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Approach publishers after self-publish release
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I've been on both sides of the spectrum. Traditional published under my maiden name when I was 15 through to early to mid-twenties. Self-published/Indie I've found to be better, even though it's a lot of work involved. But, there are at least a few traditional published companies like Sourcebooks who will accept self-published authors.
I think once you have have a few well-paying indie books under your belt, publishers are more apt to consider you.
Oh this is a great question and I've often wondered what the responses would be. The Martian was originally a self published book as well. So it's definitely possible, but I think you have to have really strong reviews, strong sales, or simply find a traditional publisher that really sees something in your story.
You don't have to have a few well paid indie books under your belt. Sourcebooks has a submission program on Wattpad and they are looking for new and indie published authors. But, your latest submission to them has to be unpublished so they can have first crack at it. You have to put your completed story on Wattpad and #submit2sourcebooks. They have certain guidelines for the type of genres they are looking for but, other than that you being self-published or otherwise (i.e. having a few well paid indie books) is not something they will hold against you. It's stipulated in their rules and I've asked them directly since I'm one of the ones entering their program. Also and this is just on Wattpad once you enter your story. It is a popularity contest on how many reads, votes and comments you get on Wattpad for them to consider your book. But, they stipulate in their rules they will look at all submissions. Here is the link:https://www.wattpad.com/story/4551995...
It doesn't hurt to shopping it around to a few traditional publishers or even a few small presses or small presses that your fellow author friends may be part of. The only thing is to not give your hopes up and keep an open mind.
Still Alice was self-published at first too... if I'm not mistaken.
I just keep putting my books out there. Just keep doing that and don't let anyone deter you. That's one way of getting noticed. Self-published or otherwise. Even if I don't get published back into the traditional world. I'll still be happy to get my books out there. Like I said, I find indie is better for me. But, just like Justin said it's ok to shop around.
When Straight Outta Compton was snubbed by the Oscars, producer, Ice Cube, said in a Flipboard article, "We don't do movies for the industry. We do movies for the people." My question, when are writers going to write books, real works, for the people and not consume themselves with being excepted by a Big Five publisher? I've done it, too, but is that route truly the Holy grail? Are writers insecure like the kid who needs the pretty girl or gorgeous guy to smile at them to feel excepted, to feel worthy? We are artists. Before novels, I wrote and still write screenplays. The game is no different. Either studios and producers want you and your work or they don't. And when they don't, do what Spike Lee and other independent film makers have done, make your name on your talent. Make your name on your terms. At the end of the day, it's up to God anyway...
C. Erskine wrote: "When Straight Outta Compton was snubbed by the Oscars, producer, Ice Cube, said in a Flipboard article, "We don't do movies for the industry. We do movies for the people." My question, when are wri..."I believe many people write for many reasons. To get the story out, to help people, to entertain or to make money, all good reasons I'm sure.
I mostly wonder about such publishers, because I barely have time to spend on promotion and marketing of the book. Being backed by a publisher would take away that pressure...at least I assume :)
A.J. wrote: "So, I'm currently doing an official editing round after receiving positive feedback on my story value. My intend was to put the book up for POD as well after I get through this editing round, and p..."I think the publishers look for previously unpublished books or those which showed strong sales of few K as self-publsihed. Anything else doesn't make sense to them, in my opinion...
Choose your path and stick with that for the moment, be it indie or traditional. But don't waver, just write and keep writing. Indie is more work, but there's a reason (apart from the ease of access to readers) that many writers are taking this route. Good luck!
Once indie, always indie!!Being indie is not a stepping stone to someplace else - being indie is the real deal.
Just my view
Alp
I wouldn't say that indie is not a stepping stone to someplace else. Yes, being indie is a lot of work. I love being indie but, being indie has led me into other avenues such as getting my innovative business ideas out there that otherwise wouldn't get noticed if I weren't indie. I want being an indie to lead someplace otherwise its a futile point. I write books that are otherwise not accepted in the mainstream, because of my writing style, etc. My goal is to leave a legacy for my eight year old son so he can have a foundation to build upon, that entails money, prestige, etc.
But, there are a lot of indie authors out there who have become hybrids both indie and traditional. They've become very successful at it. Do what works for you.
That's what indie means to me doing what the hell you want to do your way and not caring what the naysayers say. I've always been independent ( a lone wolf) but, it doesn't hurt to have a pack following behind you. It's called networking. I learned that the hard way in my 25 years of being in this business.
I'm not gonna lie, I've often daydreamed of someone affiliated with a traditional publisher finding my work, falling in love with it, and said publisher eventually offering me a multi-book deal with a healthy advance.But how likely is that?
Ultimately, being an indie author gives me creative freedom I don't think I'd have otherwise. I can write the stories I want the way I want, without worrying about how "oh, readers won't like XYZ" or "readers don't respond well to ABC." I might never be a bestseller, but the people who do buy my work will get the story I meant to tell, nothing less.
And I'm okay with that.
This thread reminds me of a document I downloaded from Bookbaby called the Hybrid Author Gameplan. They give interesting advice for authors who want to take the indie route, the traditional route, or the "hybrid" route and do both. You have to sign up for their email list before they send you the document, but I end up reading and taking notes on most of what they send me. It's usually quite informational or motivational. Here's a link:
http://blog.bookbaby.com/2015/04/hybr...
E.J. wrote: "J.D. wrote: "I might never be a bestseller, but the people who do buy my work will get the story I meant to tell, nothing less.And I'm okay with that."
Me, too. It really boils down to what your..."
I know what you mean. But, the joy of the "movie/serie" fantasy will be heavily influenced by the quality of the moving pictures. ;) (Legend of the Seeker anyone? Ugh!)
A.J. wrote: "I mostly wonder about such publishers, because I barely have time to spend on promotion and marketing of the book. Being backed by a publisher would take away that pressure...at least I assume :) "There's some good perspectives on this elsewhere on SIA, that cover a variety of viewpoints. The bottom line is that it all depends on the book, and on the genre. For some types of fiction, going with a publishing house can be beneficial. In other cases, it won't be.
One point is that for genre fiction these days, publishers tend not to expend marketing effort on new authors. The authors are expected to do that. So in many cases, the book will in fact have no backing behind it and the pressure can be more intense, because the publisher will impose their own deadline for success. If the book fails to meet the goals they set, they are free to kill it.
This is the main thing to watch out for when dealing with publishing houses. Your first book is fantasy, and fantasy is one of the harder markets for indies to succeed in. But (or so I've been told by other authors) it is also one of the least favorable genres for authors in dealing with traditional publishers, in terms of the contracts offered.
Concentrating on completing your second book is never a bad idea. A first book almost never gains traction, nor do you actually want it too. "Nothing sells your first book like your second book."
Hmmm, well spoken points. Thanks for that.
One simple thing that will yield some insight into this question is to go to Amazon and check out the Top 100 list in the major subgenre in which your book falls (the first subgenre under Fantasy, for example). Check how many of the books are by indie authors and check how the overall rating falls off. See how many books the authors represented have out and who the publishers are (if they aren't indie). Check both print and Kindle. That will provide a decent snapshot if who succeeds commercially and what path they took, as well as how many books it took to get there.
My editor posed the question if I would be shopping the book to the traditional publishers. Of course I would have no problems throwing it out there to them to see if they are interested, but I pretty much figured that once you self-publish a (e)book, the traditional publishers are not really interested anymore to take it up.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it worth the effort to shop around? A lot of energy already goes into editing, formatting and self-publishing. It might be better to direct the remainder of my time purely on completing the second book in the series, than to divert even more time to start the daunting communication efforts to traditional publishers.
Opinions are much appreciated.
- A.J.