Submitting a short story that is a part of the novel?

I've read that you might get more interest from an agent if a short story version has been published before. I don't know if that's true, but it makes sense.

The only possible problem I see, is if the short story is picked by one publisher, who doesn't want the novel.

And another publisher wants the novel.

send it out.

having a short story out will help your novel.

Send it out and keep working on the novel. I was in a similar situation. I sent the short story to Glimmer Train and it became a finalist, which was a nice addition to my query letter when the novel was done.

I'm no help whatsoever as I have a similar situation, only mine is a drabble that inspired a novel. I don't know that the original short will even be in the novel; it features a minor character, barely alludes to the novel's main character (though the mention of his name is important), and the drabble's ending is a bit different from how I see the novel playing out. The novel's not near finished (this year's NaNo) and I haven't sent the short out anywhere.

My inclination is to treat them as two separate pieces (so it would be ok to sent the short out), but I have nothing to back that up.

If it stands alone as a short story, send it out.

I've got a story coming out in a litmag in a couple of weeks that is also nearly identical to chapter 2 of my WIP. As Jamie pointed out, it always helps to have the credit.

As long as the story stands alone then send it out. If people recieve the story well then it will only help your novel sell.

Babies are funny. Nothing to do with you, just sharing.

Send out the story. Either now or when the novel's done--but I think now would be better. If you wait until you're shopping the novel to send out the short story, someone may pick up the novel first and then you won't be able to sell the short story; but if you sell the short story first, it can help you sell the novel.

Magazines are interested in first publication rights. This isn't what publishers buy when they publish your novel, and they'll like it to see an excerpt of your novel already published. It'll help publicity and give you more credibility with editors that you know what you're doing, because someone's already bought part of your novel. Magazines are the ones that won't buy your story if it's already appeared somewhere; this isn't true of novels. Send out your story now and if it gets printed somewhere, publishers will love to see that someone's like a chapter or so of your novel enough to buy it.

I'm pretty sure about this; I've heard it before. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.