Question by : Can you publish on Kindle then send it to an agent later?
If I wrote a book then self-published on Kindle for a few months, could I then send it to an agent?
Or doesn Amazon own the copyright or something similar to prevent it being resold anywhere else?
Best answer:
Answer by Kathryn W
The copyright remains with you.
It is at the discretion of the agent (or publisher) whether they are still interested in the book, or if they are only interested in a book that has never been published anywhere, in any format. However, publishing is ultimately a business and if an agent thinks that the book has a good chance of becoming a best seller (and therefore making them lots of money,) then chances are they will pick it up.
Some people claim that publishers are only interested in first publishing rights, however this is contrary to my own experience and experiences of some writers that I know personally.
EDIT: Just to clarify, “Some people claim” wasn’t directed at any individual who uses this site. Claim was probably a poor word choice, as it suggests that any opinion that is different to my own is wrong or false, which is not my intention. I agree that it is best to try a traditional publishing route first, then consider self-publishing.
What do you think? Answer below!