THE PROBLEM:
Someone from Authonomy spooked me when they said 'You won't get published if your work is uploaded to WeBook'. This obviously scared me as without WeBook I haven't really got anywhere to go to get feedback on my writing and editing can be really difficult without any guidance.
Immediatley I removed all my projects from WeBook and e-mailed the staff to get their opinion and I got a reply:
MY QUESTION (17/05/2010):
I am just writing to clear up a little matter with your website (which for the record is my favourite writers websites). I was recently advised by someone else, that I shouldn't upload my whole novel to any website, including WeBook, as it will put an agent/publisher off - why invest in something that is already available for free?
My question to you is what is your advice on this matter? You have relationships with several agents and I wondered what you viewed their opinion as?
I have spent a lot of time on my stories, trying to perfect them. I have found the support of other people on the site really supportive and helpful and learnt so much. I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by having my work on WeBook if it will cut my chances of getting published.
THE RESPONSE (21/05/2010):
Thanks for your question. While authors are able to post all or some of their work for display from other WEbook members, authors are also able to take it down at any time (since authors retain full rights when posting on WEbook). This means that should you garner attention from an agent or publisher, you will be able to remove your work from WEbook, negating the problem.
This has actually already happened a few times, where an author with work submitted to PageToFame has secured representation by a literary agent. The agent did ask that they remove the work from WEbook, but there weren’t any issues beyond that.
Additionally, PageToFame is actually a great way to find attention from literary agents, since every page that is elevated to the 2nd round is read by a at least one agent. (usually two!)
I think the warning was directed to sites that ask for electronic rights from the author, where they would be able to continue posting your material without your permission, but WEbook will never do that!
THE OUTCOME:
I found their response very reassuring and although I have not yet re-uploaded any of my work to WeBook, I feel I will definitley use them in the future. Although, I think just to be safe, I'll only upload a chapter or two and never a full manuscript.
RSS Feed