I once asked for a manuscript from an author after reading her adorable partial. (It was lighthearted paranormal romance, so cute.) She confessed she hadn't finished it, although she said she had in her letter AND when I met her at a conference. I saw red, explained to her why that was a very, very bad idea, and asked when she might be finished. She said a month or two at most. Never heard from her again. If I had given her a contract based on that partial, I most likely would have been screwed.

But non-fic is different for reasons unknown to me. Vampire People was sold with the proposal, and then I was given x months to finish it by the editor.

Sometimes it's different, Allyson. Not always. And the market is really tight right now.

And MM, you can give it a shot either way. But I wouldn't be surprised to hear that you need a completed manuscript, is all I'm saying.

Yes, the market is making me queasy right now.

I wish some publishers would come out and be uber frank about what they're willing to buy in this market.

They just know it when they see it. And by that I do mean porn.

Interesting. Several agents told me that would have been interested in my proposal if the manuscript had not already been finished. Maybe an excuse.

Is it foolish to write a novel in the present tense?

Not at all. Not anymore, anyway.

I just read somewhere about someone selling a second person present novel. "You walk to the car and find a milkjug...."

It sounded odd but interesting.