Decision out of caution...

zeppelin123 · Mar 21, 2009

I want to thank everyone who helped me with any of the drafts I posted to SYW. The comments and feedback have been very helpful.

However, I have learned from a children's writing website that editors strongly discourage posting direct quotations of your work to online forums as then the material becomes "already published." Even though I have only posted early drafts so far, I am going to be cautious on this one and avoid posting any direct excerpts of my work on public forums.

I will do any future critiques via private email with critique partners or beta readers. I will continue to ask general writing questions on the AW forums. (e.g. my question about reducing the use of "I" in first person).

This summer, I am working with two critique partners via email (one from AW and one from Verla Kay's website). I am looking forward to this experience.

Cyia · Mar 21, 2009

That's precisesly why the SYW forums are password protected. It's not (usually) considered the same as posting excerpts on a website for others to read.

MsJudy · Mar 21, 2009

Interesting. My understanding is that small amounts--a single chapter, parts of a single chapter--are not considered a problem, especially when on a password-protected site like this one.

I suppose it would be worth asking the question of the guest agents and editors, if any are around...

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 21, 2009

If that's so, I'm about to wear out my delete button. I have quite a bit of work posted in SYW.

Smish · Mar 21, 2009

Cyia said:
That's precisesly why the SYW forums are password protected. It's not (usually) considered the same as posting excerpts on a website for others to read.

Exactly. Your work in SYW is posted to receive help from other writers, not for entertainment purposes. It's not discoverable in a Google search, or otherwise widely available.

I suspect the site was warning against posting completed work on your blog page, but of course, can't be sure since I haven't read the article/posting you've referred to myself.

emeraldcite · Mar 21, 2009

SYW is password protected, zeppelin. your material is fine. it would be different if you posted here in the open forum, but behind the password, you're safe.

it would be like using a dedicated critique like the Online Writing Workshop for SFFH, which Elizabeth Bear used at one point and still occasionally visits.

SheilaJG · Mar 22, 2009

This from HarperCollins, which hosts the site Authonomy where users post 10,000 words plus of their unpublished manuscripts:

We really see no particular reason why a manuscript that’s been showcased online should lose any of its value to an interested publisher.

Indeed, it’s central to the authonomy concept that a writer with a proven readership is often more valuable to a publisher, not less. Book companies now regularly snap up volumes from high profile bloggers and promising self-publishers with existing readerships. It’s a good thing to prove that you’ve the enthusiasm and the skills to help make your project a success.

I got that from this link: http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2008/09/victoria-strauss-authonomy-slushkiller.html

The blogger adds:

The notion that merely by posting your manuscript online you exhaust your first publishing rights dates back to the early days of the Internet, when the concept of electronic rights was brand-new and it wasn't clear what sort of competition they might present to print rights. I doubt that many editors these days would be greatly bothered.

Smish · Mar 22, 2009

Great info, Sheila!

zeppelin123 · Mar 24, 2009

I actually read a post today on that particular website that it is fine to post small excerpts to password-protected sites. They used the example of Critique Circle.

They still recommend taking work down before submitting though. My project is still in the early stages and won't be ready to submit for a while, so I guess I can post things for critique or FF without worrying.

Thanks for your feedback,
-Laura

Decision out of caution...

zeppelin123

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

MsJudy

Hedgetrimmer

What happened, just there?

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

emeraldcite

Art is Resistance

SheilaJG

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

zeppelin123