Don't Query too early

Hi,


I hope I can help someone with this little bit of advice. If you are planning to write a nonfiction book or books, dont sent out a bunch of queries by email and expect to have weeks or months to work on the proposal.

Two times I submitted a Query letter by email about a book idea I came up. I figured it would take weeks for people to get back to me.

Twice I got back requests for a proposal the same day. The first time came within two hours of sending it.

It takes a while to write a good proposal. Unless you want to spend the next three weeks doing 12 hour days writing and rewriting a proposal you might never send out because you realize it is hopelessly failing your idea it would be wise to do the proposal, at the very least getting your sample chapters DONE before sending out any queries. I had five bites on two projects and did not have something to send in. I learned my lesson. I am working on a book proposal and will not even touch the net until it is finished. I wont look for agents or compile lists of names.

Not sending a proposal is the same as getting rejected, worse, it makes you look untrustworthy or unprofessional.

There is nothing (in my opinion) to gain by sending out a query too early. There is however much to lose.

Hope this helps someone.

I am glad I am not the only one that made this mistake.

Also very glad about the comment that it seems it is easier to get an agent for nonfiction.

I am not even taking the chance with this one. I am putting in my 12 hour days now. I spent my entire summer trying to play catch up with the last one and in the end decided not to send it in. Sometimes ideas seem better in the head than in what gets fleshed out on paper. It is better to realize that alone and not burn bridges.