tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post7247413428416201612..comments2023-10-17T05:19:48.148-04:00Comments on Rose-coloured: Self-publishing online: any takers?Rebecca Rosenblumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10859985178895250412noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post-62586091346434611872009-12-24T16:38:30.033-05:002009-12-24T16:38:30.033-05:00I have, in the past uploaded some of my short stor...I have, in the past uploaded some of my short stories just to find out if readers liked them. I am a beginner. Now, after reading the comments, I will no longer be uploading them. Why take any chances? Thankyou for the information.computerlenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07065486932815781812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post-64564867206715920832009-12-19T09:30:45.421-05:002009-12-19T09:30:45.421-05:00I think a lot of it depends on what format you use...I think a lot of it depends on what format you use. Google "JC Hutchins," "Mur Lafferty" and "Scott Sigler." These are all authors who have provided not one, but SEVERAL books for free as podcasts, and all three have had at least one of their podcasted books land a book deal because of their podcast success (Sigler - Infected/Contagious, Hutchins - the 7th Son series, Mur Lafferty - Playing for Keeps).<br /><br />Let's not also forget Terry Fallis and the Best Laid plans.<br /><br />Now, a bigger question is: would you consider podcasting publishing? If so, shouldn't these three (and many others) be seen as the flipside of the coin?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845103729879917004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post-35941110090554320752009-12-18T11:56:18.090-05:002009-12-18T11:56:18.090-05:00As an acquiring editor for a small publishing hous...As an acquiring editor for a small publishing house, over and over I see books that people have already published online. Entire novels. When I tell them we only want unpublished books with all print rights available (and untouched), they tell me they still own the copyright, so it's okay! *sigh*<br /><br />The reality is that once something is online, you can't really control it anymore. Sure, the writer can take the story down, but it can still be read via a google cache. Small publishers in particular often rely on ebook sales as a good chunk of their income, and having the book floating around online for free isn't going to help sales.<br /><br />Now, I've provided free serialized fiction on my site since 2004, and I know other authors who have as well. The difference is that we've used it as a promotional tool to draw traffic to our sites and attention to our commercially published work. Any writer who decides to publish online first needs to understand that book or story IS published and, with few exceptions, can't be taken to a commercial publisher later. Unfortunately, too many try publishing online, realize how hard it is to be heard in the din of free internet content and how difficult it is to build an audience, and then get frustrated when they ask a publisher for help and find the doors closed to them.Skyla Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02094497198550621780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post-21795070786755382642009-12-15T15:43:34.829-05:002009-12-15T15:43:34.829-05:00Thanks, August and Ruth, for your responses. I thi...Thanks, August and Ruth, for your responses. I think the decision to publish online is unique to the individual--their goals for their work, and what they are capable of doing in terms of formatting and marketing work online. And also, as in Ruth's case, there are personal reasons for wanting the work in the world right on a specific day--and it's wonderful that the internet allows us that choice!Rebecca Rosenblumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859985178895250412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post-55416759891179347262009-12-15T10:26:14.980-05:002009-12-15T10:26:14.980-05:00I have a blog where I am tracking my process of wr...I have a blog where I am tracking my process of writing and publishing a memoir. I have been careful not to include drafts of original chapters as I have a fear of sending them off into the blogosphere and losing control. I also don't like to limit my publishing opportunities. I made an exception though, and published 2 pieces on my blog: one about my mother's life, on her 96th birthday, and one about my father's life and death which had been rejected by the Globe and Mail. Thanks for your thoughts on this emerging option for writers.Ruthhttp://www.memoirwritersworld.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5403642865904161814.post-68205787392953935042009-12-14T15:34:35.488-05:002009-12-14T15:34:35.488-05:00I have toyed with the idea of releasing small .pdf...I have toyed with the idea of releasing small .pdf/.epub 'digital chapbooks', but there are a number of reasons I haven't yet.<br /><br />First, if you don't have the right kinds of connections (a la the Joyland editors, who have basically taken what my friend Jon and I were doing in obscurity nearly ten years ago, and made it work), or write for the kind of audience that is aggressive about trying new things (like Cory Doctorow), then you run the risk of not being taken seriously.<br /><br />Second, you run the risk of your work already being considered 'published' by folks who might actually pay you. You can lose coming and going.<br /><br />(Although, weirdly, most of the journals I've seen will accept work that has been previously published in homemade, low distribution chapbooks, which is part of what made me think of small digital releases in an ebook format rather than blog style.)<br /><br />If I ever figure out a way to reconcile those things in a way that's to my advantage, you'll see my work appearing online.Augusthttp://www.vestige.orgnoreply@blogger.com