There is so much information about querying and publishing and what to prepare. I find, though, that there is less information about how to know if your book is ready to query. What are the boxes to check that indicate querying is imminent? Is it universal? Is it objective?
Well, let's break it down through some questions.
1) Is your manuscript finished?
The first, and most important, question is going to be whether or not your manuscript has a beginning, middle, and end. If you've written half of it with the intention to complete it later, it's not ready to query. For fiction, agents expect a whole book. So make sure that you've got those bases covered!
2) Have multiple people read it?
Having others read your manuscript will provide fresh eyes and a solid plot. There are things we miss as writers going over and over our work. This is when we want a fresh pair of eyes (or five). The number of people you request is really up to you, the key here is going to be:
Your readers are familiar with your genre.
Your readers have your best interest at heart.
I've seen authors who've had many people read their work, but those readers were more concerned about sharing general industry knowledge than the author's intended outcome. General industry knowledge is helpful, but it doesn't always apply. Make sure that the feedback you're getting is helpful to your goals.
3) Can you describe basic plot points such as the Inciting Incident? The Point of No Return?
Depending on your writing method, these points may have different titles. The idea is to have a solid understanding of your plot. Is there a point at which the MC is forced to make a choice that propels them into the plot? Is there a point at which the MC loses everything, and it seems like they might not succeed? These are the plot points that make a story enticing. If they're not there--or not evident to the reader--the pace of the story may feel off. That might indicate some more revising is necessary.
4) Is there a cohesive arc from beginning to end?
Similar to the plot points above, it's important to know how the plot arc and the character arcs all tie together. Are they all cohesive? Do they build and drop in all the right places? Does the pace feel smooth?
In general, intense scenes should be followed by lower-intensity scenes to help the reader process what they've just read. Is this coming through in the writing? How have beta readers responded to these scenes?
If your readers have all signed off on these notes, then that's a great sign you're in the right place.
5) If character-driven: Do the characters each start and end in different places emotionally?
Plot-driven stories function slightly differently, but for character-driven stories, there are usually clear indicators for where the MC starts and ends their story. For example, they may start confident and self-important. Through the story, they may learn that other people can have good ideas, too. The MC may then end the story still confident, but more open to others' thoughts and opinions.
In essence: what's the lesson the characters have learned? (There should be one for each character involved, though they may vary in depth or intensity.)
6) Is there a solid ending? (Meaning that each loose end is tied off unless it's being left open for the second book. Even these should feel somewhat concluded leading into a second book.)
This one is sometimes confusing if the submission is the first in a series because not all loose ends need to be tied up. The main thing here is an open conclusion. The reader should get a feel for how the characters or the world have changed. Regardless if this is a series or a standalone, the events of the book should have unfolded in a way that make it impossible for the MC to simply "go back to the way things were".
Each character should get some kind of conclusion so we know where they end in Book 1 and we have a sense of where they might end up in Book 2.
I've read stories where the main source of conflict (or the Climax) is the end. Where the action rises and rises, and then suddenly the book is over. Some people may call this a cliffhanger, but even cliffhangers have some kind of conclusion. They're ending when, all of a sudden, something happens to change the direction. But the reader can still extrapolate where everyone else was prior to that moment.
When a book simply ends with no direction for where it may go, it can feel abrupt. If the reader is left with too many questions, they may not be interested in picking up the second book.
All that to say, ensure things are rounded out--even if they're left to be fully answered in Book 2.
7) Have you combed for filler words?
Filler words slip in. They're the crutch words, the words that, in spoken language, we use all the time. But in writing, we want snappy, concise statements. If something in ten words can be said in five, we cut.
Some examples of filler words to look out for are:
just
only
really
that (be careful with this one because it is sometimes necessary)
slightly
almost
absolutely
basically
actually
most adverbs
The list goes on. The goal here is to be concise. We have to be careful we're not cutting integral information assisting the clarity of a sentence, but there are often words to be cut.
I look at my verbs. There are many times when descriptors can be removed by changing the verb in the sentence to something more immersive. (E.g., He quickly walked to the front door. --> He hurried to the front door.)
Having that final read for conciseness and clarity is going to increase the professionalism of the manuscript.
8) Are you happy with it?
But, regardless of any of the other things on this list, we have to be happy with our final product. If the story is not one you love, take another look--or give it some space. Sometimes the story needs a little room to breathe before the right idea comes to fruition.
So take these suggestions with a grain of salt. There are definitely industry standards and things agents will expect, but none of that tops great writing. If you don't love your story, do you really want to have it picked up by a publisher as is?
To conclude, I would say, "Enjoy the time you have pre-publishing." I spent four years on my first book before I considered querying, and I wanted to be published so badly. But all that time made the book stronger. Looking at it now, there are still adjustments I could make, still things I'm not totally happy with, but if it went to print today, I would be proud of it.
Prior to publishing, there is no limit to the time you can spend perfecting your story. But once it's in the hands of a publisher, you now have a contract, a commitment, to meet their schedules (to some degree). You're now writing with expectations. That can sometimes take the fun out of it.
Anyways, ramble over, just take the time you need. I think we all wish that our stories would be snapped up at auction immediately, but that's not the reality for most. And it's so worth it to bask in creating art you're proud of.
Happy writing! (And best of luck in the query trenches.)
Erin