To Post or Not to Post?

[pjthefey]

How many of you post your writing online beyond the simple discussions that we typically engage in on this message board?

If you do, why do you do it?

Does it bother you if someone steals your writing?

Are there some types of writing that you feel more comfortable posting than others?

Has anything changed your opinion of posting your writing online since you have been a part of the internet community?

Let us know!

[embonpoint]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'writing' - do you mean anything? Like, a tumblr post about how I went shopping but they had no Diet Coke, or do you mean, actual ~writing~ like the serious, thoughtful writing that I care about? I'm just confused because I would assume the latter but you say "simple discussions... on this message board" which sort of implies the former, as well.

[cattink]

I used to post stories and my attempts at poetry on other boards, but ever since I became a creative writing major at my school, I've become absolutely paranoid about posting any of my work online, even sending my work in messages on sites such as Facebook.

Once it's been submitted anywhere online, it can be found by anyone with enough skills and free time.

I'm aware of how extreme and crazy that sounds, but I'd just rather not risk it being found and stolen. At all.

[pjthefey]

My Response:

I used to post much more of my writing online than I do now.

I think the reason is because the people who surrounded me offline couldn't quite relate to what I was trying to do and the only feedback I ever received was "That's good" which is terribly insufficient for someone craving acknowledgement of their work. I believe that for this reason my primary motivation was simply to be heard and acknowledged for using the language in a way that I felt I was good at.

This changed however several years ago when I participated in a community of collective short story writers. I suppose you could call it role playing since each person created their own character, and then continued the story where the previous writer left off from the perspective of their own character. Anyway, I was one of the people evaluating incoming characters to determine if they would be a good fit, and I discovered that someone had literally copied one of my character histories from another web site word for word and did a blanket "Find and Replace" for important character names.

I was... most displeased.

I believe the primary reason was pride. I never planned to have that writing sample published, but it really erked me to think that someone else would be soaking up praise for my inspiration and weaving of words. I don't think I have posted a work of fiction online since then because I am still annoyed.

Recently, however, I have received some rather high marks on essays for school and have been burdened by a feeling that it's a shame that no one but my professor would read them. I have been thinking about creating an online portfolio of my adademic writing for people to read, discuss, and enjoy.

Somehow, I think if I learned that some idiot decided to steal one of my essays to turn into his class I wouldn't care as much. Any professor worth the degree that enabled them to get their teaching position is going to know that such a person didn't write those words, and so long as I am not accused of not writing my own essays, I doesn't matter much to me.

Back to pride, I think the only situation that would really bother me would be if I discovered upon doing an internet search that someone made a web site showcasing my writing as their own, because at that point, it's not some doofus wasting the money they invested in their education, it's trying to generate personal thunder to which they have no entitlement. Such a plagiarizer should have epic power surges to their computers thus irrevocably slaying their power supplies, motherboards, and hard drives filled with stolen ego.

[pjthefey]

Jun 11, 2011 18:43:47 GMT -5 embonpoint said:

I'm not sure what you mean by 'writing' - do you mean anything? Like, a tumblr post about how I went shopping but they had no Diet Coke, or do you mean, actual ~writing~ like the serious, thoughtful writing that I care about? I'm just confused because I would assume the latter but you say "simple discussions... on this message board" which sort of implies the former, as well.

By writing, I mean anything that extends beyond the scope of idle chatter. Poetry, short stories, academic essays, novellas, and fan fictions all fit the bill.

[cattink]

Jun 11, 2011 18:57:16 GMT -5 pjthefey said:

My Response:

I used to post much more of my writing online than I do now.

I think the reason is because the people who surrounded me offline couldn't quite relate to what I was trying to do and the only feedback I ever received was "That's good"; which is terribly insufficient for someone craving acknowledgment of their work. I believe that for this reason my primary motivation was simply to be heard and acknowledged for using the language in a way that I felt I was good at.

I can relate. In the past I didn't have as many friends that were as dedicated to writing, but now I have a fair circle of peers to go to for opinions.

Jun 11, 2011 18:57:16 GMT -5 pjthefey said:

Somehow, I think if I learned that some idiot decided to steal one of my essays to turn into his class I wouldn't care as much. Any professor worth the degree that enabled them to get their teaching position is going to know that such a person didn't write those words, and so long as I am not accused of not writing my own essays, I doesn't matter much to me.

My APUSH teacher once told my class about a system where college students' papers are entered and professors can scan their students' work for similarities. I don't remember if she said how extensive the system is, but I can understand why it was established.

Even though someone might not care, there's no fairness in someone getting credit for another's work. The assignment was to write a paper, not just find one on the Internet.

[Silva]

I used to post it on deviantART, before I left and deactivated my account. I got super paranoid toward the end, dA had given my computer a virus, and the drama of the community got to me.

Now, I don't post work online for fear of it being stolen (no matter how good or bad it is). I IM friends that I know and trust and share work with them sometimes, but never publicly.

[cyanea]

Jun 11, 2011 22:12:49 GMT -5 Silva said:

I used to post it on deviantART, before I left and deactivated my account. I got super paranoid toward the end, dA had given my computer a virus, and the drama of the community got to me.

Now, I don't post work online for fear of it being stolen (no matter how good or bad it is). I IM friends that I know and trust and share work with them sometimes, but never publicly.

Pretty much all of this, from deviantART drama down to fear of plagiarism/theft. Sometimes I'll post little stories, like responses to picture prompts online, but that's about it.

[Fuck Yeah Dion]

Things you post online will typically never be touched by a publisher, so I don't do it much.

[keylaleigh]

I don't usually publish my writing online because, well... I'm not really sure. I guess it is the fear of theft because I have some pretty awesome concepts that I'm afraid people will snatch up.

The only exception to this is when I write a supplementary piece for a roleplay I'm in. I have a whole thread on my favorite forum dedicated to posting roleplay-related pieces.

[Katherine]

I post all my fanfiction online (because there's really nothing else you can do with fanfiction, and I write fanfiction to inspire me and for fun and not for any important purpose), but as for other stories, I don't usually post them online just because I've never found a place to post where you get constructive criticism, and therefore find it pointless.

[andy]

Jun 12, 2011 4:41:21 GMT -5 Fuck Yeah Dion said:

Things you post online will typically never be touched by a publisher, so I don't do it much.

I kind of doubt it because so many popular blogs were turned into books. If a publisher has no problem offering somebody a book deal for a cookbook if they have a cool cooking blog, why would they have any problems offering somebody a book deal for a collection of short stories if they have a cool writing blog?

[Olive]

Jun 14, 2011 14:13:12 GMT -5 andy said:

Jun 12, 2011 4:41:21 GMT -5 Fuck Yeah Dion said:

Things you post online will typically never be touched by a publisher, so I don't do it much.

I kind of doubt it because so many popular blogs were turned into books. If a publisher has no problem offering somebody a book deal for a cookbook if they have a cool cooking blog, why would they have any problems offering somebody a book deal for a collection of short stories if they have a cool writing blog?

I cling to the hope that this is true...

[Katherine]

Jun 14, 2011 14:20:20 GMT -5 Olive said:

Jun 14, 2011 14:13:12 GMT -5 andy said:

I kind of doubt it because so many popular blogs were turned into books. If a publisher has no problem offering somebody a book deal for a cookbook if they have a cool cooking blog, why would they have any problems offering somebody a book deal for a collection of short stories if they have a cool writing blog?

I cling to the hope that this is true...

I agree, blogs like 1000 Awesome Things and xkcd have books that are just basically a bunch of blog posts on paper. If you have the talent I don't think it would matter, for short stories. Novels might be different, I don't know.

[Fuck Yeah Dion]

Jun 14, 2011 14:13:12 GMT -5 andy said:

Jun 12, 2011 4:41:21 GMT -5 Fuck Yeah Dion said:

Things you post online will typically never be touched by a publisher, so I don't do it much.

I kind of doubt it because so many popular blogs were turned into books. If a publisher has no problem offering somebody a book deal for a cookbook if they have a cool cooking blog, why would they have any problems offering somebody a book deal for a collection of short stories if they have a cool writing blog?

Those are kind of different examples though. Most magazines/publishers I've submitted to have explicitly stated they won't take anything that's appeared online in any form, since putting something on the web counts as publishing it.