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- Feb 13, 2005
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Last year, I thought about writing a book about how to buy an old car, and after asking around, I was encouraged to do it. So, I wrote a proposal and outline and roughed out a couple of chapters. I also researched the market and didn't see any other book like the one I wanted to write. Cool! There was a niche. I verbally pitched the idea to one publisher, they liked it, but eventually, nothing came of it. Meanwhile, I was finishing the rewrites of my novel and querying it, and doing other stuff.
Then last month I wrote a new query for the car book and started querying it. I did another google search and discovered that somehow I had missed the one "competing" title that belonged in the proposal. Specifically, this book is exactly what I propose to write. It was published by Haynes (automotive book publisher) in 2006. It's written by an expert, too.
So now I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time with this project, because currently I am rewriting and revising my sample chapters.
Thing is, I don't think this other book's in print. It's not listed on Haynes website, amazon is out of stock ("available from these sellers") and it's not an easy title to find just by googling the subject. It's also written from one guy's perspective.
So, the one big competing title is likely out of print and unavailable. This suggests that it didn't sell enough and therefore Haynes discontinued it. Which possibly means there isn't a big enough market for it.
OTOH, it means there's less competition for a book like mine to be published today.
I've altered the proposal to show that the existing book is written from one guy's perspective. My title is different because mine will include a variety of perspectives because I plan to interview a lot of different experts and hobbyists, whose opinions will help shape the book. That's one key reason why I think my book will be different than the already published book on the subject. But, as I said, it's unavailable.
Thoughts? Is the fact that the competing book being out of print an issue? Is that a bad thing or good thing? Should I continue to query or not worry about it so much?
Then last month I wrote a new query for the car book and started querying it. I did another google search and discovered that somehow I had missed the one "competing" title that belonged in the proposal. Specifically, this book is exactly what I propose to write. It was published by Haynes (automotive book publisher) in 2006. It's written by an expert, too.
So now I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time with this project, because currently I am rewriting and revising my sample chapters.
Thing is, I don't think this other book's in print. It's not listed on Haynes website, amazon is out of stock ("available from these sellers") and it's not an easy title to find just by googling the subject. It's also written from one guy's perspective.
So, the one big competing title is likely out of print and unavailable. This suggests that it didn't sell enough and therefore Haynes discontinued it. Which possibly means there isn't a big enough market for it.
OTOH, it means there's less competition for a book like mine to be published today.
I've altered the proposal to show that the existing book is written from one guy's perspective. My title is different because mine will include a variety of perspectives because I plan to interview a lot of different experts and hobbyists, whose opinions will help shape the book. That's one key reason why I think my book will be different than the already published book on the subject. But, as I said, it's unavailable.
Thoughts? Is the fact that the competing book being out of print an issue? Is that a bad thing or good thing? Should I continue to query or not worry about it so much?