How do you respond to a request for a full manuscript?
- Respond within 24-48 hours of the request.
- Send a polished, industry-formatted .docx.
- Follow the agent’s exact submission guidelines.
- A brief warm email — thank-you + materials.
- Track the response in your submission tracker.
You respond to a full-manuscript request within 24-48 hours with a polished, formatted .docx and a brief, warm email thanking the agent and including the requested materials. Follow the agent’s exact submission guidelines — attached file vs. pasted in body, doc vs. PDF — even if it differs from your default approach.
Chapter i·Why it matters
A full-manuscript request is one of the highest-leverage moments in querying. Responding slowly or with incorrect formatting signals unprofessional. Responding quickly and with polished materials confirms the agent’s interest and starts the reading process on a strong note.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A polished manuscript ready before you query.
- Industry-standard formatting: 12pt serif, double-spaced, one-inch margins.
- Title page with title, author, word count, contact.
- A brief warm email: thank-you, attached/pasted materials per guidelines.
- A submission tracker update: full requested, date, materials sent.
- A patience setting: agents take 1-6 months to read fulls.
Chapter iii·Example
A querying writer gets a full-manuscript request on a Tuesday. She responds Thursday morning with the .docx attached, formatted to Shunn standard, with a 3-sentence email. She updates her tracker: full requested by [Agent], 2026-03-15, .docx attached per guidelines.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom’s Pitch studio holds your polished manuscript and submission tracker — full requests get answered fast.
See the Pitch studio