Hi there

[chrysoula.livejournal.com]

 I've just joined this community, after a friend pointed it out to me. She pointed it out to me because in a couple of weeks I'm going to launch a serialized novel on my writing blog! I honestly hadn't even considered crowdfunding, probably because I'm convinced that I'll be lucky if I can get a dozen people reading the story. But I've also been thinking that maybe I should at least be prepared to put up a tip jar...

So yeah, I'm a creator! Also, a patron, although previously on Kickstarter and via private author initiatives. I'm quite happy to have discovered this community! I like crowdfunding as a concept because I believe every decent work of art can find an audience, and that removing the overhead of lots of middlemen makes it easier for audiences to get what they enjoy and artists to make a living providing what that audience wants.

As for myself, I'm a speculative fiction writer with lots of big ideas and a decided discomfort with talking about myself instead of my work. But I have a small son, I've been writing a long time, and thinking about serials since bookmarks and the homepage was invented. Lately I've been reading discussions about the difference between 'serialized novels' and real 'serial fiction', and... and probably I should save some of that for a blog post. Right. Okay.

Hi!

Comments

Welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>> I've just joined this community, after a friend pointed it out to me. <<

We're happy to have you here.

>> She pointed it out to me because in a couple of weeks I'm going to launch a serialized novel on my writing blog! <<

Congratulations! Please post an announcement here when you start that project, so folks can come see it.

>> I honestly hadn't even considered crowdfunding, probably because I'm convinced that I'll be lucky if I can get a dozen people reading the story. But I've also been thinking that maybe I should at least be prepared to put up a tip jar...<<

I highly recommend putting up a tip jar. That way if people like your work, they can show it with donations. You might also want to browse the Memories section for how-to articles, such as these:
http://crowdfunding.livejournal.com/88166.html
http://crowdfunding.livejournal.com/102299.html

>>So yeah, I'm a creator! Also, a patron, although previously on Kickstarter and via private author initiatives. I'm quite happy to have discovered this community!<<

That's good to hear. We can always use more of both. This is generally a good place for discussions of crowdfunding in general, or projects and techniques in particular.

>>Lately I've been reading discussions about the difference between 'serialized novels' and real 'serial fiction', and... and probably I should save some of that for a blog post. <<

Actually that would make a great conversation to start here. We have lots of folks who are into serialized novels and/or webserials. I do serial poetry myself:
http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/serial-poetry.html

Re: Welcome!

[chrysoula.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The Memories section looks to be pretty useful.

Is it okay that I'm planning on posting my stuff outside of LJ? I mostly only use my own LJ account for commenting these days.

Re: Welcome!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>Thank you! The Memories section looks to be pretty useful.<<

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.

You might also like the Crowdfunding section on my website:
http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/crowdfunding.html
and I highly recommend "The Three Micahs" series on creative business by haikujaguar at:
http://mcahogarth.blogspot.com/

>>Is it okay that I'm planning on posting my stuff outside of LJ? I mostly only use my own LJ account for commenting these days.<<

Sure, that's no problem! If you look at the sidebar "Links" list, you'll see projects in all kinds of different places. If your project is off-LJ, however, it becomes more important to pimp it here when you update, or on some other schedule; weekly is good for fast-updating projects, monthly for occasional ones. Off-LJ, people can't just friend you and expect the updates to appear on their F-list, so the networking aspect of this community really comes in handy.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I sympathize entirely with the small son situation (though in my case it's a small daughter). And I'm eager to read your opinion about serialized novels vs. serial fiction. :)

[chrysoula.livejournal.com]

Little kids can make life pretty crazy!

Heh, well, on my opinion if I'm not going to put it just on my own blog I should probably do more thinking so it's not just a screed about one particular statement from one particular serialist that irritated me...

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Now I am deeply curious! I wish to read this rant, and the statement that inspired it!

[chrysoula.livejournal.com]

Now I feel all shy!

http://tuesdayserial.com/?p=2032
is the post, specifically Tip #2. I'm not going to argue that there's a difference between serialized novels and serial fiction, because I agree with that: primarily, serial fiction ends up being a soap opera, which can be fun and addictive but is a collection of dramatic events, not a story.

But I've decided that if somebody wants to claim the old masters didn't plan their stuff out in advance so good modern serialists shouldn't either-- then those serialists should also write longhand, or at least use an old-style typewriter. I think the speed of modern word processing and the ease of web publication makes a big difference...

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Now I really am curious about your rant, particularly what you think about the effects of modern technology on serial writing. Please, continue! Or write it somewhere I can read. :)

[chrysoula.livejournal.com]

We've reached the point where I have to think more but when I post it somewhere I'll definitely link it here!

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Please do. It's a topic I have been considering for a while now, and I'd enjoy reading someone else's thoughts. :)