Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

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Can you query if you are an unpublished novelist and your novel isn’t finished?

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No.

UPDATE 5/29/19: Still no.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Marilyn Peake says

    LOL. A one-word blog entry. Reminds me of your roast suggesting that you could host a one-word query contest. Kind of like flash fiction: Flash Blogging.

  6. Don says

    When I saw the subject header in my RSS feed, I almost had the post written before I clicked on it. Except my version was, “Hell no.”

  7. Anonymous says

    No wonder I’ve been getting so many rejections. Just kidding. I see you already included this question in your FAQs.

  8. Christi says

    It’s my first novel in a series and I’m currently at a word count of 165,000 and expect to wrap it up in another 15,000…

  11. sraasch says

    But– but– it’s unique! There’s never been another novel like it! EVER! And I’m giving YOU the opportunity to represent it! How could you say “No”?!

  12. Anonymous says

    I’ve heard some writers will do this just to get an initial reaction about the storyline. I wouldn’t do it. But I know some who will. If the reaction to the query is good, they continue writing. If it’s bad, they move on to something else.

  17. Anonymous says

    But how will you have time to organize an eight house auction for a gazillion dollars if I don’t send this now?

  18. Vieva says

    All this equivocating is leaving me confused.

    Could you please elaborate upon your answer?

    *flutters eyelashes, runs from projectiles*

  19. Kylie says

    I can’t believe you had to clarify that. I don’t understand why someone would do that. It’s like going to a museum and saying “I’ve never had an painting displayed, but would you like to buy the one I’m planning on painting in a few months?”

  20. Anonymous says

    Anon/Morgan at 1:07 —

    I’ve wondered about this contest. Though everything looks legit it irks me somewhat that a pub has an outside way to find a novel — don’t they have submissions just as good or way better submitted by agents on a daily basis?

    I don’t get it.

  21. RW says

    I wonder if that was one of my students. Just 10 minutes ago one of them emailed to ask “Does the assignment due tonight really have to [meet the criteria described in the assignment]?”
    Yes, really.

  24. Anonymous says

    Danged if I know Anon…I saw the contest on mediabistro and linked it.

    I still do things the old fashioned way, write, query, face the rejections…repeat.

    Morgan

  25. Brian says

    Why not? If you are unpublished what does that have to do with a query? It’s not like the agent wants to read the entire manuscript right then and there.

  28. Rick Daley says

    Evil Editor posted his 3rd Annual Oscar Guess the Plot a few days back. I was lucky enough to be a minion, and some of my fake plots were picked. I particularly liked this one, and it’s almost relevant to this thread:

    THE READER
    Words come to life under the power of The Reader. Kathryn Lloyd has a gift; anything she reads manifests itself in the material world. Unfortunately, her job as a literary agent unleashes havoc on the world as the contents of thousands of horrible queries come to life.

    WORD VERIFICATION: evuls. What a coincidence!

  29. T. Anne says

    Annalee,
    I do this already. I highly recommend this technique to others. Add kissy lips to the outside of envelope and next to your name. Add small hearts to all letters requiring a dot. This helps expedite response time.

    Anon,
    Thanks for the contest info!

  30. Sophie W. says

    Interestingly enough, I’ve known writers who wrote so fast that they could query with a novel about three quarters of the way done, finish the novel, edit and polish it, and then send out any partial or full requests they received.

    They both have agents and their books have sold.

    But I don’t think they told the agents in question that they were querying unfinished novels?

  31. Lars says

    Brian at 1:29…

    If the agent wants to read your manuscript and you, the unpublished (read: of unknown quality) author, do not have one for the agent to read, you are wasting the agent’s time. If you are already published, the agent may be able to use your existing work to decide whether to wait for you to finish the manuscript.

  32. Carley says

    I assume that answer applies for my idea that I may or may not have on alternative fuel in the future too. Darn. šŸ˜‰ Thanks for the smile!

  35. Lupina says

    But my neighbor’s nephew loved the first chapter. And I am hoping you will help me with ideas for the ending.

  36. Anonymous says

    Nathan,

    I certain agent I know (who shall remain nameless) used to refer to the subject of this question as “premature submission”. šŸ˜‰

  38. C.D. Reimer says

    Can you shop around a short story collection when only one story out of two dozen been published elsewhere?

    I know what the short answer is (“no”), and the medium answer (“are you nuts?”), but what’s the long answer?

    Beside “no, are you nuts?” šŸ˜›

  45. Trashy Cowgirl says

    Does this mean that your feelings aren’t hurt over the fact I haven’t queried you with my Cormac McCarthy-meets-curves-and-commas-ms? Phew. I am so relieved, because you know I am just waiting until it’s ready.

  50. Adaora A. says

    Short and sweet! How many times do people have to say it? Unless you’re the biggest thing since sliced bread, a book deal just isn’t going to come that easily.