tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post2822888621149874747..comments2024-02-13T09:38:07.389-05:00Comments on Carrie's Procrastinatory Outlet: Finish the #%$ Book!!Carrie Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-89831826264292665012007-12-25T06:54:00.000-05:002007-12-25T06:54:00.000-05:00Great post! I couldn't agree with you more. At c...Great post! I couldn't agree with you more. <BR/><BR/>At conference (in Dallas)I had one agent and one editor that asked me to pitch my book. I didn't have an appointment but worked in that area on Friday afternoon.<BR/><BR/>I told both of them that the book was not finished and they both (different times) still wanted to hear the pitch. So, of course I pitched.<BR/><BR/>Now the great thing is they both requested to see it. The agent wants the partial and the editor actually asked for a full.<BR/><BR/>Again, I told them but the book is not finished, but I'd love to send it to them once it was completed.<BR/><BR/>Both of them said the same thing. They still wanted to see it but appreciated the fact that I didn't want to send anything until it was complete.<BR/><BR/>I finished the book and am now working on what will be my final edits before sending it out.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully they will still be excited to see the finished product. <BR/><BR/>The thing is, I could never send out something that was not completed out. My biggest fear if it was not completed is not being rejected but being asked for a full and then having to say, oh sorry, not yet done.<BR/><BR/>And your right, I love this book. But until I wrote the end, I wouldn't know if it would be something to polish and send out or something that would end up living with the other four manuscripts under the bed in dust bunny land.<BR/><BR/>Okay, long comment here, sorry about that. :)Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04521384704019863926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-50749429401917379332007-12-24T08:33:00.000-05:002007-12-24T08:33:00.000-05:00I finished a book yesterday! w00t! Yay!Happy Holid...I finished a book yesterday! w00t! Yay!<BR/><BR/>Happy Holidays, Carrie!!!!!Erica Ridleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-54918122925606397262007-12-22T08:54:00.000-05:002007-12-22T08:54:00.000-05:00Yay Karen!!!! That's amazing news, major congrats...Yay Karen!!!! That's amazing news, major congrats! That feeling of finishing your first book is the best! And by querying when you're ready, you take a lot of the stress out of querying (I think)!<BR/><BR/>Happy Holidays!!Carrie Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-55022031753854540852007-12-21T09:36:00.000-05:002007-12-21T09:36:00.000-05:00Great post! I've finally just finished my first no...Great post! I've finally just finished my first novel (I've started others) and it feels so good to have a book that is nearly ready to submit. I know I was tempted to start querying when I was within 10,000 words of the end, but that would've been a disaster! Now I'm editing and polishing over Christmas (and writing the synopsis - *ugh*) ready to query in January.<BR/><BR/>When I'll also start writing the NEXT boook. :)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the great advice and Happy Christmas!Karen Mahoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02358606301398259487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-13200068528241545642007-12-20T19:46:00.000-05:002007-12-20T19:46:00.000-05:00Amen! I did this once(queried and unfinished book)...Amen! I did this once(queried and unfinished book) and the results were not pretty. Excellent advice!Aprilynne Pikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17542901402256938872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-42473754452349106002007-12-20T11:13:00.000-05:002007-12-20T11:13:00.000-05:00Excellent point, Michelle! I think for some it's ...Excellent point, Michelle! I think for some it's easy to get caught up in "I want to be published" you forget that "I want to write" is in there too. <BR/><BR/>Reminds me of last year when I would whine that I *had* to write on any given day. Finally, I had to sit down and say "I like writing, I want to write" and totally change my attitude. <BR/><BR/>Happy Holidays to you too!Carrie Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-34522719758625130332007-12-20T11:05:00.000-05:002007-12-20T11:05:00.000-05:00Oh, and Happy Holidays, Carrie! :-)Oh, and Happy Holidays, Carrie! :-)Michelle Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691058663799662706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-87852414448577729902007-12-20T11:04:00.000-05:002007-12-20T11:04:00.000-05:00Not only should you finish the book that you're qu...Not only should you finish the book that you're querying (especially if it's your first one) but the most important thing is that YOU SHOULD WANT TO FINISH IT. This is obviously the line between those who want to be a writer and those who simply wnat to be published. If you're not willing to put the time and effort into writing a book and polishing it up to a gleam before the agent you've targetted sees it, what does that say about your work ethic? So yes, I am a strong advocate of finishing the book before you start querying. Even after you're published, full manuscripts are so much easier to sell than proposals.Michelle Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691058663799662706noreply@blogger.com