Another niggling small point here.

I am preparing 3 chapters package for sending to an agent and realised, when I saw my hard-backed envelope that there won’t be room inside for a large SAE. In these days of word processors when chapters can be churned out in seconds, is it really necessary to have our selected chapters back?

If I included a small SAE I assume the agent would realise that it was for the reply letter and simply throw my manuscript away?

Michael, one option is to use sturdy and generously-sized but not board-backed envelops, then you can fold the SAE. You can ask them to recycle your MS and as you say, just send a small SAE. Some even say you can on their website. But getting rid of it that way is more hassle for the poor soul ploughing through the slushpile than having the means of disposal - your SAE ready to hand, so some don't like it.

Emma

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If you want to go for the small-SAE option, certainly say so in your covering letter, so they're not looking wildly round for a big one.

Thanks for this Emma.

I've just thought of a reason to have the manuscript returned, though. I suppose if you have lots of versions and edits its nice to see in the future exactly what you sent to whom.

Michel

Quite often they come back clean enough to send out again, especially if you replace the front and back pages. In the days of typewriters, of course, they didn't expect MS to be pristine every time.

Emma