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MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

Before you send your manuscript

Five practical ways to prepare a draft for its first editorial conversation.

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By the Pagewood editorial desk · Author resources

Gather your draft in one place

Keep your most recent version in one clearly named file. Add chapter headings and make a note of sections still in progress. You do not need a perfect manuscript to ask for help.

Write a short description

Describe the central idea, the reader you have in mind, and what you want them to take away. A few clear sentences help a collaborator understand your intentions.

Name your questions

Are you concerned about structure, pacing, clarity, or consistency? Tell your editor what you have noticed and where you would value another perspective.

Keep track of research

Keep a list of sources and permissions alongside your draft. Mark quotations and borrowed material clearly so nothing is mistaken for original wording.

Decide what comes next

Think about your availability for revisions and your preferred format. A realistic starting conversation is more useful than a rushed promise to publish.

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