Any agents who accept unfinished manuscripts?

'Not sure if this is the right sub-form to ask this...

I was wondering if anyone can point out some agents who specifically accept queries for unfinished fiction novels. I know they're out there, but I have to do lots of searching between each one I find.

Anyone know of any right off the bat?
Thanks. It would help a lot.

PS: I know some of you are just itching to jump in and say, "I don't think it's a good idea to submit unfinished material," but I've already gone over it several times, and find it to be my cup of tea until the novel is finished. I appreciate the concern (really), but wouldn't care to discuss it, if you don't mind. If they're specifically accepting unfinished material, then there's no problem in my book.

I'll add a line to the end of my disclaimer:

PS: I know some of you are just itching to jump in and say, "I don't think it's a good idea to submit unfinished material," but I've already gone over it several times, and find it to be my cup of tea until the novel is finished. I appreciate the concern (really), but wouldn't care to discuss it, if you don't mind. If they're specifically accepting unfinished material, then there's no problem in my book. Also, I research each agency before accepting anything. I've read the horror stories.

In 1994, my first book was from an approach from Rosen Publishing Group to write FOSTER HOMES for teenage reluctant readers. Gina Strazzabosco later told me I beat out fifty-some other applicants for the honor.

The book was somewhat of a success... Then, after writing three complete novels, to which there was no interest from some-hundred agents, I received a request from Enigma Books for my manuscript investigating child spies of World War II. Hopefully they are for real... They are the first I have approached.

Moral: non-fiction is easier to break into than fiction. However, I didn't bother with an agent this time. I have some three hundred rejections from agents for the novels. I think they [the agents] automatically associate my name with REJECTION!

(sigh)

Toothpaste said:

Honestly Dario, what were you expecting? I guess we could have all just answered "no" to your question and have done. Would that have been better?

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Yes. There's nothing wrong with saying no, as I asked a yes or no question. I also asked very politely to keep it limited to yes or no answers, and clearly stated that I've gone over this before, and didn't need lecturing. Isn't that worth respecting? Doesn't someone who's been there and done that not need to go there and do that again, especially when it's made clear and requested?

I'm grateful for those of you who were just trying to warn me, and who did so politely, and I even agree with you. Flying blindly with potentially scam agencies is indeed unsafe.

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But now, for those of you who do NOT have gentle suggestions, let me go over my thoughts. First of all, I submit very few unfinished queries (3 so far), and only when I find the opportunity between my writing. My focus is getting my novel finished and polished, as I've done before. Second, I only submit to trustworthy agencies. For my first novel, I was quickly "accepted" by The New York Literary Agency, but immediately went to look them up before even replying. Now, I'm even more cautious.

And finally, to give testimony to my successes with the occasional unfinished query, I've only submitted 3, and gotten 2 positive replies. Both were rejections, as it didn't fit their list, but one praised how interesting it sounded, while the other *almost* bought it, and asked me if they could look at it again when completed. We went back on forth on it for a while, talking about how it's told and better presented to this particular genre.

The latter was none other than Andrea Brown Literary Agency, who have been referred to on this forum as "the big dogs" of Young Adult. They don't normally look for unfinished manuscripts, but I asked them about it since their website doesn't specify, and was invited to query. Not a bad start for some casual querying every now and then.

When the novel's finished, I'm going to hit the querying hard, but it never hurts to have generated some interest before completion. Not at all... In fact, I find this rather motivating. I find it useful in two ways: 1) If they like it, I know my time isn't being wasted, and that I'm on the right track. 2) If they don't, I have time to re-think my approach, and make sure I don't complete a big blunder.

I rather like the outcome, as my initial reason for sending an unfinished query in the first place was just to figure out if I was writing something marketable or not. I got the answer I was looking for, and then some, so it has helped me greatly.

My "success " story was indeed a success. The answer was not "no", it was "I like it. Get back to me". Not only, but it was achieved in only 3 submissions, with one other response that I very much like.

But even all that is to be put aside, because every novel is different. If I had gotten all "no" answers, or all "yes" answers, it would have benefit me just the same. As I said, my initial goal was to test the water, and get insight as to what agents thought of my in-progress novel, so that I could have time to make adjustments. And it served to accomplish that very thing. It may not work for you, but it has worked for me very well, and I love the option.

Also, the agents I've dealt with so far have been more interested in seriously considering my query than telling me there's anything wrong with my approach. If they accept, they accept, and that's because they see no reason not to. If they don't accept, then I don't query them.

KCH said:

When people generously give their time and expertise at your request, it's customary to say thank you.

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I agree, and said to them:
"I'm grateful for those of you who were just trying to warn me..."

However, you said "who generously give their time and expertise at your request"... The problem is that I did quite the opposite of request that.

And no, you did not ask a yes or no question.

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I asked: "Anyone know of any (agents) right off the bat?"
And the topic of my thread is: Any agents who accept unfinished manuscripts?

The default format of answer is either "No" (or no reply), or "Yes, and here they are."

Have you considered the possibility that this is a formula response given to people who query about unfinished manuscripts?

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No, as I went back and forth with them discussing the novel and future representation. It was not a simple "no" answer, as I explained in that post.

Even then, like I said earlier, *anything* that happened is beside the point. Every query will have a different response, so there's no use arguing that all attempts are guaranteed to fail. My testimony is that queries for unfinished material can succeed like any other query. All you need is a trustworthy agent who accepts it. That's it. If they don't accept it, then you don't query them until you're done.