How finished...

Aggy B. · Dec 11, 2008

should my manuscript be before I start sending out queries?

Just finished the rough draft (thanks to NaNo) and have started revisions. I'm also beginning to draft a query letter to send off to agents/publishers. Should I wait until I've completed the whole round of second draft editing? Or is it okay to start sending out queries once I've reached the halfway point?

I realize that there will likely be a lot of polishing to be done even after the first round of edits, but since most queries say 3 month turnaround wouldn't it make sense to go ahead and start that process a little sooner rather than later?

All feedback is welcome.

illiterwrite · Dec 11, 2008

I'd wait until you polished it to perfection. My full request came within 1 week of sending a query. You never know.

thethinker42 · Dec 11, 2008

My partial request came less than a week after submission. Don't send a query for something that you're not already ready to send.

Cyia · Dec 11, 2008

Definitely have it all the way finished. I got a full request the day after I sent my query in; you don't want to have the respond because they're excited and then have to tell them it's not polished.

Aggy B. · Dec 11, 2008

Fair enough. Well, back to work.

Thanks for the feedback.

Keyboard Hound · Dec 11, 2008

Another wait suggestion. I sent off a query and got a response back in ten minutes. Now I'm beating my brains out trying to get it completely polished and ready.

2Wheels · Dec 11, 2008

Ten minutes? Ten minutes? Dude!

KTC · Dec 11, 2008

Don't query if you're not finished. I got a request for a full and had to write 20K in one weekend. Finish. Edit. Edit. Edit. Edit. Edit. Query.

Gillhoughly · Dec 11, 2008

Your book is on a job interview. It has to be at its best.

Always have your MS as finished and polished as possible, because Murphy's Law will kick in and an agent will want to see it NOW and if your MS isn't ready NOW, then you're flat out of luck.

Get it into shape, then write another book.

If an agent wants to buy your first, better believe she will want to see the next one ASAP.

I had two books finished by the time I got the call for that first one. The publisher bought them all and three more besides.

Good luck.

AnonymousWriter · Dec 12, 2008

Finish. Polish. Polish. Polish again. Perfect to your potential. Then you can query.

NeuroFizz · Dec 12, 2008

If you did the story in NaNo, you did it in about a month, right? You may want to pass it by a beta reader or two in the process of editing, particularly if this is your first book.

And do what everyone else said. Don't query until you think it is ready to be turned over to a publisher.

seun · Dec 13, 2008

To echo the others - don't submit until the book is as good as you can make it. There's a world of difference between second draft and a final draft.

Aggy B. · Dec 13, 2008

Thanks for all the replies.

I will wait on the queries 'til my novel is nice and shiny.

I was thinking waiting was probably the way to go, but then I see people who've sent out queries and it's been months with no response and it makes me wonder.

I also understand that I'm talking about a first novel/NaNo novel/second draft and that it may sound arrogant to think something in those categories is sellable. I'm just trying to maintain confidence that the time spent on this project has been productive. (And I do have betas all lined up to rip the thing to shreds.)

Thanks again for the response and feedback. 'Tis appreciated.

How finished...

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

illiterwrite

thethinker42

Abnormal Romance Author

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

Keyboard Hound

Old kid. Tough skin!!

2Wheels

Anachronista

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

AnonymousWriter

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

seun

Horror Man

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think