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I had been contemplating the possibility of posting fiction on this blog, when I came across this lively discussion at Melissa‘s blog about why writers do (or don’t) blog. Having thought about this a great deal in recent weeks, I wanted to bring a few more sides of the story to the Essential Prose table.
Let’s begin with the drawbacks that the naysayers point out.
Possible Issues with Posting Your Fiction
1. If you plan to submit your work to literary journals, the definition of “previously published” is murky. Many lit journals don’t consider a piece previously published if it’s been on a personal blog, but they are still likely to be wary of publishing your story.
2. Many people worry about their content being copied or stolen. I haven’t heard of any specific cases, but this is an issue with any sort of internet posting.
3. The literati are more likely to turn to established literary journals and publishers to figure out what’s “worth” reading. Many writers worry that posting their fiction online will shrink its literary value in the eyes of many. This concern stems from the glories — and monstrosities — of instant publication. Instant publication is an incredible ability, but by definition, it’s gonna include a lot of crap.
Why It’s Not So Simple
The world of books and publishing is changing — rapidly.
The internet has inevitably spawned a torrent of new formats, avenues, and audiences. According to a Time magazine article on modern book publishing, “Four of the five best-selling novels in Japan in 2007 belonged to an entirely new literary form called keitai shosetsu: novels written, and read, on cell phones.”
This same Time article also describes an interesting phenomenon in the world of self-publication. Self-publication, or vanity publishing, has made some long, fast strides in recent years. Once viewed as a pathetic attempt for hopeless writers to see their names in print, self-publishing is now a viable option in the face of a struggling publishing industry. There has been a slowly growing trend of writers who self-publish, gain a substantial readership, and are then picked up by an established publishing house. It’s a new way to break into the notoriously frustrating process of getting your book published.
There has also been a surge in fiction purely meant for the net: fan fiction, blog fiction series, podcasts… it goes on. As the Time article puts it:
If Old Publishing is, say, a tidy, well-maintained orchard, New Publishing is a riotous jungle: vast and trackless and chaotic, full of exquisite orchids and undiscovered treasures and a hell of a lot of noxious weeds.
Most of the fiction I read on my computer screen comes from online literary journals, and then there are a few bloggers whose online fiction I follow. When it comes down to it though, much of the fiction I see online just isn’t what I’m looking for. When it comes to fiction online, we become the editors, wielding the power of filtration. With the traditional publishing model, there are editors sitting in their offices whose job is to filter for us.
It’s worth noting that the novel was a pretty racy topic when it first emerged. It had to struggle through scoffs of those who saw it as a low art, and look where it’s arrived today. Novels were also often serialized in newspapers — a strong parallel with serialized fiction on blog posts today.
So, Should You Post Your Fiction?
The final decision depends simply on what audience you’re trying to reach. Although a blog offers instant publication, it doesn’t promise an audience to go with it. When your work is accepted by a literary journal or publisher, you aren’t guaranteed an audience either — but your work will be more prominently displayed, and it will be in the traditional realm. Those aiming to grow an audience for their blog fiction will need to put some serious work into letting people know it exists.
For those looking to earn an income from their fiction, let’s first point out that traditional publishing is far from being a cash cow for most writers. That said, blogs can bring in an income with advertising, paid subscriptions, or selling e-book and hard copy versions.
If you want an in-depth look on blog fiction, download Betsy Friedrich’s thesis on the topic. In the conclusion, she writes:
Although blogging in general has captured the public imagination, fictional blogging remains a marginal genre. I believe that fictional blogging will grow increasingly important for the publishing world, but I also believe it will remain marginal and relatively unknown to most readers.
Friedrich points out that although fiction blogs are gaining a stronger foothold — even with publishing houses searching the internet for new content — they are still viewed by most as either a way to practice your writing, or a means of showcasing your work in the hopes of eventual print publication.
Even the high-quality fiction blogs out there are hard to find, and therefore often suffer from a lack of audience. When they do gain an audience, however, a powerful new element of interaction is added to the mix.
To sum it all up, here are the basic options:
1. Post none of your work online, aiming only for publication in literary journals and on the shelves.
2. Use your blog as a place to practice writing fiction, but save those pieces you’ve worked hard on for traditional publishing goals.
3. Post excerpts of your writing online to give readers a taste. If the whole piece has been published at an online literary journal, link to it.
4. Post your fiction — the pieces that you most want to be seen — on your blog. Explore the various ways of delivering it — serialized, in podcasts, or as a free download.
5. Start a revolution. Give beautiful prose an accepted place on the internet by making it visible and letting people know that change is upon us.
All that said, I don’t think print publishing is going anywhere — and I’m happy about that. As excited as I am about the possibilities in digital publishing, I still adore books and traditional literary magazines. This means that I want to explore how to post fiction on my blog, as I continue to submit stories to literary journals. I’ve got a bunch of ideas sliding around my mind, including a series specifically meant for my blog, posting snippets of longer stories, and using podcasts.
Now it’s your turn to weigh in.
Do you think blog fiction will always be marginal? What direction will publishing take?
Writers, what are your publishing goals?
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you just increased the footprint of online fiction via blogs. I think this is the next big thing in the Blogosphere. I think the Pioneer Woman writes fiction on her popular blog – the Black Heels to Tractor Wheels portion, although it may be a memoir? I’m not sure.
This reminded me of how my father, an accomplished, brilliant poet, always wanted a chap book. Today, anyone can publish. And, I love the cell phone novels in Japan – always the most efficient nation. I’m not surprised they originated there. And, wasn’t the person to win their highest literary prize last year – the young retail worker who was publishing via cell phone technology? Just amazing. Great post, Zoe. I really enjoy your blog. Thanks, again, Chuck. Ha! I also like the comment luv and all the little submission icons. I can’t get the former to work on Blogger. Wordpress is so nice.
jenx67´s last blog post..With Jaws Wired Shut They Hung Them Alive
We’re in the first wave of something new rather than the last wave of something old. The industry is shifting, staring at the lip of some great sea change, but it knows not where to go. I don’t believe you will dim the literary value of anything you post, and I look forward to reading whatever that is.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Dad… dad… DAD!!!
My sense is that the medium can yet accomplish more than it currently is and to that end, I think that blogging can be an outlet for fiction. I wonder if the writers posture toward posting would need to be different. For instance, when I blog, I tend to sit down, create a post and hit publish. My sense is that fiction would be better served by having the piece completed and then breaking it down into blog sized pieces that can be released with a set schedule. Serial publishing of fiction used to be very popular and it seems to me that it would work well here.
I have begun a historical novel on growing up in Middle America during the 70’s and 80’s; a rough draft can be found at: http://www.freethegods.com. I am interested in getting the story published, though I am not sure how to go about doing so. I welcome any input or suggestions you may have. Thank you.
We’re still figuring out how to use this new media, and these discussions will help us navigate.
I read a fun bit of blog fiction last year at The Case Book of Desiderus (http://shoscombe.blogspot.com/) and Adore Adorna (http://adoreadorna.blogspot.com/). It was a lot of fun, but I found it only on accident. As we begin to use the new technologies for publishing our writing, we need to also think about how we market them.
A Christian fiction writer has been serializing her first novel on a blog (http://tiffanycolter.blogspot.com/). It won an award, so it went through a strong vetting process before she shared it in this fashion.
These are exciting times for writers.
I agree with Writer Dad: We see the emergence of something new and cannot know where it will take us – alltough I am pretty sure the medium will shape the message.
I believe there will be a specific form of fictional blog content, perhaps taking into account the possibility of instant communication and feedback, some traits of the oral tradition of old reemerging.
Detlef Cordes´s last blog post..Singing And Feeling Lucky
Zoe, this is an excellent article. I have to start by saying that!
I don’t think fictional blogging will remain marginal. Right now, the greatest challenge for fiction blogs is gaining a readership. These blogs are almost impossible to find (I am constantly looking for new ones), and many creative writing bloggers don’t understand the tech side of blogging, so they fail in the marketing arena.
Another problem is separating the good fiction and poetry from the not-so-good. I think literary journals are best positioned to rectify these problems by shifting to a completely online model. With established reputations, they stand to achieve much success by using advertising and paid subscriptions (and forums) to generate revenue while making quality writing available to the public.
Finally, I think the online format lends itself best to short fiction and poetry. That’s good news for poets in particular, who have long been struggling to see their work published in any format anyway. It’s almost impossible to make a living as a poet but the Internet just might change that, and that could be a very good thing.
I agree with you – I love books and don’t want to see them disappear. At the same time, I hope these lesser-appreciated formats (short fiction and poetry) can find a new home and larger readership on the web while novels continue to dominate the print market.
Well, I think I just about wrote a whole post there
You sure inspired me!
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..Why Proofreading Matters
Hi Zoe,
My my, you’ve been quite the harbinger for me lately (or should I say foreshadower). Such a great discussion to be having, particularly as I’m about to re-launch my collaborative writing site. In conceiving the idea of WikidStory, I thought a lot about some of the points you brought up above, and my thinking is that there’s room for everything.
Whichever way a fiction writer wants to take their work, the possibility of success is there…more so now than ever, I think. That’s the beauty of this world we live in today. Sure there are more unknowns and, therefore, the necessity to consider your options carefully. But the point is simply this…there are options, and any one of them could work. Every option wont work for every writer, of course, but one of them is sure to do the trick.
My personal belief is that the internet is a fantastic medium for (to use a Chris Brogan term) snackable fiction content. The ability to collaborate is so easy with today’s technology, which makes writing much more accessible. It’s possible to be a part of something big, and great, w/o doing all the work which, I think, makes it more likely more people will engage in it.
Will the serious fiction writer work this way? Maybe not, but the vast majority of writers will never be traditionally published…and I simply refuse to believe those that do are the only ones worthy of it. The internet offers the rest of us a multitude of ways to share our writing with others, questions of publishability aside.
Thanks for the post Zoe.
I am developing my characters through my Friday Fiction, and interestingly (and gratifyingly!) I have developed loyal followers for my ongoing saga. My ultimate goal is to write a fiction novel, and yes, I would like it published traditionally. I, personally, do not read online books. I like to curl up with a paper book. It’s comforting. Curling up with a laptop … hmmmm … really not the same.
Urban Panther´s last blog post..The pitfalls of eating out
@ Jenx67 – I do think we’re lucky to have this opportunity all around us — now it’s a question of making it something incredible, instead of letting it spiral into mediocrity.
@ Writer Dad – “We’re in the first wave of something new rather than the last wave of something old.” That is how we need to think about it — excellent. Instead of envisioning online publishing as an inferior last breath, we should move forward with all the possibilities it allows!
@ Richard – I do think that the blogger’s posture toward fiction blogging would be wisely altered. Although spontaneous, interactive fiction has a strong place as well, I think that the planning and preparation — the deliberate nature — of fiction should be maintained as we try out new media. I too love the idea of serialized fiction. It was a great catalyst for the acceptance of the modern novel, so why not use a version of this format to propel new steps in fiction?
@ David – I don’t have much to offer from personal experience, as I’m exploring these options myself. It does seem that gaining an online audience, self-publishing, and then catching the eye of traditional publishing houses is a path that is becoming more and more common…slowly but surely at least.
@ Jennifer – Thank you for passing on those examples. I think you’re very right emphasize the importance of marketing. In order for content to stand out in this glut of information on the web, marketing is an unavoidable requirement. I’ve discovered that it can actually be kinda fun too
@ Detlef – That’s a really interesting parallel to oral traditions you’ve made. It’s true that the immediacy of web publishing will inevitably spawn specific genres that feel native to the format. But I’m also interested to see if we can be very deliberate in pushing for fiction avenues that highlight traditional short stories, for example, changing only the method of delivery and reception…
@ Melissa – Well, the inspiration on this topic has been mutual! I think you bring up an important point with online literary journals. Though they are still finding their place, I’ve seen some really wonderful work in that realm. I do believe that people are willing to pay for quality content — especially as we get overwhelmed with more clutter — and that would make a more sustainable model.
It would be pretty amazing if great poetry could gain a wider readership through the increase of online publishing… I am more a short story writer, but I used to write more poetry and I still adore reading it. Again, the filtering through to find beautiful poetry will be a key step in making online publishing more accepted.
@ Jeb – I’m so glad you’re commenting on this — you really are in an excellent position to do so, as WikidStory is an innovative step in online fiction. You also make an important observation about different degrees of “seriousness” in fiction writing. I think this is a factor that will ensure different modes of online publishing become standard for different aims. As you say, we should embrace these options and carefully consider what will move us in the direction we hope for.
By the way, I’m looking at WikidStory now and the new design looks wonderful! Great moves you’ve made
@ Urban Panther – Your online saga is a really cool example, because it introduces the possibility of getting people attached to certain characters, and then putting those characters into a traditional book. I think you’ve taken a really interesting approach, one that is almost the reverse of the traditional flow (when people read a book, get hooked on the characters, and want to hear more about them). This kind of subtle innovation is exactly how we need to be thinking!
I love this post and followed all your links and read those, too. While I believe digital publishing will continue to proliferate, I also believe that the gatekeepers of traditional publishing are not such a bad thing. Sorting through what is online to find those nuggets of good in the mass of content is still necessary.
Personally, I’m a little scared to post my best writing on my blog because I’m afraid it’s going to get lost–fiction or otherwise. But better lost in an exercise to the online world of information then to a file folder where it can never be found or read by anyone.
TJ Hirst´s last blog post..January’s Book Discussion: Angle of Repose
As someone who spends all their time online, I can only say that moving forward into a digital age is truly the wave of the future, and agree absolutely with Writer Dad. At my age, I have seen tremendous strides in communications. Born during WWII, news did not reach us sometimes until days after the fact. I now know about things, such as “The Miracle on the Hudson” almost immediately. Instant access begin during the Viet Nam War, with live coverage from the battlefield. It has not stopped moving forward at an incredible pace since then. I embrace this technology, and am thankful for it.
A serialized story would to me be the ultimate benefit. I don’t have a great deal of time to sit and read, and a long story would not hold my attention. The benefit from this to the writer if serialized is that it keeps people coming back, if the work is worth reading. Traffic to your site is always a good thing!
The proof that things are moving in that direction shows in the fact that the USPS is in deep financial trouble, and talking about cutting mail delivery back to 5 days per week. We also see it in the hard times hitting many newspapers today. We have to know that this is because of the interactions possible online. I cannot remember the last time I got a letter from anyone, or even picked up a newspaper. I miss these personal things dearly. Yet I also realize that we live in a time of instant communication, and have to live with that.
Peace,
Alden~
Alden Smith´s last blog post..Why New Affiliate Marketers Fail
Zoë, thanks for posting this! I was going to ask you about posting your fiction in this blog… Now I understand what all the concerns/complications are… You’ve written a really thorough and concise expalnation. I was unaware of a lot of these issues! Wow…
On a related note, I really appreciate that you share on your blog as you learn & figure out for yourself… it’s so, so interesting… inspires me to start a cooking blog
Can you recommend some online literary journals? I only know about n+1
I’m releasing one chapter a week of my novel online. Mostly because I wish there was more fiction in this format that I could read; it’s fun. If there’s enough interest in paper copies, I can try some publishers.
For other projects (notably, travel with a lot of photography) I’m more interested in a ‘coffee-table book’ deal. A real-world, solid, beautiful product. But that’s because it’s not just about the words any more.
When it comes to making money, on the other hand, my current theory is that writing for magazines is more profitable at least in the short term. But we’ll see.
Rachel Cotterill´s last blog post..A Little Owl
I’m still a romantic girl at heart, and dream of seeing my novel in hardback format. Until then, I just keep madly typing away…
Zoe, I am intrigued by a Jersey girl living in Chiang Mai, it must be an interesting life for you. Have you documented anything about this on your blog? I am in the process of launching a new website “Seachange Life” and would love to interview you as a case study on living and working abroad. I’ll follow up with an email soon!
P the website looks great!
jessica´s last blog post..How to prepare for a marathon writing weekend
Kia ora Zoë,
Isn’t it fascinating how ‘the book’ and its use are spurned by some and yet holds sway with writing in so many ways. Devices for the commercial dissemination of ebooks (such as the Amazon Kindle) will tend to perpetuate the situations we discuss here.
The nub of what I think you are alluding to in your last listed option (change and making it visible) is that perhaps we should be discussing whether the copyright laws are really for the future. Thing is, part of the reason for having royalty schemes, and commons etc, is to give the artist an opportunity to receive recognition, whether monitarily or otherwise. These ideas will always be conflicting.
Catchya later
Ken Allan´s last blog post..May It Be A Lofty Mountain
@ TJ – I certainly agree with you that filtering fiction is still necessary. I can also relate to your fear about your best fiction getting lost in the floods of content, so I think it’s important for us to be very deliberate in how we choose to share.
@ Alden – It seems like many of us like the idea of serialized fiction — I definitely find it intriguing. It’s true that, because of all the factors you point out, it’s important for fiction to make a strong foothold in these new technologies, or else it will risk neglect. I find the possibilities really exciting, and it seems you do too!
@ Vickie – It’s so interesting being able to share and get feedback as I explore these topics — you really should start a cooking blog! I was so impressed by the meal you made for us when I came to visit
. I’m not at my computer now, but when I have it back I will make a little list of online journals I think are worthwhile. Let me know if you have any questions about starting a blog…!
@ Rachel – Thanks for sharing the link with us — I’ll definitely go check out your writing. I think you have the right idea to aim for different outlets, online and off, as far as publishing. As for magazines, I think that’s a rocky boat — with a lot of work, you can get a decent living from it, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any easier for freelance magazine writers. From what I hear, though, writing for European mags is more lucrative…
@ Jessica – Yes, I can completely relate — the print copy will never grow old. I’d be happy to chat about my move abroad, so do feel free to e-mail me! I’ve just taken a look at your website, and I’m excited to read through it when I am back at my computer
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@ Ken – I look forward to reading through the post you’ve shared here — looks like an important look at these topics.
As for copyright issues, I am still conflicted there. I was actually referring more to giving good fiction an acknowledged and accepted place on the internet. After the interview I posted with Creative Commons, I have realized there are many exciting uses of Creative Commons licensing, but it’s not what I would use on my short stories, for example.
hi zoe!
this is a really great post. as you know, i’ve been thinking about the internet vs. print publishing thing for a while now. you’ve succinctly summarized the pros and cons and helped me clarify my thinking on the matter. so thank you! i especially like what you say about us becoming the editors of on-line work.
i find that i am more judgmental of on-line fiction and i’m much less likely to read a story all the way through if it’s on my computer screen as opposed to in a book or magazine. reading at my computer is just not a very pleasurable experience for me. and i want people to read my writing all the way through, while sitting on a couch with a cup of tea (or something). also, maybe it’s just societal, but on-line publishing just doesn’t seem as satisfying. i want to hold a book i’ve written in my hands!
still… i have been submitting to some on-line publications. but i don’t think i would ever blog my own fiction, partially because i don’t think anyone would read it. but you, zoe, already have a good readership, so blogging your fiction might be a better way to get it read than submitting to magazines. i would read it!
xx
Tobey
tobey´s last blog post..Western Mass Street Fashion
For me it comes down to this:
If you want to see your name on a printed book, with a publisher’s logo on the spine, don’t post your fiction (except for snippets) online.
If you want to write and share your stories (and maybe make some money out of it), do whatever you want to get it out there.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post..Getting through it on your own: The Deep Friar interview
Hi, Tobey! I really can relate to your point about actually holding a book. I really only like to read very short fiction online, but otherwise I either print it out or put it to the side. I think it’s natural for us to be a bit more judgmental when looking for fiction online, cause we have to filter through a lot of things we don’t want to read… I’m still working out how I want to approach this
Alex,
I’m still a little conflicted… I think you are right as far as conventional wisdom goes, but I do appreciate the slowly growing trend of people publishing online or self publishing, then gaining a wide enough readership to get a deal with a publisher. It certainly won’t happen to everyone who publishes online, but I think it’s worth considering
This post is of particular interest to me, since I post just about all of my poetry and short fiction (and soon, a longer fiction work) on my blog. I don’t have much faith in the traditional print industry, and that’s why I’ve chosen to take the route I have. Here’s my ideas on it:
People on the internet are brutally honest. If something sucks, they will tell it in the comments. They also won’t waste time visiting content that doesn’t appeal to them. If they find something they like, they will share it via things like StumbleUpon, Facebook, Digg, and more. Yes, there will be a lot of poor writers posting their content, but that content will remain at the bottom of the pile. Good writers will attract followers, so long as they make some basic attempts at promoting themselves.
There will always be content thieves. That said, people on the internet are notoriously good at figuring out when something’s been stolen. Your site will always be at the top of the search engine listings for your content. You can send cease-and-desist letters, which sometimes work. You can contact the thief’s host and have them removed; most hosts have policies against copyrighted content.
Gabriel Gadfly´s last blog post..We Could Scrape the Sky
Gabriel,
It’s great to get the perspective of someone who’s already doing it! I’m looking forward to checking out your work.
I haven’t heard any stories about fiction being stolen online, so it sounds like you’re right — putting the work online isn’t taking a huge risk in that arena.
Mostly, I think it’s really smart to take advantage of these new directions
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