1. Know your story. As in, be able to summarize it in a sentence if needed. This will save you a lot of trouble and better invite an agent or publisher to read your novel, as it proves that you can do more than put semi-organized words on a few hundred pages of text. Even if you did this step when you were first planning your book, make sure it’s still up to date and an accurate depiction of what your story is all about. 2. Have a killer opening. That’s the real make-or-break