Query Question

[Zero Angel]

If you are going the route of simultaneous publishing and you don't have any spectacular numbers to share with your self-publishing efforts, then would you recommend saying something like, "Please read the free sample available on Kindle..." ?


As opposed to where a successful self-published might be able to say "As you can see on Amazon, my sales rank is spectacular with an all-time high of blah blah blah and total sales numbering in the CRAP I AM TOTALLY ENVIOUS OF, etc"

 

[JCFarnham]

Not sure if I'm understanding correctly, but I would suggest against getting a publisher to expend their precious time on something they don't have to do.

The "read my sample on kindle" thing is a route that I don't imagine many publishers will be willing to go straight off the blocks. Maybe after they've invested themselves in you, but certainly not before. It feels to me suspiciously like giving them an excuse to put you back on the pile, and easy out as it were.

 

[Devor]

They only want to see what they've asked you to send them. They're not going to look and will probably find "see my sample on Amazon" to be annoying.

That said, "I have samples available on Amazon" might be worth mentioning, depending on what else you have to talk about.

 

[Telcontar]

In a query to an agent or publisher, never ask them to go to a link, find something themselves, do a google search, visit your website, download a free sample, etc etc etc.

In other words, never ask them to do any work beyond reading the query you sent them. They won't.

 

[Zero Angel]

Let me rephrase, how would you word saying that you've already attempted self-publishing when you haven't been successful at it. I already have some ideas, but I am curious what the experiences and thoughts of others are.

 

[Penpilot]

I'm speculating so somebody tell me to STFU if I'm totally off base. If the book you're submitting isn't the book you self-published, there's no reason to mention it in the initial contact with an agent/publisher for your new book. You're just giving them a reason to toss your submission aside, fairly or unfairly. If they like your new book and are willing to purchase it, I'd say most won't care about your earlier efforts unless it affects them directly. I mean do they care if you published slash fanfic on some random website under a pen name? To me it's the same.

 

[Steerpike]

I agree with the advice above that says not to give them a link to another site. If the book you are trying to sell is a different, then as Penpilot says I wouldn't mention it unless you have had a great success with it.

If it is the same book that is self-published, mention it and then follow the guidelines of the editor or agent. If they want a sample with the query, then provide it to the directly and not by way of a link.

 

[Zero Angel]

I was referring specifically to simultaneous publishing (where you self-publish at the same time as seeking a traditional publisher).

I'm not simultaneous publishing at the moment, but I was curious about the topic.

 

[Devor]

I was referring specifically to simultaneous publishing (where you self-publish at the same time as seeking a traditional publisher)./QUOTE]

If it's the same book, you have to mention it, and they may or may not be happy. In my opinion, "failed" at self-publishing is a big negative as it means you've given away first publishing rights without bringing an audience. In my opinion, you'd be better off taking it down, revising it significantly, and saying that although previous versions of the work had been available for a while, after significant revisions, you've decided that it was worth pursuing traditional publishing routes.