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

[Gray Rose]

Hi, I know there was a recent discussion of a similar issue, but I am hoping for an insight on my specific situation.

A couple of months ago I wrote a fantasy short story that my readers loved. Instead of sending it out I started to write a novel in this world. The novel is comprised of 5 first-person POVs, of which the short story POV is number three (i.e. mid-book). I know that some people publish short stories that come out of their books, but I wanted to see how the short story fits into my novel first, before making a decision.

I've just finished reworking the short story into a novel POV. There aren't a lot of changes to the basic story, even though I have added a bit. (Story is 6K; POV is 9K).

What is your advice? Should I submit it now? Wait until the book is done and submit then? Don't submit it ever since it appears more or less intact in the book?

Many thanks,
Rose

[WendyNYC]

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.

[tallus83]

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.

[musilian]

send it out.

having a short story out will help your novel.

[Gray Rose]

Thanks for your responses! I'd like to get a bit more votes / opinions on this one, please; only gotten five so far. Thanks for helping an indecisive and clueless new writer :)

[JamieFord]

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.

[AnnieColleen]

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.

[mikeland]

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.

[The_Grand_Duchess]

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.

[kuwisdelu]

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.