Would you accept an offer from an independent publisher?

righter · Dec 25, 2010

Hi,

Suppose you get an offer from an independent publisher, would you accept it? The thing is, once you do, you can't approach anyone else. So do we just use this opportunity and try to do well so that we can find a better publisher for our second book? Is that how it works?

Warmly,
Righter

Captcha · Dec 25, 2010

Is the independent publisher the best publisher for your book? Generally, if you want a big audience, you want a big publisher. But if you're writing in a niche market, a reputable independent (make sure you check them out) might be as big as you can get. Otherwise, I'd shoot higher, at least at the start.

And how did the offer come about - did you submit to them? If you didn't submit, but they've expressed an interest, I don't think there's a huge time frame issue. If they like your writing that much now, they'll probably still like it in six months or a year, after you've given your book a chance to find an agent and go big. If they get snippy about the delay or act as if it's a now-or-never situation, maybe you need to wonder if they're as professional as you'd like.

On the other hand - if you submitted to them, I think they have a pretty good reason to think that you'd like to publish with them. If you start second-guessing things now, I think they need to wonder if you're as professional as they'd like.

Good luck with it.

Wayne K · Dec 25, 2010

righter said:
Hi,

Suppose you get an offer from an independent publisher, would you accept it? The thing is, once you do, you can't approach anyone else. So do we just use this opportunity and try to do well so that we can find a better publisher for our second book? Is that how it works?

Warmly,
Righter

The bold is the reason you should check them out. Too many people come here after its too late. Make sure they're legit before you sweat anything else.

righter · Dec 25, 2010

Thanks for the replies, guys.

What I mean is: is it possible to use this publisher, create some publicity, sell books, and hope to sell it later on to a big publisher?

Captcha · Dec 25, 2010

The same book? HIGHLY unlikely. Once the first rights are gone, they're gone, and unless you're Stephen King, nobody wants your reprints.

Corinne Duyvis · Dec 25, 2010

Kate_Sherwood said:
The same book? HIGHLY unlikely. Once the first rights are gone, they're gone, and unless you're Stephen King, nobody wants your reprints.

This. Even a book in the same series will be tricky, unless it stands 100% on its own.

If you like the independent publisher and the deal they're offering you, and you don't mind missing out on a big publisher, go right ahead. There are some great indies out there that I'd recommend wholeheartedly... but unless you're writing non-fiction, don't do it for the publishing credits. You don't need any for fiction - really, most agents and editors don't care one bit what you've done before as long as your current work is up to par - and the indie probably won't like being used as a stepping stone.

Also, depending on the indie, you're quite unlikely to gather enough publicity anyway.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 25, 2010

Well, it can happen. Both The Hunt for Red October, by Tom Clancy, and The Firm, by John Grisham, were first published by small, independent publishers, and then acquired by large publishers. It all depends on how well the book sells for the small publisher.

Having said this, I believe in starting at the top and working your way down. This way, the largest publisher that wants your book is the ones that gets it.

But sometimes independent publishers lead to very good things, sometimes for the book they actually publish, and sometimes for the next book you write, if the first ones makes any sort of splash at all.

Corinne Duyvis · Dec 25, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
Well, it can happen. Both The Hunt for Red October, by Tom Clancy, and The Firm, by John Grisham, were first published by small, independent publishers, and then acquired by large publishers. It all depends on how well the book sells for the small publisher.

Oh yeah, it's definitely not impossible - it's just that the odds are very, verrrry slim, so I wouldn't recommend it if the end goal is seeing the book at a major publisher.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 26, 2010

Corinne Duyvis said:
Oh yeah, it's definitely not impossible - it's just that the odds are very, verrrry slim, so I wouldn't recommend it if the end goal is seeing the book at a major publisher.

No, start at the top and work your way down. But once the major publishers have said no, an independent publisher is a heck of a lot better than a desk drawer.

Ken · Dec 26, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
No, start at the top and work your way down. But once the major publishers have said no, an independent publisher is a heck of a lot better than a desk drawer.

... totally agree with the first part. The second may or may not be the way to go. Desk drawers aren't always black holes. If a writer stashes a manuscript away and subsequently sells another book they've written which winds up doing well they may be able to sell the first too. One member here did that. It is possible though that the book may go on gathering dust for an eternity and never see light of day. So neither option is the definitive one.

Anne Lyle · Dec 26, 2010

To me, it would depend on who the independent publisher was. I know some that are very good, who would get my book into shops worldwide and who have a solid marketing strategy in both ebooks and print, so I wouldn't be at all unhappy to go with them for a multi-book deal. The rest, I would definitely wait until I had exhausted other possibilities...

shaldna · Dec 26, 2010

I guess it depends really.

Some independent publishers are amazing, some not so good. It's about finding the best home for your book with a publisher you feel happy with.

As others have said, it's difficult to get a book picked up by another publisher later, but at the same time it's not impossible. And if your second or third or 15th book is a stellar success, then people will look at your back catalogue too.

Marian Perera · Dec 26, 2010

Ken said:
Desk drawers aren't always black holes.

I agree. Often, once I've stashed the book for half a year, I'm able to look at it objectively and evaluate why it didn't sell. Then I have more of a chance of revising it and getting a "yes". Agents' needs and guidelines can change in that half a year as well.

Parametric · Dec 26, 2010

A reputable, advance-paying independent publisher who could get my book into brick-and-mortar bookstores? I'd definitely consider it.

IceCreamEmpress · Dec 26, 2010

Don't take an offer you're not interested in on its own merits. If the publisher can do a good job of publishing your book and getting it to readers, that's what you should be focused on, not some future pie-in-the-sky big deal.

BenPanced · Dec 27, 2010

If you bypass an offer because it's not the Big Thing you were expecting, you could be burned.

shaldna · Dec 27, 2010

BenPanced said:
If you bypass an offer because it's not the Big Thing you were expecting, you could be burned.

This.

For reference, and to put things into perspective a bit - Bloomsbury was a very small publisher that happened to pick up a MS about a boy wizard for a very small advance of just £1,500.

KTC · Dec 27, 2010

My question is why would you submit to the publisher in the first place if you weren't sure that an offer from them is what you were looking for? Did they approach you? That would be highly unlikely. If you submitted to them, you should have considered the question you're asking before doing so.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 27, 2010

shaldna said:
This.

For reference, and to put things into perspective a bit - Bloomsbury was a very small publisher that happened to pick up a MS about a boy wizard for a very small advance of just £1,500.

Yep, another great example, though it's still best to start as large as you possibly can.

shaldna · Dec 27, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
Yep, another great example, though it's still best to start as large as you possibly can.

True.

Writing is one of the few professions where you start at the top and work your way down.

IceCreamEmpress · Dec 27, 2010

shaldna said:
This.

For reference, and to put things into perspective a bit - Bloomsbury was a very small publisher that happened to pick up a MS about a boy wizard for a very small advance of just £1,500.

The thing is that righter shouldn't rely on that, or even be factoring it into the decision. Accept an offer from a small press for what it is; it needs to work on its own merits.

Bloomsbury was a small publisher pre-Harry Potter, but it was a well-thought-of house with excellent production and distribution. Rowling could potentially have gone with other small presses that might not have been able to get her book out into the marketplace as a quality item, but her agents steered her well.

What one wants from a publisher is strong production, distribution, and marketing. Publishers need to be able to get books to a wide audience of readers. Accepting anything less than that is selling your work short, and it doesn't make sense to settle for inadequate publishing with the idea that it might be a stepping stone to working with a better house.

shaldna · Dec 28, 2010

IceCreamEmpress said:
The thing is that righter shouldn't rely on that, or even be factoring it into the decision. Accept an offer from a small press for what it is; it needs to work on its own merits.

Bloomsbury was a small publisher pre-Harry Potter, but it was a well-thought-of house with excellent production and distribution. Rowling could potentially have gone with other small presses that might not have been able to get her book out into the marketplace as a quality item, but her agents steered her well.

What one wants from a publisher is strong production, distribution, and marketing. Publishers need to be able to get books to a wide audience of readers. Accepting anything less than that is selling your work short, and it doesn't make sense to settle for inadequate publishing with the idea that it might be a stepping stone to working with a better house.

Exactly. Just because a press is small does not mean that it is 'bad'. and one with a good plan in place and a good history and an ethos and creative vision that is right for you and your book is important.

righter · Dec 28, 2010

Thanks, everyone. I think the last couple of posts nailed it.

I have some friends willing to promote the book and, with their contacts, they can easily get it to a large number of people. That's why I thought I could settle for a small publisher and let marketing do the rest. That way, the book's success could at least help me land a better deal for my next book.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 28, 2010

righter said:
Thanks, everyone. I think the last couple of posts nailed it.

I have some friends willing to promote the book and, with their contacts, they can easily get it to a large number of people. .

Would that it worked this way. If your book sells enough copies to matter. it'll be because readers love it so much they tell everyone they know about it. It won't be because you have friends with contacts who'll promote it.

Stefan de Freres · Feb 27, 2011

Hmmm. Well I signed up with a very small publisher for a three book deal that I'm very happy with, but then unlike those of you that shoot for pie in the sky my feet are firmly on the ground and accept that anyone's chances of getting in with someone like Pan Mac or Penguin etc. when you're not already among the world's top selling 100 is pretty frigging slim.

The little publisher I'm with now has been working their bums off to help me all they can, and I can't praise them enough, but seeing as most of you seem to think you're going to hit the big time and get accepted you probably wouldn't be interested in knowing the name of this tiny hard working publisher, so I won't name them here as I don't want you wasting your valuable time and big shot energies.

Would you accept an offer from an independent publisher?

righter

Captcha

Wayne K

righter

Captcha

Corinne Duyvis

My New Cat Is Too Big for Shoulders

Jamesaritchie

Corinne Duyvis

My New Cat Is Too Big for Shoulders

Jamesaritchie

Ken

Anne Lyle

Fantastic historian

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Marian Perera

starting over

Parametric

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Jamesaritchie

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

righter

Jamesaritchie

Stefan de Freres