Timeframe after Query

[jnjfredrick77]

Greetings,

I'm a total newbie, so please bear with.

Got bored after the elections and started sending out queries for my (unwritten) non-fiction personal travel essay book.  got a reply within hours of "go ahead and send 3 chapters and an outline. 

but...   yikes--have no idea how long I have to write it and send it.  A week? A month? Fortunately, I have the sample chapters, but have never done an outline.
Any help appreciated!

Jules

[eallen99]

Jules,
Welcome aboard and I gave you your first karma.

To your credit you must have one heck of a great query letter to get a partial request so fast.  When the agent asks that fast, they are interested NOW. Certainly you don't want to blaze through your first three chapters and outline, but get the requested material out asap.


I can't figure out why you used your boredom to start sending out queries rather than to start writing your book

[MaryL]

Non-fiction personal travel essay. Cool.  Have you finished the proposal or have you defined your platform clearly?  Sometimes it's not necessary to completely finish a NF work (in some cases it is preferable that you not finish it), but sounds like you were caught with your pants down on this one.  I'm with 99--finish the first three and an outline and fire it out quickly.  Waiting is not to your advantage.  Stop sending queries until you are ready.  And congrats on the partial request.  Good luck with your project.

[jnjfredrick77]

HMMMMM---
i have always been told, at both writing conferences and clases, that a piece of non-fiction is understood not to be a finished piece yet.
oh, well, i have the chapters and will kick out my outline asap.
thanks

[ElanaJ]

HMMMMM---
i have always been told, at both writing conferences and clases, that a piece of non-fiction is understood not to be a finished piece yet.
oh, well, i have the chapters and will kick out my outline asap.
thanks

I don't even write NF, and I've heard that too. It sounds like your query/proposal/platform is defined enough to warrant a request. The only thing you need is the outline, right? Doesn't sound like you're too far away from having what was requested. I agree with maryl, sounds cool. I also agree that it should be sent as soon as possible, but I don't think this is freak-worthy. It's not like the agent is going "Where is that NF personal travel essay?? Freak, I have nothing else to do!" 

Good luck! 

[jnjfredrick77]

Thanks for the support. I pinged the agency last night and told them I was tweaking it, and they said, and I quote, "no rush, just make it right". 

Big sigh of relief, now I believe I can put more thoughtful detail into it. Will still get it out next week, tho.

Cheers.

[MaryL]

Well done!