Having investigated this site and others, it seems that many of you are sending a complete MS into agents and publishers.
Surely it's a query letter and sample at most?
Or are you fighting them off?

OK, I have to ask... where, on this site, do you get the impression that people are sending out full mss? I don't think they are so I'd be interested to see where you've read that?

Dee.

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting the postings but it seems pretty commmon to talk about an MS (Bronte Literary thread) or a book (Blake friedman thread). There are of course, more examples but those are just from two arbitrary threads.

What's the problem here, scottwil?

In the Bronte Literary thread the person who posted the comment said that they sent the MS because the agency asked for it.

Wouldn't you do the same?

John

Yup, I'm fighting them off...in my dreams.

Scott - it's a synopsis, query letter and three chapters (or whatever they ask for). Then it's the waiting game.

Don't think I have a problem, Jumbo. Just asking a genuine question. I think I get the message though.

Scottwill, I've only ever sent off a complete MS when I've been asked to, and then I've had delivered it because I've been so paranoid. If you were to send off the whole shebang without being asked and no return postage it would be binned or at best shredded.
Best of luck

Julie

Gotcha. Sending full ms - bad idea.