Welcome… I’m New Here! Greetings Programs :-)

[Bloo]

Hi everyone !

So...I'm trying to a write a first-contact sci-fi novel. I want to create something modern like Three-Body Problem - but with much better-developed characters. The science has got to be plausible like Project Hail Mary, but with a believable romantic subplot (or even two). It should show how first contact affects the world, and not just North America. It must include diverse perspectives, as an event like this will affect every race and creed.

So yeah...I've some high-minded ideas. yet they turn to mush once I'm in front of a keyboard. Still, I read what's out there and think, "Damn, I can do better than that." Then I read something by Andy Weir and melt into a puddle of self doubt.

I'm only ten chapters in to my novel. That's about 20,000 words. I still have another 100,000 or so to go.

I've already put previous iterations of some chapters on another site. I'd like to put my latest con this one, but I've a few questions...

- By posting on the Colony, can I still claim it as "unpublished"? Some traditional publishers demand "first publishing rights".

- Other than for contests and reviews, will my work wind up in the wild? I'd hate to find whole chapters of mine on Facebook someday.

Should I be concerned about plagiarism? Has it happened here before?

Thanks !

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Hello and welcome.
I’m fairly new here myself, so I’m sure people more experienced than me will answer your questions fully.
What I will say is that putting up a chapter for help in the Writing Workshop seems pretty safe, and yields a lot of incredibly helpful feedback.
As regards putting large bodies of work up, you can request that people volunteer as Beta readers, then turn the thread private once you have some uptake. That way it’s just you and them.

Now it may just be that no one wants to take credit for my work anyway, lol.

(But I now have several people who’ve seen the work I’ve put in during the early stages - so if a near-perfect version of my book suddenly appeared out there, I’d have plenty to witnesses to prove it was mine.
And I could take all the credit.
And have the publicity.
Oooh, a plan is starting to form….)
Anyway, welcome xx VH

 

[CageSage]

If it feels mushy and disjointed, it may be that there are either too many ideas, too many genres to put front and centre, or not knowing what best opens and closes this type of story. I'd recommend Writing Excuses Podcasts, and they've been doing MICE quotient stuff lately (which explains a lot of how to open/close, bracket the different elements of a story (as in, which thread to open/close before another), etc.).

And small portions of a work in progress in the Workshops is unlikely to cause issues but if worried, call for help and then turn the thread private. Once it's completed its task, I'm pretty sure the thread can be deleted by the person who created it.
I don't think plagiarism is a concern for works in progress, especially if it's only a few bits/scenes at a time. Most beta-reads are through private threads (and it's usually the whole ms) or private message. However, a work in progress is still an idea being formed into a story, not an end product. What I see re plagiarism is that the plagiarist takes a book/story that's already published and takes big chunks from several to create a book they call their own. It's less work for them to take a book already published. A work in progress isn't often at risk. And even a great idea isn't a story. Give ten people a great idea, and they will each produce a different story (and may not end up about the initial idea!). It's the execution and craft and voice that makes a story unique to the author.

I'm not sure what the 'un/published' status would be for an opening 700 words done on pop-ups, though. I'd still suggest unpublished, but that's up to the interpretation of the agent, and I don't think it's worth worrying about too much until the story is finished to fourth or fifth draft and ready to sub to agents/publishers.

Well, that's my opinion, anyway, but it's just an another opinion, like so many millions of other opinions out there.

 

[RK Wallis]

Welcome aboard @M. Dupré

Good on you for tackling writing Your work will change many times as you write, both throughout the drafting and after you finish, so I wouldn't worry about thinking it as published on the net just yet. But if you're worried, ask who's free and able to critique, and once you have a few volunteers, make your thread private (and not seen by search engines). It's probably a good habit anyway, then you know who has seen your work.

Most serious writers are too invested in their own books to worry about someone else's, we just tend to admire someone's great idea. Also, we tend to like to write in certain genres, outside them, we're uncomfortable.

I know what you mean by Andy Weir - he's just amazing! After reading him, the journey to write a book seems so long - as if it isn't long enough already! Read big names to analyse and learn their tricks; don't compare yourself to them, that'll cripple you.

In the time I've been a member, there's been no plagiarism

Hope that helps!

 

[Jonny]

Hi @M. Dupré

Welcome to Litopia and hope you enjoy it here. You'll find a lot of help on the site and all you need do is ask. We're a community of writers run by a real life agent. You'll find it a very supportive and encouraging environment.

- By posting on the Colony, can I still claim it as "unpublished"? Some traditional publishers demand "first publishing rights".

I am pretty sure that posting excerpts of your work here would not be seen by publishers as having published your work. @AgentPete ?

There would be little or no point in posting a 130k word manuscript for evaluation, as that's not what the site is about. As others have said, a request for beta readers would be a better way to go, although, once again, such a commitment form anyone here may be hard to undertake as we're all writers ourselves, all with limited time and constantly working on our own projects.

My advice would be to post your opening chapter or chapters (would suggest 2 or 3 as a max) in the workshops. You can leave this viewable to all and see what kind of response you receive. Once there is a dialogue open with other colonists, you may wish to make that thread private. This can be done at any time.

And small portions of a work in progress in the Workshops is unlikely to cause issues but if worried, call for help and then turn the thread private. Once it's completed its task, I'm pretty sure the thread can be deleted by the person who created it.

As Cage says, as instigator of your thread, you are able to delete it at any time. Indeed you are advised to do so once it has run its course as a matter of good housekeeping.

- Other than for contests and reviews, will my work wind up in the wild? I'd hate to find whole chapters of mine on Facebook someday.

I have never known this to happen, but once again you have the option to make it entirely private.

There's a chicken and egg situation here. As you're new to Litopia the best way to build relationships with others is to offer feedback on their work. That gets you "known", so should you then choose to post your work up privately, you have the option to make it visible only to those you have already interacted with. It would be unlikely to attract much attention if you just selected some names at random to comment on a private thread.

Litopia is a two-way process. We learn as much from assessing and offering feedback on the work of our peers, as we do receiving feedback on our own work. So best advice is to just dive in and get involved.

Should I be concerned about plagiarism? Has it happened here before?

Not ever to my knowledge.

As creative people we all understand the importance of protecting our own work, and understand the worries you raised in this respect, but I can honestly say that in my time here the the most common comment I see from colonists is this - or a variation of it:

"Since joining Litopia I have learnt so much."

Once again, a very warm welcome, and anything you're unsure about please drop me a PM any time and I'll be happy to help.

 

[Barbara]

Welcome to the Colony

 

[AgentPete]

I've already put previous iterations of some chapters on another site. I'd like to put my latest con this one, but I've a few questions...

Welcome, you're in the right place!

- By posting on the Colony, can I still claim it as "unpublished"? Some traditional publishers demand "first publishing rights".

That's a standard clause in every publishing contract. Posting your ms here for crit / private review is not "first publishing".

- Other than for contests and reviews, will my work wind up in the wild? I'd hate to find whole chapters of mine on Facebook someday.

Well, quite As opposed to other writers' sites, you have total control over your work here. You can post in in the Workshops when you want to, decide who you want to see it, and when it's done, you can delete it. All yourself.

Should I be concerned about plagiarism? Has it happened here before?

No!

p.

 

[Ancora Imparo]

Hello @M. Dupré and welcome! As others seem to have answered your questions, all I can do is add my voice to theirs and say you've come to the right place. Litopia has a diverse group of writers, some more experienced than others, but everyone is willing to share their time and knowledge. I'm sure you'll find lots of like-minded writers here.

 

[gbhunt]

Hi, @M. Dupré , welcome to Litopia! Your work sounds fascinating, and I can't wait to see a sample!

 

[James Marinero]

Welcome @M. Dupré !

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Welcome to the Colony!

 

[Julie]

HI @M. Dupré Welcome to the Colony. Some of my ideas 'turn to mush,' when I actually sit to write them down. It's part and parcel of drafting. You're going from the glorious idea that plays out in your head, to the 'I can't write it the same way as it was in my head,' when you're sat at the computer. This is normal. Try out your ideas on us; outline; test-drive characters; define your main plot first. Sometimes, the story we start out with is not the same we end with. Writing is a craft that requires patience and persistence. And, as I've learned since becoming a Litopian, you definitely need other writers to help - and we'll need you. Can thoroughly recommend the Writing Workshops.

 

[Eva Ulian]

Hello @M. Dupré Welcome to Litopia. Love to meet in person in one of our Saturday Huddles. Saturday Writers' Huddle Why not join us this Saturday?