Posting original writing on blogs - good or bad?

[mary_j_59]

Hi, everyone! A question below for writers - amateur, aspiring and pro:

[Poll #1671093]

You see, I've read in several places now that publishers, editors, etc, frown on posting snippets of works in progress. But I don't know - it doesn't seem harmful to me, provided the snippets are (1) short, and (2) fairly polished. I know that I have been dying to read R.J. Anderson's Ultraviolet for years, ever since she posted a first chapter for comments! I also know that some writers who are now published developed a fanbase by publishing fanfic on their journals, as well as on archives. In some cases, publishers have asked them to take their writing down, and they have done so.

I know this is a tricky question, because, legally, putting something up on your blog can be seen as publishing it. So - what do you think?

Comments

[puckling.livejournal.com]

Well, I mean, I sincerely doubt that even if I wanted to get my Colin/Bradley fic published that I could, so I suppose that maybe I should have clicked "Um-do you mean fanfic?" but I knew that you were not asking questions about fanfic.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think it's quite legitimate to talk about fanfic, Puckling - especially since some fanfic has actually been published! (I'm thinking of Star Trek: The New Voyages, a book my brother and I read in the 1970s, and also of all those Star Wars and Trek books. How are they not fanfic, really?) It's also puzzling to me that some authors, after getting published, take down their fanfic. But it's true I was mostly talking about original stuff. Thanks for your response!

[puckling.livejournal.com]

Well I definitely agree that fanfic is totally legit! :D But for the most part I would say the examples that you brought up are exceptions: people don't write fanfic expecting it to be published professionally. So with regards to putting fanfic on one's personal lj or blog, it wouldn't be a consideration regarding publishing, from what I've seen at least.

It's also puzzling to me that some authors, after getting published, take down their fanfic.

I can understand the whole..."I want my fannish internet activities separate from my rl ones" attitude, and if you want to promote your published fic to a base you built through fannish writing, then I guess taking down fannish writing is one way to go while still holding on to your original base. Personally speaking I'd just maintain two IDs, but that's me. Also I totally wrote a paper of three case studies on the topic. It was probably one of my favorite things I've ever done for academia.