From an agents perspective, what course would you take when the first of trilogy is a big flop? Assuming that you still have a very high confidence level in the novels, and have them all plotted and many chapter worked out in your head.
1.) Give up entirely, start over on a new work, figuring that any flaw in the 1st will be carried over to the second.
2.) Write the 2nd novel as a stand alone and submit. Maybe you can talk any agents that liked it into taking a look at the first?
3.) Finish the trilogy and publish as an ebook, figuring you 1st three novels are cannon fodder anyway, so why not learn, get them out of your system, and move on.
Would it annoy an agent to receive a novel that read well as a stand alone, and then find there was an earlier novel?
1.) Give up entirely, start over on a new work, figuring that any flaw in the 1st will be carried over to the second.
2.) Write the 2nd novel as a stand alone and submit. Maybe you can talk any agents that liked it into taking a look at the first?
3.) Finish the trilogy and publish as an ebook, figuring you 1st three novels are cannon fodder anyway, so why not learn, get them out of your system, and move on.
Would it annoy an agent to receive a novel that read well as a stand alone, and then find there was an earlier novel?