review the file’s properties before sending.

A document publicly credited to one name may still identify another person in its metadata.

Removing personal information from the public submission does not change who legally owns the manuscript, but it can help maintain intended privacy.

Use UK English Consistently

A submission to a UK literary agent should generally use UK English unless:

• The narrative voice requires another variety
• The book is aimed primarily at another market
• A character’s language differs
• The agency requests a particular style

UK forms may include:

• organise
• recognise
• colour
• behaviour
• travelling
• centre

Consistency matters.

A manuscript that moves randomly between “color” and “colour” may appear unedited unless the variation is intentional.

Dialogue can reflect the speaker’s background, but narrative language should follow a clear editorial system.

Format Dialogue Correctly

For fiction and narrative nonfiction:

• Begin a new paragraph when the speaker changes.
• Use consistent quotation marks.
• Place punctuation according to the chosen style.
• Make action and speaker attribution clear.
• Avoid excessive dialogue tags.
• Check that long speeches are formatted correctly.

UK publishing may use single quotation marks in some house styles, while many authors submit using double quotation marks. Either may be acceptable when the usage is clear and consistent.

Do not spend excessive time changing quotation-mark style unless the agent requests it.

Consistency and readability are more important at submission stage.

Format Nonfiction Headings Clearly

A nonfiction sample may use several heading levels.

Create a clear hierarchy, such as:

Chapter Heading

Main Section Heading

Subheading

Avoid using bold, italics, size and colour inconsistently.

The reader should be able to recognise the structure immediately.

Do not create a seven-level heading system for a general trade book.

Too many headings can make a chapter feel fragmented and may suggest that the manuscript lacks flowing argument or narrative.

Format Lists and Exercises Carefully

Nonfiction samples may contain:

• Bullet lists
• Numbered steps
• Questions
• Checklists
• Exercises
• Case studies
• Tables

Keep these elements simple.

Use the word processor’s list tools instead of manually typing numbers and spaces.

Avoid complex visual layouts that depend on the final book design.

For example, a workbook section may be presented as:

Reflection Questions

• What outcome do you want?
• Which facts are confirmed?
• Which assumptions need to be tested?

The final publisher may redesign this section later.

Handle Tables and Visual Material

When an essential table, chart or image appears in the sample, make it easy to understand.

Possible approaches include:

• Insert a simple readable table.
• Add a clear placeholder.
• Include a short caption.
• Explain the intended visual in brackets.

For example:

[Figure 1: A three-stage diagram showing preparation, conversation and follow-up.]

Do not create elaborate final artwork unless requested.

Agents need to understand the content and production implications, not approve the final design.

If the proposal depends heavily on illustrations or photography, discuss those elements separately in the proposal.

Do Not Include Retail Marketing Materials

Submission chapters do not need:

• Amazon A+ Content for books
• Retail screenshots
• Goodreads ratings
• Advertising graphics
• Sales banners
• Book-trailer frames
• Pre-order links
• Reader-review quotations

Amazon A+ Content is used after publication to enhance eligible retail pages through images and structured modules.

It is not part of a standard literary-agent submission.

Marketing assets may become useful later, but they should not interrupt the sample manuscript.

Prepare a Separate Nonfiction Proposal

A nonfiction book proposal UK agents request should usually be a separate document from the sample chapters.

The proposal may include:

• Overview
• Audience
• Market need
• Comparable titles
• Author biography
• Platform
• Marketing plan
• Chapter summaries
• Manuscript status
• Sample chapters

Some agencies prefer one combined proposal file. Others request the proposal and chapters separately.

Follow the stated preference.

Do not place several pages of commercial analysis before Chapter One when the agent asked only for sample chapters.

Complete Editing Before Submission

Sample chapters should represent the strongest realistic standard of the manuscript.

Review:

• Opening
• Voice
• Pacing
• Structure
• Character motivation
• Argument
• Repetition
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Factual accuracy

The sample does not need to be typeset, but it should not read like an unreviewed first draft.

Agents understand that further editing may take place. They still need evidence that the author can revise and deliver professional work.

Avoid Starting With Explanatory Material the Book Does Not Need

Authors sometimes place several pages before the real opening, including:

• Long acknowledgements
• Personal letters to the reader
• Explanations of how to use the book
• Multiple quotations
• Extensive family background
• A summary of later events
• General statements about the subject

Ask whether the manuscript reaches its central story or argument soon enough.

A literary agent may stop reading before reaching the stronger material.

Front matter should be included only when it contributes meaningfully to the reading experience.

Do Not Apologise for the Manuscript

Avoid notes such as:

• The story becomes better after Chapter Five.
• I know the opening is slow.
• This has not been edited yet.
• Please ignore the formatting.
• The sample is rough.
• I did not have time to proofread.
• The agent should imagine the finished version.

Revise known problems before submitting.

A short factual note may be appropriate when the manuscript includes provisional material, but avoid undermining confidence in the work.

Do Not Add Copyright Warnings to Every Page

An original manuscript receives copyright protection automatically under UK law when it is created and recorded in a qualifying form.

There is no need to place statements such as:

“Copyrighted. Do not steal.”

across every page.

Such warnings can appear distrustful and distract from the manuscript.

A simple copyright notice on the title page is usually unnecessary for an agent submission, although including one is unlikely to decide the outcome.

Professional agents do not build their businesses by stealing unsolicited manuscripts.

Keep the Query, Synopsis and Chapters Consistent

Before sending, compare every document.

Check that they use the same:

• Title
• Author name
• Character names
• Genre
• Word count
• Publication status
• Central premise
• Chapter order

A submission becomes confusing when:

• The query uses an old title.
• The synopsis names a character removed from the manuscript.
• The sample chapters use another pen name.
• The stated word count differs substantially.
• The proposal describes chapters that no longer exist.

Create a final submission folder containing only the approved versions.

Do Not Add Advance Reviews to an Agent Submission

A campaign involving advance reader copies UK usually takes place closer to publication, after editing and production decisions have been made.

An unpublished manuscript submitted to an agent does not normally need:

• Reader ratings
• Family endorsements
• Informal beta-reader praise
• Promised Amazon reviews
• Goodreads review screenshots

Beta-reader feedback may help the author revise privately.

It should not replace professional positioning or strong sample writing.

An agent is interested in their own editorial and commercial assessment, not a quotation from the author’s friend saying the book was impossible to put down.

Goodreads Activity Is Not Part of Chapter Formatting

Goodreads marketing for authors may become useful once the author has a published or forthcoming book listed on the platform.

At submission stage, Goodreads information is generally relevant only when it demonstrates a genuine existing platform, such as:

• A substantial reading community
• Recognised reviewer activity
• Relevant group leadership
• A meaningful author following from previous publications

Do not insert Goodreads screenshots into the manuscript.

If the author has a relevant platform, mention it briefly in the proposal or query letter with accurate figures.

Create a Book Sell Sheet Later

A book sell sheet UK booksellers, libraries and sales representatives use is a one-page commercial summary containing details such as:

• Cover
• Title
• Author
• ISBN
• Price
• Format
• Publication date
• Description
• Ordering information
• Distribution
• Contact details

An unpublished literary-agent submission does not need a sell sheet unless one is specifically requested.

The agent submission should focus on the concept, writing and author.

A sell sheet becomes more useful when publication information, cover, ISBN and trade availability are confirmed.

Author Website SEO Is Separate From Manuscript Formatting

Professional author website SEO may help readers, journalists and industry contacts discover the author online.

Useful website pages may include:

• Author biography
• Book information
• Articles
• Speaking topics
• Media page
• Contact details

However, SEO elements should not be inserted into sample chapters.

Do not add:

• Keyword strings
• Meta descriptions
• Website calls to action
• Repetitive search phrases
• Hyperlinks after every section

The manuscript should be written for the reader.

The proposal may include the website address when it presents the author professionally and supports the book’s subject.

Do Not Include a Book Trailer Script

A book trailer script may support a later marketing campaign through video, voiceover, music and visual storytelling.

It is not usually part of the literary-agent submission package.

Avoid attaching:

• Trailer script
• Storyboard
• Mood board
• Promotional video
• Social-media teaser
• Advertising plan

unless the agency asks for this material or the author’s existing media project is central to the proposal.

Marketing ideas should not compensate for a weak opening chapter.

Proofread the Email and Attachments

Before pressing Send, check:

• Agent’s name
• Agency name
• Email address
• Subject line
• Requested documents
• File names
• Attachment size
• Word count
• Contact information
• Spelling
• Links
• Submission guidelines

Open every attachment from the final email draft.

This step can prevent mistakes such as:

• Attaching an old version
• Sending the wrong novel
• Omitting the synopsis
• Including editor comments
• Sending a blank document
• Using another agent’s name

A professional submission is accurate from the email subject to the final page.

Keep a Submission Copy

Save the exact version sent to each agent.

Record:

• Agent
• Agency
• Date
• Title submitted
• File versions
• Requested material
• Expected response period
• Follow-up policy
• Outcome

The manuscript may continue changing during the submission period.

Keeping a copy prevents confusion if an agent later requests the full manuscript and refers to a passage that has since been revised.

Do not send a substantially different full manuscript without explaining important changes.

Common Sample-Chapter Formatting Mistakes

Frequent problems include:

• Ignoring agency guidelines
• Sending later chapters instead of the opening
• Using decorative typography
• Reducing margins to fit more text
• Omitting page numbers
• Creating chapters with repeated blank lines
• Leaving tracked changes visible
• Sending an unusual file format
• Using inconsistent author names
• Submitting an old version
• Adding retail marketing material
• Including too many attachments
• Using an unclear file name
• Sending unproofread pages
• Assuming visual design will compensate for weak writing

Good formatting should become almost invisible.

It helps the agent read without making the presentation itself the centre of attention.

A Practical Sample-Chapter Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that:

• The agent represents the book’s category.
• Submissions are currently open.
• The requested amount of material is included.
• The sample begins at the opening unless instructed otherwise.
• The font is standard and readable.
• The line spacing follows the guidelines.
• Margins are conventional.
• Paragraphs are formatted consistently.
• Scene breaks are visible.
• Chapters begin with proper page breaks.
• Pages are numbered.
• The author name and title are consistent.
• The full manuscript word count is accurate.
• The file name is professional.
• The file type is accepted.
• Comments and tracked changes are removed.
• Metadata has been reviewed.
• The sample has been proofread.
• Every requested supporting document is attached.
• The email is addressed correctly.
• A copy of the complete submission has been saved.

The aim is not to make the file look impressive.

The aim is to make the manuscript easy to read, evaluate and discuss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What font should authors use for literary-agent submissions?

A standard readable font such as Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri or Georgia in 11- or 12-point size is usually suitable. Follow the agency’s stated preference when one is provided.

Should sample chapters be double-spaced?

Many agents prefer double or generous line spacing because it improves readability and allows room for comments. Use the exact spacing requested in the submission guidelines.

Should every chapter start on a new page?

Yes. Use a proper page break so the chapter opening remains stable when the document is edited or opened on another device.

Can authors send their strongest later chapters?

Usually, authors should send the opening chapters because agents need to judge how the book begins. Send later material only when the guidelines specifically allow or request it.

Should sample chapters include a cover design?

No. A standard manuscript title page is enough. Literary agents are evaluating the writing and concept, not a speculative final cover.

Is PDF or Word better for agent submissions?

Use the format requested by the agency. Word documents are often easier to annotate, while PDFs preserve layout. Neither should be sent when the agency requests text pasted into a form or email.