I know this topic has come up before, but I can never find back information when I need it (I'm probably lazy). Besides, I'm sure new users may want to know the answer too.
So I've just joined an on-line group that does, among other things, critiques of posted work. It is a password protected site. Does this mean that if I post something there that I have not given up my electronic rights? I just want to make absolutely certain that I won't hvae any trouble before I post even a piece of my novel.
Posted by Alias (Member # 1645) on :
Would you share the link with me please, I have been interested in such a site.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
Well, maybe I should go into more detail first. I only joined 2 days ago so I don't know whether to recommend it or not, but it seems pretty neat. It's actually a place to take classes, as well as join groups and get feedback. I joined because the price was right...$9.99 per month for unlimited classes and all their other resources or $59 a year if I decide it's worthwhile. I'm currently signed up for 2 classes there, one on creating believable characters and one called "beginnings, middles, and ends" to help with plot. Next week I'll be starting one on mystery writing. They also have some courses on world building for scifi/fantasy coming bup, but not immediately. I like the fact that the place did not just cater to scifi/fantasy...I find that sometimes the opinions I get here are a bit too narrow. (no offense) And, of course, they have lots of groups that critique bits of novels and short stories outside these classes.
Like I said, I've been a member for 2 days now, so I don't have a recommendation for or against, but that's the spiel about what they do and the reason I signed up. If you want to takea look go to http://writersvillage.com/
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Christine, I would think that as long as you have to have a password to VIEW the work of another writer, and anyone else would have to have a password to VIEW your work, then there's a good chance your electronic rights are safe.
It really depends on how many people actually have a password to your work. If it's just your group, and that group is about the same size as a face-to-face class, it's probably okay. If the number of people is much larger than that (say, around a hundred or so), then it might be considered the same as publication in a small circulation magazine, and there are some editors who consider your first electronic rights to have been used.
Have you asked the Writers Village people about electronic rights?
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
Yes, but I don't think they understood the question. And while you do need a password to get on the site in the first place, anyone who is a member can view the works posted in any study group. There might be a hundred members, and the individual study groups are not password protected.
Hmmm...well that's a shame, I was hoping to get some serious feedback on my novel as there are a couple groups dedicated to novels. I might still post some short works there since I just don't care as much about them.
Thanks for the info, not what ai wanted to hear but definitely necessary to hear before I made a serious mistake!
