StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I heard somewhere that original fics you write and post on the internet cannot be later made into a published work, is this true?

Shinova wrote:I heard somewhere that original fics you write and post on the internet cannot be later made into a published work, is this true?

No it's not, you retain ownership unless it is specifically waived thus you are free to publish, what is true is that many publishers are loathe to publish material that is available "for free" on the internet and that they often demand that this material be removed from the internet before it is used.

That's good news then - I've been wondering something similar about my website and whether I'd have to take it down before using the concepts and ideas in any form of novel attempt.

Norseman wrote:No it's not, you retain ownership unless it is specifically waived thus you are free to publish, what is true is that many publishers are loathe to publish material that is available "for free" on the internet and that they often demand that this material be removed from the internet before it is used.

That's a good idea...except their forgetting that there are those of us who would definitely love to own it in book form! (Hint: Star Crossed!)

That's a good idea...except their forgetting that there are those of us who would definitely love to own it in book form! (Hint: Star Crossed!)

That, unfortuantely, will never happen.

That's good - I might be able to salvage the 120+ page bastard I wrote two or three years ago, provided I can get it off my old man's computer...

From talks with my publisher, if your work is sufficiently refined-edited from your internet work, that isn't a problem, but they asked me to stop posting new material and to try and delete as much as I possibly could from the internet.

NOw I'm definitiely happy. I've always planned on posting original works of my own on the Internet and then taking it down when I want it published. Or using my Internet works to set up an original universe to write in.

Either way, if you're good enough, you can build a fanbase before having your first book published.

JediMaster415 wrote:NOw I'm definitiely happy. I've always planned on posting original works of my own on the Internet and then taking it down when I want it published. Or using my Internet works to set up an original universe to write in.

Either way, if you're good enough, you can build a fanbase before having your first book published.

Well, expect to take a hit on funds, and it may be harder to find people to publish your book if you have a verbatim copy of your book on the net.

What they don't know won't hurt them

Shroom Man 777 wrote:What they don't know won't hurt them

You have to guarantee some things when you sign the contract, and putting your stuff online can get you sued.

This is true. As well, LucasFilm does not and will not publish fanfiction. You have to be an established science fiction author in order to write books for them (no matter how little said authors might actually know about Star Wars, or how little writing talent they actually have).

And I don't blame them. I wouldn't want some pissant publishing books based on characters I created and making money off that. Lucas/Roddenberry owns those characters and I respect that right.