How drastic are we talking? If i were to get picked up by a traditional publisher, would they just tell me what they want the rest of the series to look like and i have to go with it?
How drastic are we talking? If i were to get picked up by a traditional publisher, would they just tell me what they want the rest of the series to look like and i have to go with it?
Now just to see what my other option are. Say the first book is picked up. First off when do they decide they want more to the series? After the first is published? In the process?
Second thing, is a scenario. they want it to be a series. I explain to them the overall plot of it, they dont like it. Can i walk away if the first one is already published? Can i still have that book or is that like there's now?
ETA: after reading HR's post i have another question. Say worst come to worst and they want it to be stand alone. Can i still make it a series on my own?
This would not be ideal. You would have given the publisher the exclusive right to publish your work, so you can't republish it yourself. You could sell the sequels to another publishing house, or self-publish them, but then you can't take advantage of all kinds of marketing tactics. For example, the covers wouldn't match because the original publisher owns the rights to the cover art of the first book. You couldn't bundle the first book with the others in a special promotion. You might not be able to sell all books at the same price or through the same retailers. It would get very complicated because you wouldn't have exclusive rights over the first book.