On Readers, audiences, and finding a new author, and how it relates to weblit

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

I've posted over in my journal about how I find print-book authors, and how this relates to audiences finding web-fiction authors. I'd love input and ideas; new year seems like a good time to revamp the processes.

Comments

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I find new webfiction mostly through friends, because I'm not exactly looking hard for new ways to spend my negligible free time. However, sometimes I go out to Top Web Fiction to vote, and may see something new there.

I think the hub sites for webfiction are very influential in giving readers a place to go if they want to find new authors. We really need a hub site for crowdfunded projects in particular; plans for that have been discussed for several years but so far nothing has come together yet.

Re: Hmm...

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

What differentiates crowdfunded weblit?

I don't know a single weblit author I read that doesn't have a donate button up - although I only know three that call it a living.

Let me rephrase: I read the crowdfunded guidelines for Rose & Bay, and I can't think of any webfiction that doesn't meet those qualifications. I do think, however, that some are more audience-involvement than others (though this may be a function of the audiences, not the particular lit).

Re: Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>I don't know a single weblit author I read that doesn't have a donate button up - although I only know three that call it a living. <<

A lot of weblit is crowdfunded. However, I have seen some that does not include a donation button (or other monetizing method) and/or does not involve audience interaction. Sometimes people just want to post stuff. That's particularly common with fanfic, but it happens with original stories too.

>>Let me rephrase: I read the crowdfunded guidelines for Rose & Bay, and I can't think of any webfiction that doesn't meet those qualifications.<<

Then it should be easy to find ones to nominate!

>> I do think, however, that some are more audience-involvement than others (though this may be a function of the audiences, not the particular lit). <<

Yes, that's an important qualification. If a nomination is challenged, we need to be able to look at the site and say, "Okay, here is a money method and here is an example of audience interaction." In particular, some writers will do a single whole book and post it in chapters, not necessarily caring about feedback or allowing the audience influence over what happens in the story or which story gets published.

In short...
Crowdfunded: Involves making money directly from a group of fans AND some kind of meaningful audience interaction.
Not crowdfunded: Visible, but might not involve any money and might have only one-way communication.

Another example: If a writer self-publishes and ebook and puts it in a store, that's money; but if they don't have any audience interaction, it's just an e-store not crowdfunding. However, if the same author says, "I have 3 unpublished manuscripts gathering dust on my hard drive. Which of these three would you most likely buy?" then publishes the most popular, that is crowdfunding.

Re: Hmm...

[aldersprig.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the clarification!