[This message has been edited by Clove (edited December 18, 2009).]
Posted by Leaf II (Member # 2924) on :
I've read my share of 'writing help' books, and the suggestions I found were, Wait until done. It's just the better road.. I won't elaborate more than that, but the next time you've got some time to kill, head into barnes and noble and flip through the books that deal with editors, publishers, and submitting, and I think you will find very informative stuff. But my own thought is to wait until finished. (unless you are very confident in your work, then... let it loose, man!... and on a side note: GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!
[This message has been edited by Leaf II (edited January 29, 2006).]
Posted by rcorporon (Member # 2879) on :
OSC suggests not even contacting an agent until you've been offered a contract by a publisher.
Neil Gaiman has stated that he had 3 novels published before he ever felt the need for an agent.
Just some alternatives.
Posted by Clove (Member # 3125) on :
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[This message has been edited by Clove (edited December 18, 2009).]
Posted by musestower on :
Hi there Clove,
Ummm. Have you looked into getting yourself a copy of Writer's Market? As a matter of fact I have to get a new one, but on to the topic here. There are publishers listed there that don't require and agents.
HTH,
Nicole
P.S. Good Luck with your novel.
Posted by Leaf II (Member # 2924) on :
Usually you can submit unsolicited material to a publisher as long as you send a query 'package.'
...right?
Posted by Minister (Member # 2213) on :
The consensus I'm seeing these days (Card and Gaiman, both of whom published their first novel quite some time ago, notwithstanding) is that your odds of landing a book contract are far, far better with an agent. And the overwhelming consensus I see from agents is that they want a finished manuscript before you query them, especially from a new author. There are exceptions to every rule, and you could probably find examples of new authors getting agents without completed manuscripts -- but why reduce your chances if you don't have to?
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
If your novel is only half-finished and an agent asks to see the complete manuscript, you're going to feel kind of awkward, I bet.
One thing an agent is interested in knowing is if you're capable of finishing a project.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
When you're ready to publish, and not before. One solid indicator that you're ready to publish is when you're offered money for the finished book, but it doesn't have to be the only standard you use.
But for the love of Pete, at least have something ready for the publisher before you start flogging for an agent.
Posted by Clove (Member # 3125) on :
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[This message has been edited by Clove (edited December 18, 2009).]
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
uh, no. If they like a synopsis, they'll ask to read more. That's a very good sign but it's a long way from representation.
Posted by Clove (Member # 3125) on :
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[This message has been edited by Clove (edited December 18, 2009).]
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
wait, it sounds like you're thinking more of the non-fiction model. If it's non-fiction, yes, usually you do up a proposal and sell the book based on the proposal, and then write it. For fiction, you need to finish the book first, and sell that. (At least at first; once you're all famous it gets easier to sell before you write.)
Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
When you have a complete manuscript, you can both shop for Agents and Publishers who don't require Agents with basically the same submission query package...And you can submit to an agent at the same time as a publisher, though you usually cannot submit to two different publishers and some agents like you to try agencies one at a time too.
And it is the non-fiction world that will want to know about unfinished work. Also, previously published authors can sometimes get advances on future/present work in progress. Unpublished authors will almost never get an advance on an unfinished manuscript.
