When it's been seven months and an agent hasn't replied to your last partial, would you consider it safe to assume it rejected and send them something new? Or should I ask about the old submission first?
Submitting new work?
- Thread starter glutton
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If the partial was specifically requested (as opposed to the agent's web site permitting partials with a query), I think you're definitely allowed to send a brief follow up letter inquiring about the status. It depends also on how much you want this agent.
I'd start being prepared to write it off, though. Keep querying, and good luck!
I'd start being prepared to write it off, though. Keep querying, and good luck!
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Okay--Here comes a question derived from complete ignorance. I had been hawking a completed non-fiction book with just a query letter. I realized after some AW input that the chances of interesting an agent using this format were pretty low--finished or not, a proposal was needed.
My question is, how long should a proposal be? Since the book is completed, an overview, annotated table of contents as well as sample chapters could very well be seventy or eighty pages. Is that a norm?
This is not a whine--other than perhaps postage costs--but I don't want to get a proposal tossed out on the basis of weight. I have an image of an agent receiving a proposal from an unknown author, i.e. me, along with twenty others, picking mine up and on the basis of inappropriate heft, dumping it.
I've reviewed many texts about proposals, and they all make sense. But when I started assembling mine, it was a heckuva lot more substantial than a one page, grab 'em by the... whatevers, query letter. I'm just a bit startled by the difference between the depth of a proposal and a query letter.
I also understand that proposals are usually written before someone has spent two years writing and completing an eighty thousand word book. In this regard, a proposal to some degree is an initial assurance that an author is not blowing wind up some poor agent's skirt--or kilt, to be p.c.
So, that's my question--probably asked a hundred times before, but Dumbo here is confused.
AngryDoc
My question is, how long should a proposal be? Since the book is completed, an overview, annotated table of contents as well as sample chapters could very well be seventy or eighty pages. Is that a norm?
This is not a whine--other than perhaps postage costs--but I don't want to get a proposal tossed out on the basis of weight. I have an image of an agent receiving a proposal from an unknown author, i.e. me, along with twenty others, picking mine up and on the basis of inappropriate heft, dumping it.
I've reviewed many texts about proposals, and they all make sense. But when I started assembling mine, it was a heckuva lot more substantial than a one page, grab 'em by the... whatevers, query letter. I'm just a bit startled by the difference between the depth of a proposal and a query letter.
I also understand that proposals are usually written before someone has spent two years writing and completing an eighty thousand word book. In this regard, a proposal to some degree is an initial assurance that an author is not blowing wind up some poor agent's skirt--or kilt, to be p.c.
So, that's my question--probably asked a hundred times before, but Dumbo here is confused.
AngryDoc
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A proposal should answer more than what the book is and what it will look like.
There are several questions that should be answered:
1) Why this topic?
2) Why THIS book?
3) Why this book instead of another book on the same topic?
4) Why should I write this book?
5) Why should anyone else but me think I ought to write this book?
If you address those things in depth, it will probably add weight to the proposal.
There are several questions that should be answered:
1) Why this topic?
2) Why THIS book?
3) Why this book instead of another book on the same topic?
4) Why should I write this book?
5) Why should anyone else but me think I ought to write this book?
If you address those things in depth, it will probably add weight to the proposal.