posting stories online. A problem?

johnstegeman · Jun 10, 2009

So I have been posting some of my work on here in the SYM section for real critique and on facebook so my friends can see how the draft is coming along.

Are the any potential problems that can come from hthis? I don't fanncy my writing good enough to steal but I wanted to ask this community what you all think.

ChaosTitan · Jun 10, 2009

The SYW section here at AW is password protected, so that Google bots and the like can't come by and stick your work into a search engine. Some folks request their stuff be removed once it's sold, which is understandable. But it is a safe place to post work for crit.

I don't know if I'd say the same thing about Facebook. Sure, you can set your profile so that only friends can read it, but I recall hearing something recently about Facebook trying to claim ownership of everything you post there...

You're better off just emailing your stories, than putting them up on a social site like that.

brainstorm77 · Jun 10, 2009

ChaosTitan said:
The SYW section here at AW is password protected, so that Google bots and the like can't come by and stick your work into a search engine. Some folks request their stuff be removed once it's sold, which is understandable. But it is a safe place to post work for crit.

I don't know if I'd say the same thing about Facebook. Sure, you can set your profile so that only friends can read it, but I recall hearing something recently about Facebook trying to claim ownership of everything you post there...

You're better off just emailing your stories, than putting them up on a social site like that.

Facebook killed that policy after there was a huge outcry.

Pepper · Jun 10, 2009

I wouldn't be posting the entirety of your work online- even if it is a first draft. I don't see the problem with posting in the SYW section, so long as you don't post your entire manuscript.

I would avoid high traffic networking sites like facebook though. It seems to be asking for trouble. You could always make a mail list for your friends and email your draft updates monthly, or something.

Just ensure your friends know that it's not something that should be forwarded around the www.

Izz · Jun 10, 2009

There's no issues with posting here in SYW, as that area is password protected, and most publishers, editors don't view work posted on password protected critique sites as published.

But if you end up posting your entire novel on a networking site like facebook, even if it is only an early draft, you could run into trouble later when you try to sell it, as a publisher may deem that first rights for the book are no longer available to buy. This may not happen, but it's probably a good idea to try to avoid the chance that it may happen.

Cybernaught · Jun 10, 2009

I wouldn't post anything you're serious about, or planning to sell, on Facebook. If I ever post work on there it's work I know I never plan on submitting.

And as for posting here, your first-rights are protected since the forum requires a PW, although I've heard some talk that even some publishers won't buy anything posted on a PW protected forum. But I think that was only a select few.

johnstegeman · Jun 10, 2009

That's interesting. Thank you though. I have informed friends on there they can see the work via email if they so choose.

posting stories online. A problem?

johnstegeman

ChaosTitan

Around

brainstorm77

practical experience, FTW

Pepper

I IS PRANCING

Izz

Doing the Space Operatic

Cybernaught

Decker

johnstegeman