Question about novels and websites

[Devon Aster]

I hope I posted this in the right place. I'm curious how much an author might post of their on a website without giving too much away. My current website was set up so that I could post information on the original story I've been working on. I had a mind to make certain things available, such as character bios, some history and cultural notes, and either rough draft chapters or edited excerpts.

I realize that posting full edited chapters would likely not be a good idea, unless I'm sure that it won't get published traditionally. But would these other things be ok? Would it decrease my chances of being published if I make too many rough draft chapters available or too much other information?

Also, I was hoping to do some unrelated short fiction, but it was pointed out to me that I have a particular style in dealing with certain plots and themes. I showed someone a short fic and he said that the outcome wasn't quite as surprising or hard hitting because he knew the plot to my novel. Should I avoid writing short fic in the same vein or would it be worth it to play up this particular trait to interest people?

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Tirjasdyn]

Putting your novel on a website except for reviewing reasons can be construed as published, eliminating your ability to sell first rights, but it depends on publisher. Your best bet is not to do it.

Character bios, history and such should be fine though.

[maestrowork]

I try not to give too much away. Just a blurb or two and some excerpts as marketing ploy, and tell them where to buy. I think excerpts are fine if they're in small pieces -- be sure to note that they're work in progress. I don't think that would be construed as published.

[Devon Aster]

Thank you both for answering. The excerpts/rough drafts would be for reviewing or critiquing purposes. I do want to avoid giving too much away, so I think I'll keep it to a few excerpts. I'll probably use private readers for the critiquing in the end.

Just a blurb or two and some excerpts as marketing ploy, and tell them where to buy.

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm going for ;) Provide some tidbits and background/history and hope visitors get interested enough to read (or buy, if I'm lucky/good enough to get published).

[Cathy C]

We put up the first chapter with our editor's permission (but that's after we were in queue). I'd be hesitant to put it up without. Now, there are several very famous writers who did just what you're suggesting. I understand that Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the "Outlander" series posted a number of chapters on her site when she was first starting out, and was able to secure a better deal with the publisher because she already had an established "fan base". But that's from the early internet days, and publishers weren't so wary about having a product they're paying for (and plan to CHARGE for) show up for free with the click of a mouse.

We had most recently considered making some of our unused backstory into short pieces to post on our website, and were advised against it by our editor, who was more interested in saving some of those for anthologies in the future. It's a good point. Why give for free what you can sell later?

[James D. Macdonald]

I've got the first chapters of most of my novels up on my website.

Whether it's helped or hurt or had no effect on sales I don't know.

For some of my novels I'd have to retype the whole things to get electronic versions (they were written on an Atari 800 back in the day, and I can't read those disks with anything I've got in the house, assuming the disks are still readable).