QUESTION: Losing rights by posting online - Page 3 - Writers Forum

Rob · 03-18-2007, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobothegoat

Bush went to Yale; does that count?

Ha! bobothegoat wins!

Cheers,
Omni

Devon · 03-18-2007, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnius

Ha! bobothegoat wins!

Cheers,
Omni

Um, yes, unfortunately. Lol.

Talia_Brie · 03-18-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandasAndChippo

Not so much as it is a funny one. When a turd goes to a university, let me know, I'll even have a good laugh then!

Don't you go to university?

I rest my case.

PandasAndChippo · 03-18-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talia_Brie

Don't you go to university?

I rest my case.

I may be an ass, but definitely not a turd. Try again.

Farror · 03-18-2007, 08:26 PM

Ok, you're not a turd, you're just full of...

PandasAndChippo · 03-18-2007, 08:27 PM

Ain't it the truth =P

Aterin™ · 03-19-2007, 01:09 PM

So...basically if you post your whole book word for word then First Publishing Rights are lost, but if you just post excerts and such then FPR hasn't been lost? What about posting in the Fiction section, would that matter?

Rob · 03-19-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aterin™

So...basically if you post your whole book word for word then First Publishing Rights are lost, but if you just post excerts and such then FPR hasn't been lost? What about posting in the Fiction section, would that matter?

The only way to be sure you're not affecting the potential for publishing your work is not to post any of it in a public forum. If in doubt, don't post it. If you're at the stage where your work is good enough that it's likely to be seriously considered for publication, you won't gain an awful lot by posting it in the public forums here anyway. Those who gain most from public posting are novices and relative novices, and their work is less likely to get published. (Even then, though, they should consider whether they're hurting their chances of placing it somewhere, even low-level).

I used to post in a public forum, but I wasn't subbing because I was too inexperienced and my writing wasn't good enough (not even for low-level outlets). Eventually I did start subbing to low-level ezines and the like, and mostly it didn't hurt. Once I started to think beyond those I stopped posting in a public forum. It's not worth the risk.

Cheers,
Omni

Aterin™ · 03-19-2007, 03:04 PM

Well I've only posted 5 chapters, and they're rough drafts, so I've added more to them. Posting them helped me learn where I was going wrong and what needed to be corrected. Maybe I just need to post one or two more chapters and then quit posting, cause I'm hoping that it'll be good enough for submitting one of these days...

valeca · 03-19-2007, 04:05 PM

OK, for those who haven't found this statement in other posts on WF:

Do not post your work in its entirety. Pick the section you feel needs the most work and post that only.

You've effectively protected your first publishing rights, and gotten the help where you need it most.

Talia_Brie · 03-20-2007, 08:05 AM

I'm getting closer. I'm going to contact the Australian Society of Authors. The advice therefore, will only be qualified in Australia.

I'll let you all know what I come up with.

Liberius · 03-26-2007, 02:18 PM

Here's a question then:

This only applies to the word-for-word document (or slightly edited work, etc)?

If, for example, a story is posted in which character X goes through events Y and Z, publishers tend not to want to then "re"-publish the work as it was posted.

But if, after gaining more skill and experience, say, the author rewrites the previously page-long "chapter" into 50 pages. That would be considered wholly original work, would it not? Despite the fact that it is the same character X going through the (generally) same events Y and Z?

mammamaia · 03-26-2007, 09:04 PM

sure... what else could it be, when it's gone from 1 page, to 50?

Liberius · 03-27-2007, 12:18 AM

A lot of hot air, as is usually the case.

The whole thing was just a totally new concept for me, and I think I got overly paranoid. Doesn't seem anything I intended to post would interfere with anything I cared about doing or not doing in the future. A few rereads and it makes a bit more sense.

Mike C · 03-28-2007, 10:31 AM

As definitive an answer as can be given:

Most lit mag editors will view stories posted in workshop forums to be work in progress - incomplete or unpolished work that will differ from what they are being offered, and therefore will not view it as previously published - your first rights will not be affected.

If, however, you post your story on your own website, or on any site that presents it as a finished work, that is classed as publication and your first rights are gone.

As far as novels are concerned, many writers post excerpts or chapters of unpublished work in order to gain some interest. Publishers are not bothered by this - in fact, if your stats show that 10,000 people have read the excerpt and are clamouring for more, it's a point in your favour.