Beginner question on proposal submission

[hraaja]

I have another beginner's question on submission of a proposal. Briefly for background, I submitted my query letter to an agent with Trident Media Group in New York City. I had been under the impression from the research I had done that answers to queries generally took 3-6 weeks. I had planned to use the interim to finalize a complete book proposal, which is in draft form. Up until this stage I had focused my efforts on writing the manuscript, which is about 90% complete for a first draft. To my surprise, I received a very interested response from TMG within the hour asking for a full proposal. I want to be very responsive and optimize my chances, but will not have time to complete the full proposal at an acceptable standard of professionalism for a few days (full-time job getting in the way here). Do I send an interim response to the agent at TMG giving a date on which the proposal will be sent? Do I wait until the proposal is done and then send it in? Simple little thing, but for one very new to this game a very vexing question. Thanks in advance for your responses.

[aka eraser]

I vote for responding soon, thanking them for their interest and giving them a date when they can expect the proposal. And I'd make it as soon as it can reasonably be done. Don't fret if that's a couple or three weeks though. Agents have enough other goodies to keep them busy.

Congrats on whetting their interest and good luck the rest of the way.

[maestrowork]

I concur. You want to respond quickly but you don't have to commit to the proposal RIGHT NOW. Prompt response is the way to do business.

[hraaja]

Thanks for the responses. I followed your suggestions and gave them a date on which they can expect to see the proposal. The agent responded with a brief note expressing his thanks for the update and that he is looking forward to the proposal. Again, a simple little beginner problem, so I appreciate the advice.

[Marjorie]

You mentioned that you have been working on the manuscript and it's about 90% complete. For both nonfiction books I've had published, I sold them through my agent based on the proposal only. The company preferred to edit my manuscript as I wrote it, first a third, then two thirds, and final manuscript, paying the advance in three blocks. Marge