*imagine a phone call between writer and agent (it's imaginary, so said phone call can happen)*
Writer: Here is my book. Help me find a publisher.
*Agent picks up bound book with cover and the HH imprint logo on the side.*
Agent: This book has been published already.
Writer: I know. I published it so I could get an agent and get it published, so...
Agent: But this book has been published already. There's an ISBN on it.
Writer: That came with the cover, makes it look official doesn't it?
Agent: It is official. It's been published.
Writer: Just imagine how it will look once it's been sold to a publisher and...
Agent: But it's already published. Why would a publisher buy something that's already published?
Writer: I published it to get a bound copy so I could show the publishers how it would look published.
Agent: I can't sell something that's already been published as a new book.
Writer (getting angry): Just do your job! I published that so I could get an agent to sell it to a publisher! You're an agent, so sell it!
Agent: There's nothing to sell, first rights are gone.
Writer: No they're not! I published it, so those rights are mine!
Agent: .....
*Hangs up phone*
*Author buys another copy of her book to send to another agent who hopefully knows more about how publishing works than the first one and will sell her published book to a publisher*
(Add to this that the author would be assuming the book would go to press as-is without editing or alteration of any kind, and that the title would stay the same, and that the cover... *head asplodes*)
Writer: Here is my book. Help me find a publisher.
*Agent picks up bound book with cover and the HH imprint logo on the side.*
Agent: This book has been published already.
Writer: I know. I published it so I could get an agent and get it published, so...
Agent: But this book has been published already. There's an ISBN on it.
Writer: That came with the cover, makes it look official doesn't it?
Agent: It is official. It's been published.
Writer: Just imagine how it will look once it's been sold to a publisher and...
Agent: But it's already published. Why would a publisher buy something that's already published?
Writer: I published it to get a bound copy so I could show the publishers how it would look published.
Agent: I can't sell something that's already been published as a new book.
Writer (getting angry): Just do your job! I published that so I could get an agent to sell it to a publisher! You're an agent, so sell it!
Agent: There's nothing to sell, first rights are gone.
Writer: No they're not! I published it, so those rights are mine!
Agent: .....
*Hangs up phone*
*Author buys another copy of her book to send to another agent who hopefully knows more about how publishing works than the first one and will sell her published book to a publisher*
(Add to this that the author would be assuming the book would go to press as-is without editing or alteration of any kind, and that the title would stay the same, and that the cover... *head asplodes*)