I need your help. I have written my first story and I want to post the first chapter but I am nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. I hope some of you writers that have done this can offer me a little help. My questions are simplistic I know but I want at least it to be submitted correctly.
This blog entry and the fiction entry shares some similarities. One is this area called Body where I'm writing this and where I assume I use to introduce the story. Is it also where I credit my editor? It is fanfiction for Whateley; is this also where I include disclaimers?
What does split summary at cursor mean or what is it used for?
At the bottom of the fiction entry is an attachment link. Can I attach the first chapter (and later ones) through that means and retain the correct format? Or do I copy and paste and use the split summary for the body of the story?
Where do I place a copyright notice? I'm not planning to publish for money but I've spent close to a year with this character and she is very dear to me and I want say where and how she is distributed.
I feel that many of these questions will be answered once I start or become apparent afterwards but this story has been wrote, re wrote and re wrote again, checked for spelling and grammar and such and I would like the story to meet acceptable standards. To create a good first impression. I realize this is paranoia on my part.
Thanks for your help.
Katie
Comments
posting
I get nervous with every chapter and new story I post but I post anyway because you never know what others will think until you do, so post that story :)
In the body you want to put your introduction (title, summary, etc.) followed by a teaser break and the actual story. It all goes in the body. The teaser break basically tells the site where your intro ends and the story begins so it's not all included in the intro. I never use the split summary at cursor myself so I'm not really sure what it does. I usually just copy and paste the body of the story in and don't bother with attachments except for a teaser image in the title.
For copyright I always place it at the ernd of the story but some place it at the beginning, it's a personal preference thing really.
Don't worry too much about the other stuff, stories get posted with errors, it happens to us all and your readers will let you know via pm if there's anything that really needs editing. So if you're happy with it post it and see what happens.
hope this helps a bit.
*hugs*
Amethyst
Don't take me too seriously. I'm just kitten around. :3
FAQ
Many of your questions are answered in the FAQ, a link to which is in the upper right corner of every screen here.
The Body section is pretty much where you do everything. Most people do cut and paste into the body box. The split summary at cursor button and the teaser break button both separate the teaser (part that shows on front page) from the rest of the story. Include your copyright notice if you like, probably at the end of the story so it is less intrusive. The permission rollover has a fan fiction choice then you can identify what the particular original is in the body, at either top or bottom. Intrusive info is best put at the bottom.
Option G produces a © symbol, BTW.
You can upload attachments if you like, that's what that capability is there for.
Most of your questions have the same answer: What do YOU want to do?
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Sorry for the late reply
My sleep cycle is so messed up I'm liable to be awake or asleep at any point in the day or night and I had to go to bed not long after writing this. Based on your replies it looks as if I will just wing it and see what happens.
Thanks to everyone for your replies.
One question I didn't ask; is there a different procedure to post serials?
Sorry to be a PITA
Katie
No
except for the fact that you're supposed to label them properly, but then you're always supposed to label them properly, as a courtesy to your readers. Just look at the available fields and the potential contents.
You can even make up your own tags, which is awfully nice if you're writing a story about fly-fishing in Antarctica.
On the other hand, it may (or may not) be an advantage to chose between one-off and serial publication, because one-off stories have their own special location at the top of the page in the summary section. It's polite to let people know whether they can expect more of the story or if what they se is what they get, because some people hate to start stories that never (or almost never) finish. Posting a story as one big (and complete) glop ensures that many people will be very happy, since they need not fear that the author will run off and join the circus instead of finishing the story...
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Serialization
There are internal structures for organizing serials but they are a bit arcane for a newbie. Post your chapters, be consistent in how they are titled (look at the numerous examples), and someone on staff, myself, Sephrena, Frank or someone else, will put them all in order. :) One soft rule, only one chapter per day from the same serial can display on the front page. Soft meaning there are exceptions, usually temporary.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I posted the first chapter finally
I did it. I certain I could have done better. I copied and pasted from word but the paragraph breaks didn't put a space between them and I had to go and add those. I tried to insert an image too which didn't work.
Look it over if you will and give me your hints, feedback, comments.