Does posting work here harm our chances of being published?

I'm really torn about posting my stuff on here. I really want to have some critiques and put my stuff out there, so it exists outside of my head. However, I don't want to look back and go "shit, I could have got that published" or find out someone stold my writting.

 

then just post a brief excerpt or two and you won't have to worry... if you really need feedback on a complete piece, find someone whose expertise you can trust who'll be willing to read the whole thing and ask them to give it a looking-over privately...

 

Or post writing you have no plans to publish. Critique serves to improve the writer's writing in toto, not just the excerpt submitted for critique.

 

I feel the same way a lot, so I don't post stuff on here unless I write it specifically to be critiqued on here. I usually will only post flash fiction on here, because it is quick, it is easy, I don't have to spend a lot of time on it (no more than an hour usually) but it does give people a chance to see what I'm doing and tell me where I can improve. Save the passion projects for the publishers.

 

Wow. This is excellent information that I never thought of. Thanks for the heads up. I would assume that posting the first page on a business facebook page is considered publishing then?

 

So just to be safe one should not put anything (on the internet) that you hope to later publish through Agents & Standard Publishers right? Even bits and peices, snippets, single chapters can damn a whole work for ever and ever?

So how does a writer get the critque they need to get a novel to the point where it is ready to even submit to an agent?

 

Wow! I am so glad I read this thread!!!! I had no idea publishing here equalled "published". Thanks guys!

 

it doesn't, really, in the sense that your work would be put into print and released to the buying public in book form, or in a magazine... but does in the sense that an uncontrollable number of people can read it any time they want to, thus keeping you from being able to sell the first publishing rights to a magazine, or get a paying book publisher to take it on...

and it doesn't make you a 'published author'...

 

Thank you all for this thread. You saved me and many others from making a rookie mistake.

 

Yeah, I made a rookie mistake. Before reading this thread, I've posted 3 chapters on the forums (first draft) Mind you, one is looking at a full reedit (it was good but the style needs changing) I was generally pleased with the feedback I got. I was planning for the story to be massive... But am I buggered then? Better off starting again?

Bit annoyed if I am, first story I've ever done and I'm pleased as punch with it so far. Oh well, least I can put it down to experience and perhaps post it on a blog?

 

only 3 chapters won't be a problem, unless that's say 1/3 of the book... but it's really best to only post brief excerpts...

 

Thanks! I'm not posting anymore, i'm actually surprised with how much criticism improves your skills.

 

You can always post writing samples of work you never intend to publish. Your writing skills, and the bad habits, will reveal themselves quite well without exposing your "money writing."

 

I think I might have got a presumption about publishing from this thread. Clearly it can be harmful.

 

I have thought about this topic before, and that is why I have never posted any of my writing on the internet. The only problem is, I work weird hours and I don't have a way to meet with a group or anything. So how else can I get feedback from writers with some experience? I have went over my plot with only two people I know, but they've never written anything and I'm at the point where I need some feedback that's a little more in depth than they could give me. So what do I do?

 

Look two posts previous...

 

I personally think you could post a short excerpt of your work here for critique. The big issue with having some stuff on the internet is not a legal issue, but a question of whether a publisher would want your work if parts have been available somewhere online. I don't really want to get into an argument about how strict this idea is, but opinions on this matter vary. What I'll say is, if you want zero risk, don't do it.

You could also look into finding an online writing class. Those can be done at your convenience if it just isn't an option for you to attend one live.

 

Reading this thread now, I am very glad I have decided to do a huge re-write of my story and basically change most of the setting and add a lot of new plot devices, as I had published parts of the first draft on another writing board.
I did worry in the past it might affect my publishing chances, as you can google search my MC's name and come up with sections of my story splashed all over dodgy websites. The other writing site claimed they would help with copyright issues and would actively try to shut down anyone copying members' work, but alas that never happened.
Very glad now that most of it will be unrecognisable once this re-write is done, and then probably even more so after many more edits.

 

Just a quick clarification...I was considering posting a short story (1,500 words) here at some point, polishing it and then submitting it to a contest. Would posting here preclude that? Hmmmm....

 

Check the contest rules. Contests are not the same as the publishing industry.

 

yes, that's true...

however, in the event that you may change your mind and want to submit it to magazines instead, you should only post brief excerpts... it's better to be safe, than sorry...

 

Many years ago I used to post poetry and short stories on a blog.

Probably a year after I started it I discovered that someone else had most of my stories and poetry on his website and was claiming it was his.

Is this a real problem? Is it a problem on this board? Is there really anything one can do if there work is stolen online?

 

i don't think it's been a problem here, but it can happen anywhere that you post your work on the internet...

you can contact him and threaten legal action if he doesn't take it down and print an apology...

you can notify the hosting entity of the plagiarist's website...

you can take legal steps, if you have sufficient proof the work is yours [not mailing to yourself, or computer-dated files...best proof is first idea notes and hand-writting editing comments on a hard copy, plus first and subsequent drafts]

 

Wow, that is shocking! People post here for constructive criticism and it blows their chances of ever being published? So basically you can only post things for review if you only write as a hobby, or if you know it's not good enough to publish? If that is the case then I think that ought to be made very clear to members before they post anything for review.

 

As far as I know, this is the only writing site that even bothers to make this point. I used to post that warning in every intro thread, and that post is in the Important Information collection on the sit\e home page. Funny how no one tends to read that collection.

It applies equally to ALL writing sites, not just this site.