Mr Peace

I've been writing for years now, but publication has eluded me. I'm interested in starting my own website and publishing online. This way, I'll be able to share my work more effectively, with my long-term goal being book deals. I write short fiction, poetry, humor, and critical essays.

Has anyone here achieved success by publishing online? How complicated is it to start a website? What copyrighting info will I need to know before putting my original work online?

Apparently, using WebSite Tonight v. 3.0 through GoDaddy.com is quite simple and affordable. Is it as good a deal as it sounds? I had a blog that I used for critical essays for a bit, but I deleted it after I decided that I wanted my own website entirely. I wasn't really satisfied with Blogger's limited interface, and didn't like the fact that my URL had a ".blogspot.com" suffix at the end of it. I really would like my own domain name. If it's as simple as they make it appear, why do so many people choose to piggyback on Blogger.com when they could have their own URL?

Sorry if this is a terribly long post for a new user. I appreciate any and all responses. Thank you.

EDIT: Just for clarification, I'm not really interested in print publishing just yet. That may happen for me down the road, but for now, I just want to "publish" on the internet, ie posting in html format so that anyone can read my work just by visiting my site. I'm sorry if I used the word "publish" in an ambiguous manner. That's my fault.

Mike C

First off, we need to seperate out the function of a website. Simply having one will not guarantee your work is read more widely - if you build it, they won't come unless you promote it. Secondly, a website is not, on it's own, going to help you secure a book deal. Agents/publishers don't go surfing writers' sites looking for the next big thing; their desks are already buckling under the weight of hopefuls.

A website is advertising, that's all; it allows you to show people what you have to offer. But in this day and age if your content is lacking, or your site's hard to read or navigate, or is simply uninteresting, they'll stay about 10 seconds and never return. Where it CAN score, if it's appealing enough, is in building readership. But don't expect to make any money.


First define success. Recognition? Snagging an agent? Money?

With the likes of GoDaddy, cheap and relatively easy. But please, try to bear a few things in mind:

Get a dedicated URL (www.mrpeace.com etc rather than angelfire, geocities etc). Free sites will smother your page in distracting advertising, and make the whole effect very amateur.

Avoid gimmicks - no flashing text, animated graphics, scrolling text, jazzy backgrounds. Keep it simple, make it effective.

Think about your site - plan it on paper before you put it together.

Make it interesting.

Copyright remains yours. You could look at publishing your work on your site under a creative commons licence (google it, it's quicker than me telling you) which often results in your work gaining wider exposure in exchance for you assigning certain rights decided in advance by you. As always if you place work in the public arena, there's a chance someone may rip it off, but live with it; the alternative is to become a hermit and hoard your words.

[quote]Apparently, using WebSite Tonight v. 3.0 through GoDaddy.com is quite simple and affordable. Is it as good a deal as it sounds? [/QUOTE

If you have no experience of building websites, it's cheap and easy, if a little restrictive. http://www.heatherbrewer.com/ this site is on the GoDaddy plan. Graphics by me.

Quite simply, more people have blogs than websites, and blogger etc are for the most part free. Also even if you have your own website, a blog needs to be installed and set up. This needn't be difficult, but many people prefer the convenience of a ready made solution. Also blogger etc have the whole community aspect going for them.

I'm not sure of the proper dictionary definition of publishing, but to all intents and purposes it means to place something in the public arena, by whatever means and media. An appearance on a website generally counts as published.

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Janelle_34

Good Luck to you Mr.Peace. I hope no matter what advice you take.. You make yourself happy. I would love to read some of your work. Good Luck again.

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Mr Peace

Thanks to anybody who posted. I certainly appreciate it.

Thank you for the advice. However, I'm pretty well aware of that aspect of the situation. Although no website is ever guaranteed to bring attention to my work, it surely couldn't hurt. Likewise, no publisher is ever going to go hunting around on the internet for new writers, but having a website full of original work that's garnered even a few positive remarks is probably likely to look better than a guy who submits material without having anything at all to show for his work.

You're right: websites are fundamentally advertising. They can also be used for edification among readership. Whatever the case, I'm already starting out with very modest and realistic aspirations for any website that I build. Thank you for your very pragmatic advice.




Any success in any way that anyone could define the word. Does anyone reading this feel that a website has improved the quality of their work? Does having a website increase your prolificacy? Does having a website help you communicate with your readers better? Has it helped you in getting an agent?

Basically, I'm wondering if starting a website is a positive experience or a waste of time. I'm aware that it's a very different experience for different people, but I'm just looking for some opinions.



Excellent idea. Very true. That's exactly what I have in mind, which is why I'm opting to start my own site, rather than just piggyback on someone else's URL.


I've done some research on Creative Commons licenses. Apparently, they're the way to go if you want people to be able to use your work in specific ways. What advantage does a Creative Commons license provide? I can't think of why people cribbing my stuff would help me.

Very nice. It looks quite good. Excellent job. I find that encouraging.

Thanks again for any and all advice. I definitely appreciate it.

Mike C

It can't hurt; at worst, it'll gather dust somewhere. At best it'll attract some attention and you'll build readership (See CC comment below)

A website won't increase the quality of your work, unless (a) it makes you think twice about what you offer your readers, or (b) you get constructive feedback; It won't make you write more, or better, unless you choose to do so; I have heard of 2 instances where it has been of some assistance snagging an agent, but this is a double-edged sword. SOME agents, if you list a website in your query letter, will give your site a look over briefly, BUT if they don't like what they see - ie a site that looks scruffy, or is badly laid out, full of typos, etc it may prejudice them against you before they even read your work.

To that I can only say you get out what you put in. If you're willing to work at it, it can only be a positive. If you expect to throw up a couple of pages and forget them, it will in all likelihood be a waste of time.


It depends how you look at it. Rebecca del Rio has an e-book of her poetry on www.rebeccadelrio.net released under a CC license allowing people to distribute it under certain conditions - it stays in its original format, nobody is allowed to profit from it, and it has to be attributed to her. This e-book has been downloaded around 5,000 times last time I looked, and has been offered for download fropm other people's sites also without them having to ask her permission. This means that, while she will never make any money from it, she is building a wide reader base which will stand her in good stead when the novel she has recently completed starts doing the rounds of agents - she has a tangiable result she can offer that people are interested in reading what she writes.

If you look at it as people 'cribbing' your stuff, no, it's of no benefit. If you look at it as encouraging wider readership, casting your bread on the water, then yes, it has a place. It may not be for you, but it's an option to look at. Apart from anything else, giving something away for free is always going to bring extra traffic to your site.

Very nice. It looks quite good. Excellent job. I find that encouraging.

Thanks again for any and all advice. I definitely appreciate it.[/quote]

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mammamaia

'look better' to whom?... not agents and publishing house editors, sorry to say... they won't be going to anyone's site to check their plaudits... they'll only judge a writer by the quality of the work s/he sends to them... and they won't be swayed by quoted kudos from people not known to them...

so, if you want to set up a website for your own satisfaction, that's fine... many do... but it's not likely to be of any help in getting you published...

my own site was designed by a pro, but to my design/specs, and based on an easily-obtained template... you could probably find the same set of templates and do something similar on your own... the opening page is custom-made, however...

have fun and let us know when you get it up, so we can sample your wares... love and hugs, maia

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Mr Peace

Another question: Can you copyright a work in your pen-name, or must you use your legal name?

mammamaia

in the us, written work is automatically 'copyrighted' when you finish it... if you mean 'register' your existing copyright, you can use a pen name if registering at us copyright office or with wga, but that may cause legal problems later, if there is any question of ownership and you have not provided your legal name... it's best to consult a literary attorney for advice, before registering under a pseudonym alone...

go here for the rules 'n regs of copyright law and registering your copyright...
www.copyright.gov

you'll find the info you want in the FAQ section... hugs, maia

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Stacy

Definitely go with the website. You'll have fun with it once the initial irritation with web design and HTML is gone. My writing group created an e-zine back in September, and it was a lot of fun to both create the site and write the stories and poetry for it. We've got an upcoming issue in March, and it's been interesting to find that all sorts of people have found us and sent us their submissions. A personal website is very different from an e-zine, it is true, but I think you'll enjoy putting it together, deciding on a design and what you want to put in it. It'll force you to be a perfectionist about your writing because you certainly won't want anyone who Googles you to find your mediocre work . Also, it's just fun to hear from people and wonder how they found your site.

Drzava

If you are really original, you could secure a book deal, as http://maddox.xmission.com and http://www.realultimatepower.net have.

Mr Peace

mammamaia - Very good, practical advice. Thanks. It's very much appreciated.

Stacy - Thanks for the encouraging words. I'll be sure to check out your website.

Drzava - I've actually skimmed through the Real Ultimate Power book. Clearly starting a website dedicated solely to ninjas is the way to go.

Blackhawk_t

I would first off, show some of you work here. Get a following for what style of writing you possess, and then when your site is done, let everyone know. Nothing flows faster than the word of mouth. Or now days, the word of e-mail. Especially if you write solid, intersting material.

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