A good friend of mine sent off some sample chapters to an agent this week even though he hadn't finished the novel. The agent emailed and said he was going to try and sell the rights.

How usual is this and should he be excited? (The agency is reputable)

I would say he should certainly be very excited, it is very unusual. But you friend also needs then to calm down enough to get some clarification about the basis on which this is happening. The agent's obviously having a first flush of huge enthusiasm - which is great - but your friend needs to make sure that the agent isn't just trying a few bright ideas and will then drop him if they don't come off. Phrases like, 'do we have an agreement?' or 'I take it you're offering to represent me?' are nice and not too aggressive sounding, but should get a proper commitment from him. They need to be followed by a long conversation about where the work's beomg sent, what his plans are for the next stage if the first round of submissions doesn't get a sale, how your friend should best be working on the rest of the book, what the agent does about subsidiary and translation rights, and so on.

You say the agency is reputable, (has he checked them out on the preditors and editors website?) but your friend still needs to cover his back. He needs a contract or agency agreement, which he can then use to join the Society of Authors and get them to go over it with their legendary high-speed fine toothed comb. They turn them round in 24hrs or so, by email:

http://www.societyofauthors.net/index.php4.

The S of A also has a leaflet about agency agreements for a pound or two. There are still a few agents - mainly the one-man-bands - who don't really do formal contracts, but your friend still needs a clear conversation - which he can make notes of - about how it's all going to work. It's also worth checking if the agency is a member of the Association of Authors' Agents. There are good agents who aren't, but the AAA has a code of conduct which is reassuring.

Miss Snark has a lot about agents on her blog, being one herself, and the archive might be worth a look for some ideas about how agents should and shouldn't behave, and how they actually do. It's funny, too:

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/

Sorry if this sounds like raining on your friend's parade a little bit. The work's obviously terrific, so I'm sure all will be well, but it's as well to know that everything's in order.

Emma

That sounds like terrific news, and yes, the work must be astonishing if your friend hasn't finished the book and the agent hasn't even read it all. I wasn't aware such things happened anymore, but best of luck for your friend anyway!

JB

Thanks very much for the advice. I should say it's a memoir type thing and the agent has said "It's not necessary to finish the book before we secure the rights, so don't rush".

Amazing, as I've been trying to flog my own work for years!!

Memoir being non-fiction (James Frey notwithstanding) I think it's much easier to sell before it's finished. Very exciting! Hope all goes well.

Emma

James Frey notwithstanding

ouch!

Wow amazing news. A friend of mine had a similar experience a few years back. She submitted three chapters to a very reputable agent, several agents in fact, most of them turned it down flat but the other managed to get her a two book deal worth £250,000 for the unfinished novel and the un thought of novel. All worked out well but it did send her into an absolute panic.

He's had a few rejections too, and he seems quite pessimistic about it all working out. I suppose he feels it's all too good to be true..I was just wondering if anyone had ever had a similar experience. Personally, I haven't reached the submission stage.