Full Manuscript Question

sarah_e_scott · Jun 16, 2007

Hi,

I've been writing a memoir for the past year, and about 2/3 of it is significantly well edited, and the last third is roughly drafted, but not as polished. I sent out 10 query letters the other day on a lark, because I was frustrated with having my year's worth of work just sitting on my computer and in my head. I've received one request for a partial from Mollie Glick of Jean V. Naggar, and sent it to her with temporary exclusivity for now. I'm not sure if my manuscript is up to the standard of completion that is expected, in the event that one of these agents might request a full. How polished do most of you get your manuscripts, by your own standard, before sending a full? How much editing is usually expected of the editors, to those of you who've worked with them?

Thanks,
Sarah

jordijoy · Jun 16, 2007

I have two fulls and several partials out as I write this and I had said ms professionally edited before I dared sent it out. I write fiction and I've read that non-fiction (memoirs) stand a better chance so I wanted to put the best possible foot forward. I'd say if you trust your own editing skills then go for it. Me, I don't, cause after reading my ms a million times I start see what I mean to say instead of what I've truly put on the paper.

sarah_e_scott · Jun 16, 2007

jordijoy said:
I have two fulls and several partials out as I write this and I had said ms professionally edited before I dared sent it out. I write fiction and I've read that non-fiction (memoirs) stand a better chance so I wanted to put the best possible foot forward. I'd say if you trust your own editing skills then go for it. Me, I don't, cause after reading my ms a million times I start see what I mean to say instead of what I've truly put on the paper.

Do you think they care if you mail it immediately after they request it? What do you think the time limit is before they start wondering why it hasn't arrived yet?

reenkam · Jun 16, 2007

I think it's normal to take 1 week, maybe 2, to mail a full manuscript. If you were going to take any longer than that you'd probably want to tell them.

And about editing, I've got 2 fulls and a partial out and the one manuscript I read over in a day as my editing and the partial, in about an hour. Yeah, I know, probably a terrible idea seeing as everyone else goes through tons of times and/or gets it professionally done, but I feel like I should pay attention while writing and if I keep changing stuff later then I'm going to move away from what I wanted to say into what I could be saying at another time. You probably shouldn't follow my example, though, since I don't have an agent or anything. :tongue

Prevostprincess · Jun 17, 2007

Anything you send to agents/editors needs to be perfect (realizing of course, that nothing ever is). But, to send it with the attitude that, "this can get fixed later," or "the editor can do that," is NOT a good idea. Think about it: How many hundreds of submissions do these people get in a week? They are overworked as it is. Why would they want to take on something that'll be even more work for them, rather than something that's already polished?

Obviously, no matter how "perfect" you get your ms, it's going to change and be changed by your agent and editor. But (and I can't stress this enough) you must put your very best foot forward. Always.

In my case (and Mollie Glick is my agent), I had been polishing and polishing my proposal and 2 sample chapters for some time, getting feedback and polishing again before I submitted them. By the time Mollie offered represenation, she had no changes to suggest on the chpts. The editor who bought it, also told me she wanted the rest of the memoir (which I'm writing now) to be like those first two chpts (ie she didn't want any changes, either).

NEVER send out work that isn't your best.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 17, 2007

Full

This is why you aren't supposed to query until you have everything as perfect as possible.

But the simple answer is that if you see something that could be better, don't submit until you fix it.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 17, 2007

memoir

jordijoy said:
I have two fulls and several partials out as I write this and I had said ms professionally edited before I dared sent it out. I write fiction and I've read that non-fiction (memoirs) stand a better chance so I wanted to put the best possible foot forward. I'd say if you trust your own editing skills then go for it. Me, I don't, cause after reading my ms a million times I start see what I mean to say instead of what I've truly put on the paper.

The memoir market is definitely heating up, but on a numbers basis it's still miles behind the novel market, and a much, much tougher sell for the average writer.

Prevostprincess · Jun 17, 2007

Couldn't agree more, James.

Just to add to my previous post: I'm not even sending material to my editor, thinking, "Oh, she can fix this," or "I guess this could be better." Even after the contract has been signed and the first third of the advance cashed, I'm still planning to send in my absolute best (as "perfect" as it can be) because I don't want her thinking I'm hard to work with, or that editing me takes more time than her other authors, or that what I'm sending now is not up to the standard of what she bought.

Why? Besides that it's the professional thing to do, I want to publish another book.

Susan B · Jun 17, 2007

I agree with what everyone else has said. Make it perfect--and still be prepared to find little errors that will make you cringe afterward!

And one tip for memoir: even though you think of it as nonfiction (and expect to send a proposal) you have to be ready for agents and editors to ask to see however much of the manuscript you have written. Sometimes they may not want to see the proposal at all, other times the request for the manuscript quickly follows a positive response to the proposal.

My proposal was very polished when I sent it out, but I had to scramble to get partials and fulls ready. So be prepared!

Susan

sarah_e_scott · Jun 17, 2007

Congratulations on your publication.

"The editor who bought it, also told me she wanted the rest of the memoir (which I'm writing now) to be like those first two chpts"

So you polished your sample chapters thoroughly before sending (as did I), but you are just now writing the rest of the memoir... did Mollie not ask for your full manuscript beforehand?

sarah_e_scott · Jun 17, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
This is why you aren't supposed to query until you have everything as perfect as possible.

But the simple answer is that if you see something that could be better, don't submit until you fix it.

Yes sir. Planning to fix it in time.

Prevostprincess · Jun 17, 2007

Sarah,
Based on the query I sent, Mollie asked for a partial (which, as I recall, was 3 or 4 chpts). I told her I only had a proposal and 2 sample chpts. She said fine, go ahead and send those. On the basis of that, she offered representation. Then, the proposal and 2 sample chpts is what she sent out to editors.

sarah_e_scott · Jun 19, 2007

jordijoy said:
I have two fulls and several partials out as I write this and I had said ms professionally edited before I dared sent it out. I write fiction and I've read that non-fiction (memoirs) stand a better chance so I wanted to put the best possible foot forward. I'd say if you trust your own editing skills then go for it. Me, I don't, cause after reading my ms a million times I start see what I mean to say instead of what I've truly put on the paper.

One more q, where did you go for prof. editing and how much $?

Full Manuscript Question

sarah_e_scott

jordijoy

In pursuit!!

sarah_e_scott

reenkam

aka cupcake

Prevostprincess

Jamesaritchie

Jamesaritchie

Prevostprincess

Susan B

Accordion Dreams

sarah_e_scott

sarah_e_scott

Prevostprincess

sarah_e_scott