manuscript new versions and First Publishing Rights?

Question

If you self-publish a version of a book, and then edit it, can you still traditionally publish it offering First Publishing Rights? Essentially I am asking if a partly re-writen draft is it considered a new book? (practically i am asking if you can e-publish your book to test the waters, while continuing editing and improving it, awaiting responses from the "ice-age slow" traditional publishers)Even if the version sent to the publisher is similar, the additional re-writing that is often required by the editor should still further change the “new” book from its original self-published “draft” to the final print version.So, is a re-written or strongly edited work an original one?

Answer 1

Speaking/writing as a self-published author two times over and counting, you can virtually self-publish any piece of writing of yours that you choose--especially if you use Amazon's self-publishing Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) network. Once you click the 'Publish' tab, then you do virtually own the rights to your newly self-published work from that point forward. You even get to choose the online sales price for your written work, and you can change it any time if you desire!

Also, you can "unpublish" (the name of the given tab on Amazon's KDP) your self-published work at any time you please. If you do find a traditional publisher who has taken interest in the edited draft of your self-published written work, then you can/should immediately unpublish your self-published book so that the traditional publisher can walk you through the steps of traditional book publishing and in turn secure the rights to your newly-traditionally-published book. (My first book was published traditionally, so I have gone through those steps myself as well.)

One word of advice: when reaching out to traditional publishers, do not tell them that you have previously self-published an earlier draft of the same written work you are presenting to them for publication on their end. If they see or learn that you had previously self-published the written work you are presenting to them, they may turn down your offer.

I hope this helps. Good luck with the publication process, and allow me to give you an early welcome to the world of authorship! It is a good, fun club to be a part of!