?

Your take on this writers site?

Poll closed Jul 31, 2015.
  1. Great idea

    25.0%
  2. Not a good idea at all

    75.0%
  3. I've seen this already - I will post

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. I have concerns/questions - I will post

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. AspiringNovelist

    AspiringNovelist Senior Member

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    Writers website idea

    Discussion in 'Writing Software and Hardware' started by AspiringNovelist, Jul 30, 2015.

    Hello All,

    I'm thinking about creating a writers site that requires the writer to submit text with a voice read of their work. Text would be submitted first, then if approved, we'd request the mp3.

    The idea behind the site is: Short reads for a layover at an airport or during a road trip, etc. (I always swing by Books-a-Million and grab a Book CD for long road trips.)

    The text/mp3 would be free to both the writer and reader/listener and the site would be supported by ads.

    We would seek top-notch writing, but not the length that would sour publishers later. Most publishers are not interested in short stories unless you're a proven writer.

    The benefit for the writer is that she/he would be allowed to get their work and their name out there. At the end of their story (text and voice), they can include a link to their website or blog or book.

    Of course I would work the php code so that it's web and mobile friendly.

    What do you think?
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2015
  2. Ben414

    Ben414 Contributor Contributor

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    I think you'd have to already have an established audience for authors to trust you enough/view it worth their time to submit their "top-notch" writing. And to get that established audience, you'd have to have marketed your product enough to attract your audience, have good enough quality writing to intrigue your audience, and have a large enough amount of quality writing available to retain your audience.

    What are your plans for overcoming these issues?
     
  3. Daemon Wolf

    Daemon Wolf Senior Member

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    Sounds good
     
  4. AgentBen

    AgentBen Member

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    Sounds good. I wouldn't use, I don't travel. But I can imagine others liking it.

    What languages do you code? I do a bit of HTML and CSS, but I rely on Bootstrap because I hate CSS. PHP is boring to learn so I'm not really learning to code at the moment.
     
  5. daemon

    daemon Contributor Contributor

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    I would rather spend my time reading books I already have on my Kindle.
     
    Aaron DC likes this.
  6. Daemon Wolf

    Daemon Wolf Senior Member

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    *Cringes* Eww, E-Books...
     
  7. daemon

    daemon Contributor Contributor

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    *Cringes* Eww, dead trees...
     
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  8. Daemon Wolf

    Daemon Wolf Senior Member

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    80% of our oxygen comes from sea plants. Eww... E-Books.
     
  9. Daemon Wolf

    Daemon Wolf Senior Member

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    And we replant trees.
     
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  10. Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Contributor

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    If you're making any money via the site, you should be paying the authors something.
     
    Scrib and Ivana like this.
  11. Selbbin

    Selbbin The Moderating Cat Staff Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    I just use my kindle when traveling. Easy to read a quick bit whenever.

    There are already many audiobooks available for free, including short stories, while free to download podcasts remain very popular. You could certainly try it, but it would be a drop in the ocean of available material. It would be just as hard to 'get out there' as any other avenue, especially because it would need considerable exposure. If it's 'top notch writing' an author more than likely won't be that desperate for a small-time distribution avenue. Lastly, audio recording is a skill that also requires the right gear/setup. You can't just record it on your phone and make do. Writers can't just 'act' either.
     
  12. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Yep. Chicken. Egg. And you'd be fighting competition from existing podcasts.
     
  13. AspiringNovelist

    AspiringNovelist Senior Member

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    Thanks for all your input. The issues raised here have convinced me that my effort might be better used on another project. I have another idea for authors that I will post later.

    I'll close the poll.

    Admin - can you freeze this post?
     

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