Question
I see many people put things up here, like short stories, and things, but the second one is posted, people say that it wont be reviewed or anything, i was wondering if a person can post like a first chapter or something, just to ask if it sounds good, like i have written the first chapter of my first book ever, and i was going to post it to see if people liked it, not to get reviewed, am i able to do this, or must i send it into the writers workshop, cuz i kinda have cold feet about sending it in, cuz i don't kno if anyone will like it, or if it has potential.I want to post my first chapter without being told no one will read it.
"Society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals." --Oscar Wilde
There's no rule against putting it here. But there's also no guarantee how people will respond, or even [i]if[/i] they will respond. Since the writer's workshop came along, a lot of our members just assume that's the right place for your creative work. When they post things to that effect in the Fan Submissions forum, it's an effort to help new people, even if it sounds more like a scolding. The Fan Submissions forum has remained a very good place for original graphic artwork and photographs, or any other self-expression that doesn't quite fit the parameters of the workshop. Your writing can go up in here, and a few people will probably read it, but you'll probably get a better class of responses in the workshop.
VP - Workshop Dog
Then i might post my first chapter to see how it goes.
"Society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals." --Oscar Wilde
Why not get into the Workshops? That's the reason I joined the Cult, even though I haven't done much there these past couple of dreadful years.
I mean, fan fiction is tricky to workshop, I would think, because it tends to be motivated by your personal connection with a whole other story, but I'd think that would be better than a thread...
When we call soccer 'football' the terrorists have won.
[QUOTE=Chixulub;933947]
I mean, fan fiction is tricky to workshop[/QUOTE]
Not sure he's even doing [i]fan fiction[/i], per se, though this forum is designated for that, too. And I agree with your overall sentiment: why not go ahead and jump into the workshop? You'll have to write 5 reviews before you can post something, but it's quite worth it.
VP - Workshop Dog
Sorry, i wasn't thinking [I]at all[/I] , its not fan fiction, i thought the thread was a different name, im so stupid, anyway, i closed my thread and ill see about sending something in, but i have one question, is there any length of a fictional book that they won't accept. What im asking is, if it is too long, will they read it?
"Society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals." --Oscar Wilde
[QUOTE=DAN9108;934072] but i have one question, is there any length of a fictional book that they won't accept. What im asking is, if it is too long, will they read it?[/QUOTE]
You're welcome to submit work of any length, bound only by the technical limitations of the workshop file size, which makes it impossible to submit a single file of more than about 20,000 words. Anything novel-length would therefore have to be broken down into at least three or four sections or installments. You might even consider breaking it down into even smaller portions, to help encourage readers who shy away from long submissions.
Back in the old days of novel writing, it was extremely common for novels to be first published in serial fashion, in say, a periodical, something like the New Yorker, and then later the separate "books" would get bound together and republished as a single volume. so, you could look at this as the continuation of a grand tradition, and also use it as an opportunity to build dramatic tension, especially at the end of a chapter or section, to make sure that someone is interested in seeing the next part.
Realize that many people in the workshop submit short stories of 3,000 words or fewer, and many also prefer to review short stories of 3,000 words or fewer, because it's easily digestable in a single span of attention. Longer works are typically going to sit a while before receiving a public rating. That's just the way it tends to go in here, by nature, not by rules. For getting your work read and reviewed, shorter is better.
Do it in segments, or alternatively, you could simply submit the first three chapters of your novel--probably getting them all into a single file--and [i]then[/i] decide whether to submit more of the work, or to focus on revising and polishing it based on feedback, instead. Many book editors don't want to see any more than your first 30 pages. It's enough space to show what you can do. If you can't build interest in the first 30 pages, they don't really care how the story ends, because they know the reading public doesn't care, either. So, only after you've impressed them with your opening will they consider requesting the full manuscript. Focusing your submission in this way is using the workshop as a test run for working with a real book editor who can help your work see print.
VP - Workshop Dog
i say go ahead and post it
some might read it, most won't
and you'll probably get some jokey replies
but still it's better than nothing eh?