Did I screw up?

[Marlowe]

So, as you can see from the link, I've got this online horror novel thing going. I sort of started it on a lark- I grew up on horror novels but whenever I tried to write them, the results were mixed, so I switched over to just straight fiction and did a little better. But then a friend said something a couple months ago that hit me just the right (write?) way, and I put my current project on hold and started a new one. Like I said, it was a lark, but then it clicked; I mean, I hit on something I wasn't expecting, and it worked well, and by posting it online, I got the support I needed to believe that my good feelings were justified.

When I get into something, I go whole hog, so I immediately thought how I should market what I have. Now, despite my level of procine commitment, I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack, and when another friend (who's way smart) said I should look for an agent, that's what I did- only, I did it without having the novel finished.

I sent twenty or thirty query letters, got mostly negative responses, but then there was an e-mail from Trident Media Group saying they'd like to see the book. Awesomeness, right? Only, again, the sonof ain't quite done yet. I have a weekend of soul-searching, ask everyone for advice, then I get to a solid stopping point, polish it up, and including a cover letter explaining the situation, an estimate on when it would be finished and a synopsis for the rest of the book (a synopsis which is probably not one hundred percent accurate, but I reasoned that it was better to let him know I at least have a basic idea where I'm going), I mailed the sucker off.

Two days later, I realized I'd forgotten the release form they asked me to include, so I paid twenty bucks to mail that off too.

The novel is getting closer to completion- I should have the first draft done in a couple weeks, and while maybe I'm being optimistic here, but it's fairly clean copy, so the editing shouldn't take more than another two weeks, possibly three. I'm still feeling good about it, still getting positive response, and I have an idea that I could actually sell this.

So, did I screw up by quering too early? I realize it's not the end of the world even if they do turn me down, but, well, I'm sort of on edge right now, and I wanted to ask some folks with more experience. My biggest justification for contacting agents before I was done (which I've never done before) is that I thought maybe something could be done with the online version to make the book more attractive to publishers; I was also concerned that I might be shooting myself in the foot by making freely available to the public.

The publicity idea seems hopelessly naive to me now, but there you go. I appreciate any encouragement/advice you can provide.

[ChaosTitan]

Two questions.

Is the book you queried the same book you are giving away free on the website? If yes, did you tell Trident that?

Did your query letter say that the novel was complete, or a WIP? Or did it make no mention of its status whatsoever?

[Marlowe]

Two questions.

Is the book you queried the same book you are giving away free on the website? If yes, did you tell Trident that?

Yes and yes- it was part of every query letter I sent out, cause I was silly enough to think that might make it more saleable.

Did your query letter say that the novel was complete, or a WIP? Or did it make no mention of its status whatsoever?

I made no mention of the status- I said I was "publishing it online in serial format," and that's it.

[ChaosTitan]

Well, I'm no expert, but if you were upfront with Trident in the queries about the project, I'd say you didn't screw up. It sounds like they know what they are requesting.

My only "however" is that unless you stated otherwise in the query, they may assume the project is finished. I suppose you won't know until they respond.

Good luck, though.

[Marlowe]

Thank you.

I guess my only hope is that what I sent them is strong enough to get them interested...

[James D. Macdonald]

In the last analysis, only the words on the page count. Best of luck to you.

[ctheokas]

The only issue that I think you may have is if a publisher picks it up. It would be a rights issue, since they may count the posting of the novel on your site as a first publication. That could change how much money they give you. They'll probably also ask you to take it down.

[James D. Macdonald]

Or, they may not. For example, Cory Doctorow had his own electronic version of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom up on his website simultaneously with its hard/soft release.

[Marlowe]

The way I'm looking at it right now, the online version is my way of workshopping a rough draft, and helping myself get through some problems I've had in the past with this sort of storytelling. I can berate myself for putting it up, but I can gaurantee I wouldn't have been able to finish it if I hadn't. Sort of a Catch 22, but one that doesn't entirely suck.

[MidnightMuse]

I was always under the impression that if you'd let the "world" see it, you'd basically committed literary sepuku.

I've been wrong before, once, I think, back in '82. I could be due.

[Marlowe]

Maybe I should take it down once the draft is done- give the people who've stuck with it a chance to read to the end, and then remove it so its no longer as much of a concern.

Ah well. It's nearly finished, anyway.

[ctheokas]

Or, they may not. For example, Cory Doctorow had his own electronic version of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom up on his website simultaneously with its hard/soft release.

My only argument against this would be that C.D. has published a couple of books, and that they might try to strong arm a first timer. But if it's been done once, then you could argue precendent. And if you're persuasive enough, you might just pull it off.

[Marlowe]

Well, that's super.

[sassandgroove]

RE: the novel online. From what I understand, it is not finished yet, so what is posted is not what will be published, since you will likely revise it, etc, b/f publication. I don't know if that matters, but there you go.