I run a small walking tour company and I have an idea for a non-fiction book about the city I operate the tours in. I have it roughly planned- the themes for each chapter etc. Before I start writing, I wanted to contact agents or publishers about the idea first to ask if they are interested before I started writing. Is it acceptable to do this or would they require the completed book before considering it? Many thanks.
Areas of interest
Thank you both. Well, that has given me some scope to explore further. I am currently planning and starting some fictional work, so I didn't want to stop that for a whole year or more to write the non-fiction one that wouldn't be accepted. Too many irons...
I thought most non-fiction books were commissioned based on a synopsis. The main problem with that is writing to a deadline. But I'd have thought an unpublished writer would need at least a part-volume completed to attract any interest.
The general consensus is that you should have the book written before approaching Publishers as they may not wait around for you to complete the book. However, the rules are there to be broken!