Agents asking to see something else...

FergieC

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I queried an agent with a partial, and got a very positive letter back praising the writing, but saying they had concerns about the novel itself. They asked if I would consider sending them something else a little more commercial, and with more plot to it.

As it hapens, I am half way through a new novel, which certainly has more story, and may be more commercial - who knows? But it won't be finished for at least a few months yet.

I always think it seems very unprofessional to send something to an agent when it's not finished, and the full MS isn't available. But in this case, where they've asked for something else, would it be best to respond to that letter sooner rather than later, and send off the synopsis and first three chapters (which are pretty well polished already) with a letter giving an estimated fnishing date? Or is it best to wait until it's finished?
 

triceretops

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Fergie, in all honesty, it's probably a good idea to finish it first. There are a lot of platitudes in the industry and I think you just described one of them: "Send us anything else you have." I would definitely keep that correspondence and use it when resubmitting the next (full) as proof of a favorable previous contact. I would send the three chapters off to betas, who might help you tighten things up further.

tri
 

Irysangel

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I would say something along the lines of:

I'm currently in the halfway through the first draft of XYZ, but I'd be more than happy to send it to you when it is completed. XYZ is about (blah blah blah)


That leaves them the opening of asking to see it earlier if they are THAT fired up. Otherwise, they know you have something in the works and you can send it to them later and not have totally dropped the ball.
 

Carmy

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I agree with Irysangel. You have to make some sort of response. You can't just ignore the agent's request whether it be a platitude or not.
 

maestrowork

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It's great that the agent asks for something else, but you should only send completed work. Tell the agent you're working on it. Finish the book and send it to them -- you can bypass the query phase with this one because it's now "solicited material."
 

FergieC

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Finish the book and send it to them -- you can bypass the query phase with this one because it's now "solicited material."

I certianly wouldn't want to send them the whole book, finished or not. Even if it was completely done, I'd only send a synopsis and first three chapters, then let them decide whether they're more interested in it than the other one or not.

So technically, I could do that right now. Then if they happen to love it (ah...sweet dreams...) I could bypass the query stage when it is finished, which would be ace - and probably give me a kick up the ar*e to get it finished.

I'm just not at all sure whether it would seem more professional to respond in that way fairly quickly, while they still remember who I am and the request; or to wait until it's finished, by which time they'll completely have forgotten.

I agree with Tricer too though - it hasn't really been seen by anyone yet, and my idea of polished possibly isn't an agents. So I'll get some readers on it before doing anything. I guess a response within a couple of months would still be fairly quick...or would it? I think if I was an agent, I'd forget queries pretty fast.
 

aruna

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FergieC said:
I agree with Tricer too though - it hasn't really been seen by anyone yet, and my idea of polished possibly isn't an agents. So I'll get some readers on it before doing anything. I guess a response within a couple of months would still be fairly quick...or would it? I think if I was an agent, I'd forget queries pretty fast.

Send a copy of their letter in your submission pack - that will remind them, becasue yes, they DO forget. Good luck!