Author: Little Swallow
Date:   11-11-09 16:51

I have read some of the posts on this website and find the advice given by various people who have the experience of the publishing industry very helpful. I am now of the opinion that as a new bee, it would be best to complete a manuscript and approach the agents or publishers.

Often, as a requirement it is asked to send the first two or three chapters to the agent or publisher. Now, after sending the chapters to the agents or publishers, can I revise them, adding more content to them? Or, even in the final version of the manuscript should they be exactly as they were sent the first time?

I ask because I thought I have completed writing the first few chapters of the non-fiction book I am writing. But as I read more, I get more ideas and more content that I would like to accommodate in these presumably completed chapters.

Because of this, I have feeling I will never be able to complete even the first chapter before I complete writing the whole book. So if I send the first few chapters to an agent now, it may be a completely different thing by the time I complete my book.

My only reason to approach the agents or publishers now is to save time (thinking that I have completed the first few chapters).

What could be the best thing to do?
Can I approach them with the first few chapters even if they may be heavily revised later on?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks

Author: L C
Date:   11-11-09 17:16

<<Can I approach them with the first few chapters even if they may be heavily revised later on? >>

Yes, and that's probably common. My books ended up looking completely different from what I originally submitted. In fact, I sometimes looked back at that material and thought, how on earth did I get a contract with this garbage? lol

Author: Frank Baron
Date:   11-11-09 17:36

I'm going to suggest not contacting agents or publishers until you have a more concrete vision (or version) of your book. If you're still gathering information and padding chapters, you'll have a tough time coming up with a detailed proposal. I think you'd be wise to continue researching and writing the book. Get far enough into it that you can see the ending around the next bend. Then work on your query and proposal. As an unpublished author, you have much proving to do. If you can follow up a tantalizing proposal with not just three completed chapters, but a near-complete ms, you'll have eliminated a lot of the doubts that come from dealing with first-timers.

I like the way you're going about the process - asking questions to fill in your blanks. Being cautious and correct can save you a lot of grief.

Good luck.

Author: L C
Date:   11-11-09 17:50

At the same time, a non-fic book goes through multiple reviews, the first being one that determines its viability. You may end up greatly revising the table of contents and focus due to these reviews. At some point you have to just run with it and see if your *core idea* rings their bell.

Author: Anthony Ravenscroft
Date:   11-11-09 23:36

Well, really, it depends on the narrow category of the book.

I can speak to "how to" & service books, though, & that's to say that you should have a pretty clear idea of what you want to write, as far as scope & depth, before it goes out. It takes experience to chop a longer book down to something briefer. It'd be a pain to plan out an in-depth coverage of a topic in the 200,000-word range, & possibly miss out on interest in something 1/4 that length.

Trust the people you're sending to. If they like your writing ability & your approach, & are interested in that topical area, they may ask you if you'd be willing to expand your scope -- which beats the HECK out of a rejection slip!!

Author: Little Swallow
Date:   11-14-09 19:55

Thank you all for your views on this.

"In fact, I sometimes looked back at that material and thought, how on earth did I get a contract with this garbage? lol"

lol LC
You know sometimes I have a look at what I have written earlier and wonder what mad me write such 'crap.'

Frank, that's a great piece of advice as usual.
"As an unpublished author, you have much proving to do."
That's so true. And I am not of any illusions here.


Anthony, I am not thinking of such a long MS. My estimate is between 60,000 - 70,000 words.
The thing is, I have already kept aside one section of my book for it was potentially a new topic that was making the length too long. If my tempo does not break before I get depressed of the rejections, I will start on this as my second book.

So to conclude, from what I gathered from your advice is sending the chapters to an agent before my MS is complete may be a risk that I am making. It would perhaps be best, as Frank says to complete my MS and then approach any publishers.

Thinking of the rejection letters send shivers down my spine. So I thought I can cut short my anticipation for an answer from the publishers and dilute my depression from the rejections by sending them now.

Author: Greg Kosson
Date:   11-15-09 01:36

Frank said it well.

One of the most common mistakes people make (including me) -- in my view -- is to rush.

Whatever it is that propels you to seek publication is your friend, but your enemy as well.

You have to assume your stuff is just as bad as you suspect it might be in your worst moments in the dead of night.

Then go back and fix it.

Fix it over and over and over again.

Our capacity to fool ourselves about the quality of our writing is astounding.

Author: Little Swallow
Date:   11-16-09 16:28

Thanks Greg.

You are right.
Sometimes I wonder whether I will ever finish revising.

Author: Anil Kumar Gupta
Date:   11-22-09 01:33

First few chapters of a book are very important. They should set the tone of the book.