A reader writes:
I haven’t yet put my [Publish-on-Demand] novel up, and I was wondering about agents. I’m sending out query letters (yes, I’ve read what you have to say about those). Will having this novel out there in POD form damage my ability to get an agent? I’m not sure the current attitudes towards these publishing outlets. For so long there has been a stigma against vanity presses and I don’t want that kind of reaction. But I also want to be someone who is . . . well, I don’t know the word exactly, but waiting around for the magic of an agent seems inadequate these days.
First, I will answer with Photoshop:
[Thanks to daneilmmfx for the raw image. Click this link to visit his site and make your own Hollywood sign with proper font.]
Second, with words:
As I can’t tell from your question if you’re worried that your POD novel will sour your chances for getting an agent for the POD novel, or for other projects, I’ll answer both.
It’s very, very, very rare that a self-published book gets picked up by a mainstream publisher, but it does happen. Christopher Paolini’s ERAGON is a famous example. (Want some old news? Here’s the 2003 Seattle PI story on Paolini’s deal.) But it’s not like ICM has a department devoted to finding the next POD-to-traditional hit. Most will politely decline.
As for future project interference, I think it all depends on how you play it.
You will lose points by saying this to an agent:
“I self-published PINEAPPLES ARE PICKED SOUR: The Fleecing of the American Hospitality Customer because ignorant, hot-shot cretins like you were blind to my genius.”
You will score points by saying this to an agent:
“I self-published PINEAPPLES ARE PICKED SOUR: The Fleecing of the American Hospitality Customer because I thought it was an opportunity to explore a niche market and gain experience promoting my work. I hope to apply what I learned from PAPS to my mainstream book experience.”
The real question here is whether or not you’re willing to do all the things you’ll need to do to make that POD novel worth your while. Check out the Self-Publishing Review and other sites that offer a similarly realistic view of the POD experience.
Final thought: Sometimes that novel that you can’t sell is the novel you can’t sell as your first novel. Lots of authors end up publishing out of sequence due to timing, subject matter, audience robusticity, etc.
I saw this recently: “I have a novel published by [small reputable independent publisher] and another by Publish America.”
It made it sound like the author didn’t know the difference, or worse, that he thought I wouldn’t.
I’m an editor. I’m a writer. It’s my job to know the players in my industry. Strike one against the story before I even opened the doc.
Thank you Dennis for writing about this and finding the links. I know I don’t want to drive around with books in my car–not my personality and my son would object to that much time in his carseat.
But at least POD seemed slightly better that other methods because it wouldn’t end with 500 paperweights crowding my apartment. Knowing how to use current technology and trends to the best of one’s advantage (in an awesome way) is difficult–am I missing an opportunity or being taken?
I’ve decided to go the traditional way for what it is worth. Though if traditional queries don’t work and alternative publication doesn’t work, I’m a bit at a loss. Of course, maybe I wrote the wrong book.
Thank you again. You’re awesome.