Self-Publishing to Traditional

[Noizchild]

I feel this will be a dumb question, but I have to ask: Can you traditionally publish what you already self-published?

[Foxy]

Yes, you can. My friend Mary Wood had her previously self-published novel, Time Passes Time, published by Pan Macmillan after an agent read the book on her Kindle. Mary ended up with a seven book contract from it.

[Nick]

50 Shades of Grey was originally self-published. It's a growing trend nowadays.

[Noizchild]

50 Shades of Grey was originally self-published. It's a growing trend nowadays.

Somehow that fact scares me.

[Annmarie]

And of course there's Hugh Howey's "Wool" series.

My agent also has a bestselling author whose first books were self-published and then picked up traditional. Almost every example of this I've heard of -- and there aren't that many, though I agree it's a growing trend -- the books were excellent and/or had sold in the tens of thousands or higher.

[WordBird]

I've heard of several books that have gone this route, Noizy.

The additional component, though, is sales. I can't remember the book. I'd have to dig through hundreds of books to find it, provided I didn't let someone borrow it. Anyway, I specifically remember him saying that the one way he was able to get a traditional publisher was that he had sold so many of his self-published books. He would load of the trunk of his car and hit the road.

So in addition to having a high quality book, I think sales are also important to securing a deal.

[Noizchild]

So how do I start? I have my feet in self-publishing. How do I make the transition?

[WordBird]

I would start by reading a book entitled Platform by Michael Hyatt. He used to work for Thomas Nelson publishing. It is packed with information that can help you get started getting noticed. 

[Noizchild]

I would start by reading a book entitled Platform by Michael Hyatt. He used to work for Thomas Nelson publishing. It is packed with information that can help you get started getting noticed. 

Thank you for the suggestion.