What is a “partial”? And Why do agents and editors request them?
After you have revised your fiction or memoir draft as much as you can, you may begin to explore possibilities for publication. Researching comparable titles will help you identify a list of agents who represent books like yours. The next step is drafting a killer query letter. If that letter generates interest, an agent may request a “partial.” What the heck is that?!
Don’t panic. If you have a completed manuscript, you have a partial. But before you send anything out, you’ll want to be sure your partial is as strong as it can possibly be. Here are some answers to FAQs about partials:
What is a partial?
In industry speak, this simply meals a partial manuscript. The length varies from agent to agent, typically the first 30-60 pages of your draft. The agent will specify what they want, so be sure to follow those directions closely.
Why do agents ask for this instead of the full manuscript?
Like so many things in book publishing, this convention is a throwback to the analog era, when authors submitted their work by mail. It was more expensive to send a full manuscript than a partial, and full manuscripts were heavier to carry than partials. Many agents did their reading on the train or at home, and didn’t want to cart hundreds of pages back and forth to work. But beyond these practical (and now outdated) reasons, reviewing just the initial chapters of a draft is typically enough for an agent to decide whether the book is one they can sell. If an agent sees promise in your partial, they will ask to see the full manuscript.
What exactly is an agent looking for in these pages?
Agents are looking to take on books they are confident they can sell, and agents specialize in particular genres and categories. This means that, to a certain extent, they are all looking for slightly different things—and it also means that responses may vary. Just because one agent rejects your partial, that does not necessarily mean another agent would. (Which is why persistence pays off!) That said, most agents are looking for evidence of:
The central conflict the protagonist faces
Stakes that are high enough to hook the reader
Interesting characters readers will want to spent 300 pages with
A pace that doesn’t drag, and the right balance between action and exposition
A coherent structure
An engaging or distinctive voice
Well-written, considered, carefully edited prose
These folks read a LOT of books, so they have a well-developed ability to spot the signs of a book that is ready to move forward. If your query letter is generating requests for a partial, but you then receive rejections, one or more of these aspects of your book likely need work.
Is it okay to polish up just my partial and wait to see what happens?
Here’s why it’s not a great idea to start querying before you finish revising your whole manuscript: If an agent likes your partial, they will ask to see the full manuscript. You won’t want to let a lot of time elapse before you send it to them, which means you will have to send the version you have on hand. If your partial is in great shape but the rest of a manuscript is less polished, you may end up with a rejection letter. It’s natural to feel eager to send out your work, but it’s important to take the time you need to revise the entire manuscript before you start querying so that you are ready to seize any opportunities that come your way.
Does my partial have to be flawless?
Agents don’t reject manuscripts because of a single typo. Do your best to edit your work as carefully as possible, but don’t obsess about tiny mistakes. Instead, direct your energy toward ensuring that these opening chapters leave the reader wanting more.
The opportunity to submit a partial represents your first chance to show your writing to a potential agent. It is an exciting and important milestone on the journey to publication!