Selling excerpts in advance of publication?

lostlore · Nov 28, 2007

I'm in a position now where I have a large completed work of literary fiction that happens to be very amenable to excerpting from -- there are many excerpts that stand on their own as short stories.

I don't yet have representation for this work, and while I have many non-fiction credits to my name, it will be my first novel. However, this is the work that I'm cut out for, it's the only work that truly satisfies. I am done with non-fiction forever and intend to build a career as a writer of fiction -- I'm working on a new book right now.

Is it advisable to sell some or many of these excerpts, with the intention of building fiction credits, attracting agents, and promoting the larger work that they're extracted from? Are there any pitfalls to doing this right now, before I have an agent for the work?

JoNightshade · Nov 28, 2007

If you can sell excerpts (to magazines, I assume you are talking about), go for it. This will help you get an agent in the future and should not cause any problems as long as the publication is your typical first-north-american-serial-rights or whatever it usually is.

Maryn · Nov 28, 2007

I agree that selling excerpts can only help you. FWIW, many of Lawrence Block's short stories later became chapters of his novels, and a section of Shirley Jackson's "Life Among the Savages" appeared as a short story first, too.

Maryn, who will now return to painting (sigh...)

KTC · Nov 28, 2007

It wouldn't hurt. It's been done before.

maestrowork · Nov 28, 2007

Yup, go for it. Many lit mags will take excerpts if they are standalone. Chuck Palahnuik's Fight Club started out as a short fiction, then it was made into a novel (the short story became chapter 6).

allenparker · Nov 29, 2007

I'm guessing, but

... wouldn't selling part of the manuscript make the novel NOT first rights?

swvaughn · Nov 29, 2007

I've heard it's okay, and even good, to sell excerpts of a novel to reputable mags, because then you can prove to agents and/or editors that other people who are not related to you and don't owe you money are willing to give you money and/or recognition for your writing.

Then again, you really shouldn't take my word for anything. I couldn't even sell a flamethrower to an Eskimo...

Bufty · Nov 29, 2007

Just wondering - What the heck would an Eskimo want with a flamethrower? That's his house insurance premium gone for a start! :snoopy:

swvaughn said:
Then again, you really shouldn't take my word for anything. I couldn't even sell a flamethrower to an Eskimo...

swvaughn · Nov 29, 2007

Bufty said:
Just wondering - What the heck would an Eskimo want with a flamethrower? That's his house insurance premium gone for a start!

LOL Yeah, but it's great for toasting marshmallows on those cold nights.

FennelGiraffe · Nov 29, 2007

Wouldn't there be a potential problem that an editor looking at the full manuscript might want significant changes which would differ from the published excerpts?

lostlore · Nov 30, 2007

FennelGiraffe said:
Wouldn't there be a potential problem that an editor looking at the full manuscript might want significant changes which would differ from the published excerpts?

That happens a lot, and to my eyes it'd actually be a plus---that would make the magazine containing the excerpt a collectible, since it would be an alternate version.

My whole concern is whether there's any danger in overdoing it, since I've been able to excerpt so many stories from the manuscript---what if I sell not just one or two stories to reputable mags, but a half-dozen or even more?

maestrowork · Nov 30, 2007

allenparker said:
... wouldn't selling part of the manuscript make the novel NOT first rights?

Not really. Different rights. You are basically selling first rights to the "short story" and not the full novel.

Selling excerpts in advance of publication?

lostlore

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Maryn

I Tried

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

allenparker

Naked Futon Guy

swvaughn

adrift

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

swvaughn

adrift

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

lostlore

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray