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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43279
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

## Is it a good idea to self-publish a completed first book in what will be a longer series even though the remainder of the story has not yet been written?

The publisher wants something marketable. If the first book is a flop, then why would they publish the second or third in the series? It'll be much easier to send a query letter to your literary agent for the first book in the series and market that first book. If the first book is a success, then the latter books will have an easier time in marketing. But that first book must also work as a stand-alone book. If the reader has to wait until another book to resolve issues, then they may not buy the book.

If you just want to get your story read, without fame or fortune, then you may share the lengthy story on social media. That's what I'm doing right now. I'm currently writing a story in Standard Written Chinese, with my aunt as the proofreader. When the story section is nicely polished, I will send the story section out to the family WeChat group, mostly on my father's side. My mother's side is on a different WeChat group. I think my first cousin's children like the story, so I have found a target audience there. It's basically a story about a bunny rabbit. I have the entire story outline mapped out on paper. During the process of actually writing the story, I have found myself making some changes to the original plotline. The dialogue in the actual story also informs me about the characters and their personalities. The original outline gives me a lot of wiggle room, to the extent that the actual story vaguely resembles the outline.

Here's what you can do. Get on a social media app. Make sure your family and friends are also on the same app. You share the story in the family group or the friends group. Someone out there may like your work. Your story's popularity may increase, if the target audience is for everyone (including very young children). I'm sure adults would enjoy a fairy-tale-like story, and parents would read the fairy-tale-like story to their children. Every day, every few days, or every week, you may share a new story section to the crowd. The good part is, this builds experience as a writer. You're not making any money, but at least you have built a fan base among your family and friends.

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