The Definition of a Manuscript

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Media Vocabulary You Should Know

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BY RACHEL DEAHL

Updated November 07, 2018

A manuscript is essentially the earliest draft of a book. It is the unpublished version of a

book submitted to agents and editors for publication consideration. In book publishing,
agents and editors will often refer to books in manuscript form, noting that the book is in
the earliest stages of preparation.

A book in manuscript form will always need to be edited. And, sometimes, once the
editor has gone through it, it is sent back to the author for a rewrite. Either way, it will
likely be sent back to you once it's been edited and proofread so you can make the
requested changes. Once it is deemed to be fully ready, it is then sent to the production
side of the business, where it is prepped to be printed into an actual book.