Do Agents Accept Unfinished Manuscripts?

gwendy85 · Jan 25, 2007

The question popped up when I was doing some net surfing. I'm well on my way to finishing my manuscript with the esitimated completion date of March-April 2007. These two particular sites caught my eye:

http://www.theliterarygroup.com/submissions/submissions.html (See guidelines under cover letter)

and

http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/apr98/keegan7.htm (see first sample query letter, paragraph before the complimentary close)

I had this impression that agents won't look at your manuscript unless it is finished. It's not that I'm impatient, but I'm eager to finish because after March, I'll have to stop school to get a job. On whether or not I finish within the date I've indicated is the determining factor on whether I should or should not bring my computer along with me. If I finish, I won't bring it. The internet is always your friend that way.

But to those who've had experienced dealing with agents or are agents themselves, which is the better option? To wait until you finish before sending or going on ahead and sending?

Appreciate the input

waylander · Jan 25, 2007

As a general rule agents will not touch an unfinished manuscript from a new author. I do know of exceptions to this, but only a few.

What you don't say is whether this is a first draft of your manuscript. If it is, I would very strongly urge you to refrain from sending it out. You need to put it away for a while and then read through it with as critical an eye as you can manage, and then rewrite. You should also get some other views on it, preferably other writers. Do not make the mistake I made of sending your novel out before it is ready.

Julie Worth · Jan 25, 2007

If you're writing nonfiction, or if you have excellent credentials (eg, you're Paris Hilton, a Senator, or an ax murderer) then go ahead and query now. If this is your first work of fiction and you're an unknown quantity, finish and polish the devil out of your ms before you begin querying. And be sure to get a few beta readers to go through it first. Don't let an agent be the first to point out the obvious flaws, because they won't. They'll just reject you and you'll never know.

If you can't wait to do something, post your first chapter on the share your work forum, and say you want a brutal critique. (Best to hear it now, from us, rather than after a hundred rejections!)

PS: bring your computer. I don't know what you mean by "finish," if that is the first draft or the tenth, but you'll never be finished until your book is published.

aruna · Jan 25, 2007

What they said.

icerose · Jan 25, 2007

I don't know why you'd want an agent on an unfinished piece. You might get to the end and realize it doesn't quite work and need to rework a large portion of your story.

Or you might find yourself unable to come up with an ending for months, no need to have the extra pressure of an agent added into the mix.

HorrorWriter · Jan 25, 2007

Gwen,
Everyone has given you some excellent advice thus far. I'll add my two cents: most reputable agents will not look at an unfinished fiction manuscript. They want it edited, reworked and revamped! Make sure it's your best work before sending it out to anyone. I sent out my first one years ago and it was terrible. Good luck with your writing.

ORION · Jan 25, 2007

My agent picked up a client from an MFA program (when she read and liked her short stories) and the client did not have even a started novel.
It doesn't happen often and it rarely happens with a first novel unless there is some extenuating circumstances as Julie points out.
Finish this one and start the next one.
JMHO

gwendy85 · Jan 25, 2007

Hey, thanks everyone!

Guess that means bring the computer! UGH! Too bad for my siblings! LOL!

aruna · Jan 25, 2007

I know that Monica Ali's first novel Brick Lane was bought on a partial. But that was unusual circumstances. Somebody read it who knew an editor and so on; and I really have to say that the rest in no way licved up to the beginning. Was a huge hit anyway, because of her winning a Granta Award.

Stacia Kane · Jan 26, 2007

aruna said:
I know that Monica Ali's first novel Brick Lane was bought on a partial. But that was unusual circumstances. Somebody read it who knew an editor and so on; and I really have to say that the rest in no way licved up to the beginning. Was a huge hit anyway, because of her winning a Granta Award.

I hated that book. I agree the beginning was interesting but I had to force myself to skim the rest.

If you don't have a finished ms, how do you even know the book will be the correct length? That the story won't hit a brick wall somewhere? Best to finish.

And don't query before editing either--not only might your word count change significantly, but you might get caught. A while back Nadia Cornier told a story about getting query that excited her so much she called the author, only to find the edits weren't done, and how that turned her off quite a bit.

Do Agents Accept Unfinished Manuscripts?

gwendy85

~Proudly Mestiza~

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

icerose

Lost in School Work

HorrorWriter

It's a new dawn. It's a new day.

ORION

Sailed away years ago

gwendy85

~Proudly Mestiza~

aruna

On a wing and a prayer

Stacia Kane

Girl Detective

Do Agents Accept Unfinished Manuscripts?

~*Proudly Mestiza*~

Who's going for a beer?

What? I have a title?

On a wing and a prayer

Lost in School Work

It's a new dawn. It's a new day.

Sailed away years ago

~*Proudly Mestiza*~

On a wing and a prayer

Girl Detective

~Proudly Mestiza~

~Proudly Mestiza~