Pitching a Book Before It’s Ready
- By: Jessica Faust | Date: Feb 07 2019
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an agent it’s that nothing panics a writer more than hearing about the frustrations of an agent. I’m sorry to see that I’ve caused that panic for a writer in my video on how to frustrate an agent.
In the video, I talk about the frustration of not receiving requested material in a timely manner. That frustration is real for most agents. When we request something we’re excited to read it and not receiving it can send our own neurosis into a tailspin. What if she sent it to another agent? What if she didn’t like me enough to send it? Why can’t I read it? Of course, we also know that often it just means the book wasn’t completed, or was never completed. It happens.
In the comments on the video a reader asks:
I have a desperate question, and I just need advice/guidance/direction, because this video has sparked a panic in me.
I pitched at my first writing conference the first week of August this year, and I didn’t know what to expect. My book is still in revision, and this was obviously ok, because two agents asked for just the first 50 pages plus the synopsis, one doesn’t even represent my genre but said I could query her because I did an “open-mic” pitch contest and she was curious (I don’t think I’ll have her in the end), and the last agent said I can E-mail her when the book is clean, even a year out.
I think my question falls with the first two. It’s been two months and I’ve dragged with struggling through my synopsis (because we all know it’s a living hell), and I’ve just had more fuel with trying to continue with revisions on my book. It’ll be another six months before completion. Have I burned my chances with these two agents that have requested partials, because it’s been so long since the time I pitched them? I panicked when you got to your three-month frustration and realized that was basically me. Because I didn’t know what would happen. I came home from the conference with the mindset of, “Ok, my foot is in the door…I don’t know what room in the house I’m supposed to go in.” Meaning I didn’t know how much time to take with cleaning everything up, and how many eyes had to help revise it before going out.
My other thought was the time of the year and my own schedule. I work two retail jobs, and I know the agents will be out on holiday, so I wasn’t sure if I should tighten everything the rest of this year and send it out in January when they’re back from vacation. But that’s so long.
Sorry for all the back story. I know you’re one agent and don’t represent the whole, but I just need a voice from the inside with an idea of if I’m doing ok in sending out the requests later when the synopsis is at its peak and my first fifty pages are the best they can be, or if I’ve really hurt my impression with these agents, but go ahead and send the material anyway?
I’m going to make it simple. You didn’t screw up. You’re fine. Send it when it’s ready.
What agents want more than anything else are really great books and if sending something quickly means sending something that’s not ready we don’t want it. It won’t help you and it won’t help us. If it’s not great, we can’t offer representation.
Honestly, I think you did a great job by pitching and connecting with agents. In the future, don’t hesitate to tell the agents that your book is still in revisions, but you didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to meet them. And when it’s done, send the best book you’ve ever written.
Good luck!
Jessica
I had almost the same story with you! I didn’t know anything when I previewed my first 2 pages at an agency roundtable at my first writer’s conference. You asked for a full, and I didn’t have it. I told you it was in revisions, and you were gracious enough to say, “It’s OK, send when it’s ready.” I sent it when I thought it was done (but it was only my first draft) and it wasn’t right for you, but you replied promptly which was appreciated.
Question: If you do send a manuscript before it is ready, and then many months and many revisions later you want to send back to an agent you’ve connected with or gotten comments from, how will the agent react?
Timely as ever Jessica, you are spookily good at posts just at the right time.
I said on one of the other posts we have an opportunity to meet with an agent or editor as part of the degree. It’s mostly a learning experience, but there is a chance we could meet the right person for us it has happened before.
We had a how to meeting on Tuesday, just the normal things synopsis and bio what questions to ask.
One of the women there, I don’t know her, asked if the agent/editor would get our name in advance or just our submission documents blind, because she didn’t want them to have any power over her in the meeting.
I didn’t understand her idea, I don’t think anyone did, but it was a genuine fear. By the end she was talking about not taking part.
Have you come across this before and how do you handle it?
Hollie: I’m afraid without context I have a hard time understanding what this woman was worried about as well. It’s too bad that she felt this fearful of an agent.
Thanks Jessica,
I’m excited about this, I know the chance of the agent I meet being the right agent for me and my ms are tiny, but it is still a huge learning experience.
The least I’m going gain is professional feedback of my work.
The negativity and fear worried me, but I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to be worried about.
Great advice (as always). It’s the permanent panic for us in the trenches. But I’m especially glad to hear the advice here because I pitched to BookEnds last year (complete ms) then got feedback on my ms which has meant a big rewrite – but it will make it better so has to be done. I’ll try to breathe more easily, but the little flame of panic will take a while to go out I think. (and yes, I know I can sub to BookEnds anytime and easily, but that doesn’t change the panic)
“What if she sent it to another agent? What if she didn’t like me enough to send it? Why can’t I read it?”
A good reminder that agents are people too, and want writers and books.
Reason #541 why I adore you.
I merely want to leave a hint that has really helped me when writing a synopsis. Depending on your rate of speech, pretend that someone has asked you what your book is about, but it’s a place (imaginary) where you’re relaxed and not trying to impress anyone. You’re in line at the grocery store, or just walking with a friend, and you tell them what you’ve written.
In reality, you’re sitting in a comfortable chair with your smart phone or any recording device recording. I usually give myself a minute, and I’ve learned that when there’s no stress, no words on a screen staring back at me, it can often help me organize my thoughts and essentially write my synopsis in my own voice.
That’s a really good idea Kate, thank you.
I wrote my first draft today, I started with a list of bullet points. We start here, we meet this person, that happens, kick that person’s butt, lesson learned.
Then added a couple lines for each point.