Sample chapter... what can you tell me?

[pisqualie]

Hi all - I wrote up a proposal using Larsen's How To Write a Book Proposal (or something like that) and have found some success in doing so. Because I have a background in journalism and first-hand experience in what I am writing about, I did not include sample chapters. However, I recently had my proposal go to an editor's idea meeting and ultimately it was turned down because of numbers. I am encouraged it made it that far though :) Anyway, my agent suggested that I send along a sample chapter and begin writing the book so we can use that in our corner - the project has already started, and look, here is a sample.

My question is... what should this chapter be? Plucked right from the middle? The first one? How 'formal' does it need to be? As in, how close to final draft? Obviously it needs to be close to its final version, but I am curious how in-depth and 'final' it needs to be. My book relies on alot of interviews and the agent mentioned I could add those in later... so that leads me to believe a sample chapter is more an idea of how it will be written, not so much the all-encompassing chapter details?

Can anyone enlighten me? I can either throw something together that will be close to the final book chapter in a few hours, or I can do some in-depth writing, interviewing and get it done in a few days. What do you think?

Thanks!

[aka eraser]

You always want to put your best foot forward so it's a no-brainer from this end -- do the work and write a chapter that will knock their socks off.

[Lauri B]

You absolutely want to send a high-quality sample. It definitely doesn't have to be the first chapter, but be sure to include a detailed chapter outline so the agent/publisher can see where your sample will fit in. If you're including sidebars, factoids, whatever, include the ones that will go into your sample chapter, and list the sidebars you think you'll be including in your chapter outline. Good luck!

[Tish Davidson]

I can either throw something together that will be close to the final book chapter in a few hours, or I can do some in-depth writing, interviewing and get it done in a few days. What do you think?

Thanks!

Take the time to do it right - i.e., as close to the book as you can make it. This is your chance to impress people, so why give it less than your best shot?

[shirah]

I completely agree with the others. Submit your absolute best - I would take my time with the research and conduct the necessary interviews you mentioned. When I submitted by textbook proposal, I included the first chapter (introduction) and a detailed table of contents after weeks of preparation.

[Prevostprincess]

I can either throw something together that will be close to the final book chapter in a few hours, or I can do some in-depth writing, interviewing and get it done in a few days. What do you think?

I think I'm going to go drown my sorrows with one of the martini recipes that appears in my book. You can write a chpt in a few days?

Definitely submit your best work. Always.

[Jamesaritchie]

I've never met an editor who wanted to read anything other than chapter one. If chapter one isn't your best chapter, you should work on it until it is.

Fiction or nonfiction, the first chapter sells the book, and when you send a chapter from somewhere in the middle, the first question will be, What's the problem with the way this book opens?

[pisqualie]

I totally agree with you guys - the problem was the time I needed to get it finished in. We had an editor say she wanted to submit the proposal to her sales team, and then the next day say hey, can I have some chapters. So I mustered through chapter one and the intro and was just trying to wing it - the chapter turned out awful because I have not done that research yet. So, my agent emailed her and asked for an extention. Luckily, she seems like the neatest person and said to go ahead and take a few weeks if we need to - she wants about three chapters and she said she is a writer herself and understands the time it can take. She said she wants them good not fast! Whew. So with an extended deadline, I sat down and wrote three chapters yesterday, believe it or not. Chapter one was so tough to write, I thought they all would be. But actually what it is, as I learned yesterday, is that I have really researched the crap out of the other chapters so they were a snap to write whereas the first one, I dont have the confidence in my knowledge yet. I have interviews set up to round out the information and should have chapters 2-4 to send off to the agent for his approval next weekend. Whew.

Anyway, I lucked out that the editor is so understanding. SHe told the agent she was really into the project and seems highly encouraging. So my fingers are crossed that everything works together well. Wish me luck.

[Memoirista]

Luck!

And much success with your chapters and proposal.