hi im new, i apologise if this question has been asked before.

im a published journalist and am 70k into my first novel which i envisage being about 130k when completed.

would agents consider it unprofessional for me to seek representation now rather when the ms is completed?

ive been advised by many people to crack on with trying to find an agent whilst finishing the book, as finding an agent could take me months (the book should be finished by the end of the year as im writing full time). but having read advice elsewhere on the net im now having second thoughts, as i dont want to put off any prospective agents by appearing unprofessional in approaching them too soon.

any advice greatly appreciated.

Personally, I wouldn't risk trying an agent until I had the MS as perfect as I could make it. Generally speaking, you only get one crack at each agent, and you don't want to waste it. You might strike lucky with someone who so loved the idea that they were prepared to work with you towards the finished MS, or at least said, 'revise it and try me again', but I wouldn't bet on it.

Then I'd do a mass-mailing submission to everyone you think suitable at once. Your journalism track record should get you to the top of the slush pile if not out of it all together, and even the slowest will get back to you in a couple of months. Things just move slower in the book world, I'm afraid.

Emma

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Different thought: you could always try pitching the idea, in combination with your track record, and say, 'may I send it to you when I've finished and revised it?' That way you would weed out the ones who really won't be interested relatively cheaply and quickly. I don't think any agent who would potentially likely to like it would just say 'no thanks' to that. And then when you've got the book polished you can write and remind them that they were interested, along with the sample chapters.

I'm a 'done and dusted' kinda guy myself. An incomplete novel is just that - incomplete. Any agent worth their salt knows that a finished product,edited, revised and ready, is what brings in the bacon.

Anything else is just going to be unappealing, I reckon. The writers and artists year book has lots of agents requesting full MSS only. That's what it means - fully written, polished and practically publish-ready.

I think showing them incomplete work would show you didn't take the editing process that seriously, or expected them to do it. Both red flags to a literary agent.

You usually only get the one shot, so be patient, and best of luck to you.

JB

hi emma,

thanks for your advice. the first two paras of your reply confirm my suspicions.


> Different thought: you could always try pitching the idea, in combination with your track record, and say, 'may I send it to you when I've finished and revised it?' That way you would weed out the ones who really won't be interested relatively cheaply and quickly. I don't think any agent who would potentially likely to like it would just say 'no thanks' to that. And then when you've got the book polished you can write and remind them that they were interested, along with the sample chapters.

this is a really good idea though, thanks! one thing i do have going for me is that a friend of mine in the (newspaper) publishing industry in oz has set up a VIP URL (ie not accessible through search engines) with some blurb about the book, photos of me and links to five sample chapters, so with one click agents can have a look at the prospective package.

oh, from lurking on previous threads today and yesterday - congrats on getting representation by clare alexander, nice one and good luck! :D

> I think showing them incomplete work would show you didn't take the editing process that seriously, or expected them to do it. Both red flags to a literary agent.

my worry entirely JB! the whole process is a complete minefield, but im finding that it is definitely worth spending time on the net doing research because there is so much to learn. like any other industry, the more you know about its machinations, the more likely your chance of success (that is, assuming you can write in the first place! )

NB excuse lower case and lack of apostrophes, thats just how i post on forums! its my way of kicking my shoes off in front of the fire after a hard days work of having to adhere to literary convention!

> You usually only get the one shot, so be patient, and best of luck to you.

thanks