The Rocky Road to Publishing

[Mad Lews]

I’ve another short story accepted, this one is going into the “Mammoth Book of Erotic Confessions” by the British publisher hotspotbooks.co.uk . The book comes out in May of ’09 and the recompense is the princely sum of £10.00 per thousand words, my £22 could well be worth $50.00 by the time it’s paid.

God I feel like a corporate robber baron cutting down them trees.

Mad Lews

[Isabella King]

I'm pretty damn sure that you put a lot more than £22 worth of effort into writing it.

[Euryleia]

I’ve another short story accepted, this one is going into the “Mammoth Book of Erotic Confessions” by the British publisher hotspotbooks.co.uk . The book comes out in May of ’09 and the recompense is the princely sum of £10.00 per thousand words, my £22 could well be worth $50.00 by the time it’s paid.

God I feel like a corporate robber baron cutting down them trees.

Mad Lews

Heck, Mad Lews. It is only the Lorax who speaks for the trees. Keep pimping the volume so you can get even more of 'em sold.

Congratulations on the acceptance.

[Mad Lews]

I'm pretty damn sure that you put a lot more than £22 worth of effort into writing it.

So true my dear, but it looks good on your resume when you try to pitch a manuscript idea.

[Mad Lews]

Heck, Mad Lews. It is only the Lorax who speaks for the trees. Keep pimping the volume so you can get even more of 'em sold.

Congratulations on the acceptance.

But, but, Nietzsche swore to me Seuss was dead.
The great thing about this arrangement is I'll get my 22 pounds no matter how many books they sell. Still I suppose you're right I should wish them financial success so they're tempted to do it again.

Mad

[underwhere]

I didn't really come here looking to publish my work through any other means than self-publishing here on the BDSM Library, but of the one story I have here in the Library so far, of which two chapters are currently posted, I've had over ten thousand readers. I have a third chapter in the works, and I anticipate chapters beyond that but I haven't yet fleshed those out more than a simple outline yet.

One thing I've noticed is that this site seems to count unique visitors to a story, but not unique visitors to parts of stories. My second chapter was published here roughly a month after my first chapter. Its been a bit difficult for me to determine whether I had an audience with the first chapter who came back for the second, or whether I had an audience discovering my second chapter as a story update and wanting to read the first chapter. As a result, its difficult for me to determine how much "staying power" this story has.

Based upon what I've read here, I've made some mistakes already and have some questions:

* I did not explicitly mark my story parts with a copyright, although my name is attached at the top of the text of each section as per suggested guidelines previously posted. (Possible suggestion to the BDSM Library: Would it be possible to have this as a part of the submission process, to add such a copyright notice or at least a date of copyright? i.e., "Attach copyright notice to story" as a field to fill in when submitting stories, probably marked by default) Need I do that with each story part, or just with the story as a whole, for example, on the story's web page here on the BDSM Library?

* If I choose to use a pen name (such as my username here), would/could that effect a publisher's desire to potentially publish my work in paper rather than as an e-book?

* It is my understanding from reading the TOS of this web site that once stories are published here, they will not be removed for any reason. (I can't now find a source for this, but I do remember reading it somewhere. Can somebody clarify if this is still true or if it ever was true?)

I can't think of any other questions or comments right now, but I'm sure I'll be back when I do. I hope I don't wind up pestering you all too much.

[Isabella King]

You automatically hold the copyright to anything you write, but if it's posted anywhere on the internet it will be considered as already published, and so, not worth so much to a publisher.

There's nothing wrong with using a pen name - I've seen some weird ones on e-books - I can't somehow see your user name on the cover of a paperback though

[Mad Lews]

My dearest underwhere,

Did I actually say that?

Each time a reader opens your story (or part of your story) you score a hit! Multi chapter stories posted over time tend to have a larger readership number for that reason.
You can always stick a copyright notice in at the end or even as a revision of previously posted works. Its helpful if you think someone might lift your story word for word and try to pass it off as their own.

Publishers frown on trying to charge people for something that you've given away for free. Even then, say you've posted the first three chapters of a ten chapter saga, they may well give that a thumbs up if they are getting the exclusive on the whole story. e-publishers who invest much less in publishing a story tend to be laxer in these matters.

Paper publishers (the monsters bent on destroying old growth checkered owl habitats) might ask that you withdraw any free e-published versions of the story. That led to a dust up a few years back when ownership changed. the former owner Jinn had no problem pulling an old story pretty much at the authors request. New ownership, not so much. A number of fairly respected writers stopped posting. A direct question to Tiger might help you here, but you're more likely to get a response from Torq.

The best rule of thumb might be, if you hope to sell it, don't give it away. This is especially true if (like me) you hope to desecrate paper when you grow up.

Ms. King is quite right about pen names, sometimes I feel a distinct need to shorten mine to M. Lews, though savvy perverts are not fooled.

Yours
Mad Lews

[underwhere]

My dearest underwhere,

Did I actually say that?

Each time a reader opens your story (or part of your story) you score a hit!

Okay, that answers one of my questions directly. I was a bit unsure as to how that worked. Thanks for the clarification. If they were to read each of my two chapters separately, that would be two hits. If they were to read the whole thing all at once as it is currently, that would be one hit. I'm not sure that is the most useful way to do it for statistical purposes of determining if my story actually has staying power, but I'm not honestly sure how I would make that better.

You can always stick a copyright notice in at the end or even as a revision of previously posted works. Its helpful if you think someone might lift your story word for word and try to pass it off as their own.

Probably nobody ever thinks that is going to happen, but each of us must be careful with such things and do whatever we can to protect ourselves. I guess I should start adding copyright notices to each of my story parts and my story information page just to be safe.

Publishers frown on trying to charge people for something that you've given away for free. Even then, say you've posted the first three chapters of a ten chapter saga, they may well give that a thumbs up if they are getting the exclusive on the whole story. e-publishers who invest much less in publishing a story tend to be laxer in these matters.

I can understand and definitely appreciate that. What prompted me to write that particular response was the fact that if my story received more than ten thousand hits for two story parts, there would seem to be quite a following for the story, and then I got to thinking, "What if there really is a following for this story?" I guess I've been dreaming a bit about planting a money tree with my writing since then.

Paper publishers (the monsters bent on destroying old growth checkered owl habitats) might ask that you withdraw any free e-published versions of the story. That led to a dust up a few years back when ownership changed. the former owner Jinn had no problem pulling an old story pretty much at the authors request. New ownership, not so much. A number of fairly respected writers stopped posting. A direct question to Tiger might help you here, but you're more likely to get a response from Torq.

At some point, I will be sure to inquire if they do not happen to read this thread first.

Ms. King is quite right about pen names, sometimes I feel a distinct need to shorten mine to M. Lews, though savvy perverts are not fooled.

I had pretty much assumed as much, but you know what they say about assuming.....so its good to get feedback on that too. Thank you for your response. It has been helpful to me.

[underwhere]

Apparently, the question of whether stories can be removed or not seems top be a "No" based upon my reading from this FAQ page http://www.bdsmlibrary.com/forums/fa...faq_main_story as follows: "Submitted Story Copyrights
After submitting your story ---you the author still maintain the copyright -all submitting a story to be published on this site does is give the site non-exclusive posting rights---which means you can post or publish your story anywhere else you like ---but the story will not be removed from the site unless it breaks a site policy"

In other words, unless somebody is willing to say something contrary to this and change the appropriate FAQ information, it would seem that removal of stories previously published in the BDSM Library is NOT an option, perhaps something to be considered by people if they should wish to go down this route in light of the previous discussion in this thread.

[Mad Lews]

Yup underwhere, you're right. Thanks for looking it up.

That's the stated policy that predates Torq and may or may not have changed since Tiger took over. It sort of bears on what exactly a copyright means.

If
'you the author still maintain the copyright -all submitting a story to be published on this site does is give the site non-exclusive posting rights---which means you can post or publish your story anywhere else you like ---but the story will not be removed from the site unless it breaks a site policy'

you've granted e-publishing rights in perpetuity to the site.

The lesson being know what you are giving up when you grant permission for someone to publish your work.
Many places use contracts that spell it out. Non exclusive publishing rights are common in free sites and some e-publishers.

Others want exclusive rights or if you republish want you to acknowledge it was first published in their venue. This is especially true if they shell out cold cash for your piece.

There is also a difference in what you post in the forums as opposed to what is posted in the library. By posting a copyrighted piece on a semiprivate forum, say for advice or critique, I don't believe you've given up any exclusivity, it hasn't been 'published'. The forums are more like a notebook than an official publication. Still and all, please add your copyright notice when you post an original work over in the forums.

talk to the publisher or site administrator if you have questions.

If you have questions ask them before you submit, not after.
Actually thats not a bad rule of thumb in this lifestyle anyway.

Mad Lews

[StephVE]

I agree with Lewis about copyright. Also if you share a story you wrote with a friend make sure you starte that the sory and the ideas are to remain as confidential. It porvides greater rights. Also place the copyright c on the first page

[Clevernick]

Now that I'm actually running one of these publishers, I see it from the other side too. If I do publish a book that's available elsewhere for free, I'm sure to hear about it from at least one purchaser, who will generally be annoyed and demand a refund. One or two such experiences is enough to make it a priority to check for that problem.

In fact, it goes further than that. It's not unusual for an author to publish a collection of short stories with more than one publisher. If one comes to me after it's been published elsewhere, and I want to change the title story cuz I think the original title sucked, it's a mistake. I shouldn't.

Because if I do, people will complain that I did it to deceive them into buying a book they already owned.

Tricky, this business.

[awriter]

Hi, I don’t know if this is the right place to post, if not I hope someone will tell me. I note there seems to be a section for writers, but I don’t seem to have access to it. In any case, the continued erotic adventures of slave kala, is actually a published novel. I of course don’t make much money on it (it’s a niche market) and I don’t expect to, what I don’t want to do, is spend a lot of money to get my work published; and unfortunately, I generally have to arrange my own editing. I recently agreed to pay as much as I’ve made on my first novel, for the editing of the sequel, this is obviously, not ideal. I’m looking for anyone interested in editing my other stuff (preferably at no charge) In addition, I’m also looking for cover art, for an artist interested, I’d be happy to candle you in a thank you page on the novel itself. For anyone interested, let me know. My email address is public information, feel free to contact me. Thanks.

[Mad Lews]

Well I've done it, along with some help from Clevernick. “Bequeathed” is my first real novel length story. It’s now e-published and selling over at http://www.bdsmbooks.com/listoffers.htm

A rather elaborate tale, which is really two stories, a modern day intrigue intertwined with a tale from the Antebellum South long before the Civil War. As these two stories unfold some interesting parallels and connections become apparent.

[Clevernick]

I can understand and definitely appreciate that. What prompted me to write that particular response was the fact that if my story received more than ten thousand hits for two story parts, there would seem to be quite a following for the story, and then I got to thinking, "What if there really is a following for this story?" I guess I've been dreaming a bit about planting a money tree with my writing since then.

A belated response to this from my own experience.

I published the first few chapters of my novel "From Zealot to Harlot" on this library (under the title "Obnoxious Housemate" though), and for some time was counting library "hits" and purchases at the same time.

During that time, the library version was right up on the front page, and pointed to the "for money" full version, so people were being directed there.

And now the bad news. People who read bdsm stories free tend to be less enthusiastic about paying for them. Although I had very high ratings (9/10), I sold roughly 1 book for every 1000 reader 'hits' shown on the free site. So 10,000 hits is a following, if you don't mind selling 10 copies of your book.

Sad, but there you go. Of course, your mileage may vary.