First World Publication Rights Concern

[adriandiglio]

Hey all,

I know most traditional publishers want "First World Publication Rights" for your novel if they sign you (meaning, it can't have been published anywhere before).

Well, I am gearing up to self-publish my short story which is a prelude to my unpublished novel, and I am thinking about adding my Prologue at the end of the self-pubbed short story as a way to generate hype for my novel... but would that violate the "First World Publication Rights" for my novel? Should I just stay away from that? Or am I being too paranoid?

Thanks!

 

[Devor]

First, I wouldn't include the prologue. I'd skip the first couple of chapters and find, like, chapter 3 or 4 or 5. Make them curious about what you're doing, and don't give away your "hook" before they have the book in their hands.

One chapter shouldn't be a concern with publishers. Certainly not with any but the biggest ones, but I greatly doubt it's even a concern with those. More likely they'll be happy to see the hype.