Publishing stories online - anyone else doing this?

[gdoc]

I am interested to know if any writers here are publishing their work online. Principally their own site, but it extends to anywhere online that makes sense to them. Specifically, publishing short stories online to gain a readership, spread the word etc.

This specifically excludes paid-for publications that happen to publish online, like the New Yorker.

I am curious as to whether anyone does this. I am aware of a few self-published authors who have done so in various ways, including fan fiction on forums as well as using their own site or blog. In some cases these readerships have formed the foundation for them to successfully self-publish a novel later.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I have various bits and pieces up. Kraxon.org have four free-to-view stories, and a few other places. I also have a few on my blog - although they're a bit buried, and I might need to think how to make them more visible. However, they're all viewable from my website under short stories.

I find them useful but, as time has become more of an issue, most of my shorts now go to paying markets, often by invite. Because, frankly, they'll never get me anywhere near the exposure of a novel, so if they take me away from my limited writing time they have to be really, really worth it.

Edit - and my challenge stories here, which I keep meaning to promote.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Loads of people do, in episodes on their blogs:
Stories on Monday and Thursday · Fabled Hearts

It's done for love of storytelling.

OTH loads of people publish online via KDP (Amazon, about 60% of market) and Smashwords for the other 40%(Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, Flipcart, Overdrive, Barnes& Noble and more), when they want to make money from publishing online. Or CreateSpace for selling online via paper POD. From 30% up to 70% royalty vs 5% to 10% from traditional publishers.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

. From 30% up to 70% royalty vs 5% to 10% from traditional publishers.

Um... If anyone gets offered 5-10% run. That is not the norm. It's not close to the norm. 30%upwards is the norm - with the upwards very, very negotiable.

 

[gdoc]

I have various bits and pieces up. Kraxon.org have four free-to-view stories, and a few other places. I also have a few on my blog - although they're a bit buried, and I might need to think how to make them more visible. However, they're all viewable from my website under short stories.

I find them useful but, as time has become more of an issue, most of my shorts now go to paying markets, often by invite. Because, frankly, they'll never get me anywhere near the exposure of a novel, so if they take me away from my limited writing time they have to be really, really worth it.

Edit - and my challenge stories here, which I keep meaning to promote.

Interesting. Thanks for the response. I know other writers have used short stories to great success. Andy Weir and EL James to name a few.

I have a novel almost done too. But was interested to know if building an audience (with other material) was a worthwhile pursuit.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Interesting. Thanks for the response. I know other writers have used short stories to great success. Andy Weir and EL James to name a few.

I have a novel almost done too. But was interested to know if building an audience (with other material) was a worthwhile pursuit.

Sorry - in case I sounded dismissive, yes, they're useful. And many authors have used them as a platform. But, each writer is different and I'm prolific enough to have a fair few novels either finished (with homes) or close to it. So, for me, I mostly focus on the longform, with some shorts for visibilty. For others, the short form works really well.

 

[gdoc]

Sorry - in case I sounded dismissive, yes, they're useful. And many authors have used them as a platform. But, each writer is different and I'm prolific enough to have a fair few novels either finished (with homes) or close to it. So, for me, I mostly focus on the longform, with some shorts for visibilty. For others, the short form works really well.

No, you didn't sound dismissive at all. I appreciate the insights.

I too have a few novels prepared. One specifically written as a kind of loss leader to help promote me I.e. Specifically written as a short, sharp introduction to my material. It is shortly heading out to some beta readers.

But, having read many accounts of self-published authors, one thing seemed to be consistently emphasised - start promotion before the book is done. That is really what I am exploring here.

As an aside, I am finding it useful to use short stories to hone my writing skills. It is pretty exhausting using full-length novels to refine technique. I have found short stories more manageable. There is also the benefit of using them to explore aspects of a created universe, which I am also finding useful.

Anyway, thanks for the insights.

 

[ralphkern]

I have released a short story on Amazon at 99c/99p. This puts it in the 30% royalty band. There is an option to submit to Amazon singles to obtain a 70% royalty but they assess on a case by case basis. I got turned down, but they don't give feedback as to why, and there isn't guidance as to what the criteria is. If I had to guess, I'd say it is something they designed with serials in mind rather than single stories but could be wrong.

I utilize free promotion whenever possible on this so its more a taster piece.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Btw - absolutely start promo before publishing. But from there, choose what suits your skills. That's the key thing. If you're a prolific and hooky short story writer, yes, go for it. If you're a fab interviewer, go for that. If you design great memes, chuck them out. For me, I blog. I blogged for four years with about 10 hits a week. I blogged anyway because I liked it. Now I have four figure hits on the blog every month. (And it consistently goes up.) i link - discreetly - to my books at the end of appropriate blogs. It's free promo that I like doing, takes me an hour or so a week, and I like it. Would I suggest others follow suit? Only if they like blogging.

Promo, yes. Early, yes, but you'll be looking at that platform for years so do it because you like it, not because it pays back. If you're sincere and passionate, people will like that.

 

[Cathbad]

I have a few on "Best stories on the Web" ( story-story.me ) and I post some on my blog. Cathbad's F&SF Short Story Blog .

I'm not so sure about shorts at 99c ... Do they sell?

 

[ralphkern]

Yeah, they do. But then it becomes chicken and egg. Are buyers readers of my novels who have then gone to find more of my stuff, or are they new readers?

Reviews and also bought suggests they are cross pollinating.

 

[cyprus7]

Related... The Guardian had a piece a few days ago about novellas and shorts.

Nick Earls on the unlikely rise of the novella, star of the ebook revolution

 

[gdoc]

Related... The Guardian had a piece a few days ago about novellas and shorts.

Nick Earls on the unlikely rise of the novella, star of the ebook revolution

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

I have a few novellas in the works. I was intending to use them as loss leaders, strictly giveaways for promotion. Perhaps I need to rethink.

 

[Nick B]

We are planning on having a website dedicated to the Liberator universe, with a short fiction section. Anything from flashfic to short stories, but all set within the same storyverse.

 

[gdoc]

We are planning on having a website dedicated to the Liberator universe, with a short fiction section. Anything from flashfic to short stories, but all set within the same storyverse.

Sounds interesting. I'd be interested in hearing more, or you keeping us informed as to its success.

 

[Nick B]

Sounds interesting. I'd be interested in hearing more, or you keeping us informed as to its success.

Certainly. Just have to learn to make a web page. Or find the money to get someone to do it.

 

[gdoc]

Certainly. Just have to learn to make a web page. Or find the money to get someone to do it.

I didn't realise you hadn't set it up. I'd be happy to give you some advice if you are not super confident with web technology. I design software so know my way around.

What is the Liberator universe?

 

[Nick B]

Not confident? I havn' t got a clue about web design! That's extremely kind of you. What webpage design software is easy to learn to use? That's be a great start. We bought the domain name liberator.space ready =)
Liberator is our (I collaborate on this) first novel, almost ready for publication. It is the opening novel in a sci-fi series base around a merc corporation. The extended universe is huge, history, politics etc and we are doing other works set in that world, so we call it the Liberator Universe.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

What webpage design software is easy to learn to use?

Unless you are a Graphic design team or wanting custom programming* don't bother.
Get a decent Linux hosting package (many include annual domain name renewal).
Install Wordpress, but with comments off, unless you WANT comments. It's not just for Blogs. Select and customise a theme.
Use Filezilla and SFTP to upload all the files needed to create/ install the site. After that you log in via the web interface and use simple WYSIWG editor for more content. Menus, index etc is automatic.

I don't have comments enabled on most of my Wordpress sites. Only two are actually blogs, most have mostly pages rather than posts.

I also use Drupal. It's a bit more complex but more flexible. More awkward to keep up to date.

Most (virtually all) hijacks and attacks on websites using Wordpress or Drupal are because comments are enabled and often due to some stupid plug-in being added. Only use Themes and Plugins from the proper source and as a few (none is best) plugins as possible.

If you want an old style awkward to maintain website, then use Komposer. Free and easy to use.

[* I've done programming for the www.radiomuseum.org it's totally custom. OTH this one is Wordpress and replaced a regular awkward to maintain website, I set it up, picked a theme they liked etc. They could have done it themselves.]

 

[gdoc]

Not confident? I havn' t got a clue about web design! That's extremely kind of you. What webpage design software is easy to learn to use? That's be a great start. We bought the domain name liberator.space ready =)
Liberator is our (I collaborate on this) first novel, almost ready for publication. It is the opening novel in a sci-fi series base around a merc corporation. The extended universe is huge, history, politics etc and we are doing other works set in that world, so we call it the Liberator Universe.

I would echo Ray's suggestion. I use WordPress too. It is a content management system. No one now does their own website.

If you own your domain then you need to find a web hosting company. Look for one with single click WordPress installation (if you choose to use this). In the UK Fasthosts do this. Their basic package is less than £5 per month.

WordPress has a built in theme manager. This is as simple as finding a free theme and uploading a zip file. It does the rest. So you can easily find a look and feel that fits your brand.

I wasn't aware comments were an issue. I have these on by default for posts. I must check this out.