Hello,

I'm writing for advice regarding the next step to take with a publisher. A respected London publisher is reviewing my proposal and has had it for almost 12 weeks with no word or response. This is fine. My issue is that I would like to resubmit some sections of the writing to them as it has been vastly improved through suggestions from agents and I would like them to see the best. Is it inappropriate to ask them to review it AGAIN? Or to review several chapters again? I'm anticipating a reject...though you never know. I just would like them to see the better version.

Thank you.
J.

Hi Joang and welcome to WW.

I think it would be very reasonable, at the stage when you would be writing to enquire if they'd had a chance to read it (i.e. 3mths minimum) to mention that you've been revising the novel, have made substantial changes and would be happy to send a new version if they'd be interested to see it.

I think I'd say 'changes which I believe have improved it,' rather than 'improvements' which somehow, subliminally, suggests that you had doubts about the first version. You also want to make it clear that it's not just that you've sorted out a couple of typos and straightened a sentence or two - that it's really quite different.

And I wouldn't say that the changes have been in response to agents' suggestions, as they'll know that means rejections. (At least, I assume it does - if the agent in question is a friend, or an agent's still considering it, then say so). The one thing you really, really don't want to suggest is that there's any whiff of 'failure' about it, even though you and I know rejections like that aren't a failure, they're an endorsement.

Very best of luck with it.

Emma

I would be tempted to wait.
If you are talking about improvements made to the first three chapters based on suggestions from other agents, I would go back through the whole manuscript and see if there are changes that need to be made to those chapters as well. You wouldn't want the agent to request a 'full' based on the re-written early chapters, and then find myself having to hurry through a rewrite in a couple of weeks.
There is no harm in waiting a few months and resubmit with a new covering letter following the wording suggested by Emma, or just resubmit it as though it was a new ms - if you believe the blogs, Agents are so busy they have a job remembering why they asked for fulls half the time, so they are unlikely to remember your earlier version.


- NaomiM

I took a chance with an agent to whom I'd sent an unsolicited 1st 3 chapters (and heard nothing back for weeks and weeks), and sent a revised 1st3, with a letter apologising and explaining that, due to feedback, I really thought I'd made a breakthrough in the structure of the proposed book. I got an email from her almost immediately. Although she has a reputation for being prickly, she said she agreed that the new beginning was more involving and asked to see the full manuscript!

Sadly, a couple of months later, she rejected the full, BUT her rejection letter was highly detailed and personal and she said she would be eager to see my next piece of work when it was finished. I think that, by taking the chance, I actually managed to make some kind of connection with her. As soon as I finish my WIP, I'll send her the full right away, and hopefully she'll still remember me.

Best wishes,
Amy

Hi Joang
It sounds from your post as if yours is a non-fiction book? I would agree with Emma: if it's three months since you submitted, you could send a gentle email to say that you have reworked the proposal substantially, and if they haven't yet had a chance to read it, might it be possible to send them the new version? My feeling is that it's better to send them the whole thing in its new form rather than bits and pieces. Likelihood is that they haven't got round to reading it yet, so it will give them a little nudge and probably make them read it, since they'll need to substitute the old version for the new one.Best of luck with it!
Susiex