Crowdfunding Writing

[the-borgqueen.livejournal.com]

While I've been recuperating and trying to think of things to do with my limited mobility my spouse had suggested that if I posted the first part of a fantasy story I'm working on people might sponsor me to post further chapters, and then I wasn't sure how that might work and then I remembered the Poetry Fishbowls so I thought I would ask here if anyone has done such a thing with prose works, and if so how they go about it, or suggestions as to how to go about it--pages at a time, chapters at a time, chapter first then smaller sections.

I wouldn't even know how to budget something like that.

So, yes...help?

Comments

[ankewehner.livejournal.com]

There are fishbowls for prose - usually flash fiction. aldersprig is the most consistent author running those I can think of.

From what I've seen (and done myself), there's a tendency for these authors having several settings, and writing a mix of one-of flash fiction in these settings, more-or-less-serials of connected stories or chapters, and stuff not belonging to their established settings.

For one story, well, that's serialising.

The most successful serial-poster I know of is haikujaguar - her most recent one is at part 8.

I believe she usually posts sections between 1000 and 2000 words. I think that's a good length; a book chapter seems like too much.

Also, she posts one installment per week for free, and a second if she gets $15 in tips. She's been at this for years and already built quite an audience; I think if you're just starting out it's even more important to offer more than just one chapter for free and post the rest only for money, because not enough people might be interested enough to keep things going. (I have to admit, I post what little I write nearly always for free, so I may be biased.)

When a serial is finished, she packages it as an ebook and makes it available on Smashwords (from where it ships to many retailers) and Amazon, so serialising isn't the only way to make money.

[the-borgqueen.livejournal.com]

That's very cool. Thanks for all the info.
I was a bit in that boat too, going, I have a lot of people *I* know who say this is cool and they're interested BUT...will others be?
Offering pay for finish right away seems a little egotistical. How to establish is this is viable, etc...
Thanks also for the info about Smashwords. I'll look into them too.

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

There are a handful of folks doing microfic and you've already been pointed to one of the most successful who does longer stuff. Those are good examples.

I will add:

* If you already have a group of people who love your work, talk to them. See what they might like to do.

* Plan to post some stuff for free. If it's good, it tends to hook people.

* Readers often favor characters and/or settings they can revisit. For a while this stumped me -- how could I do that with poetry? My readers solved this problem by requesting more about their favorites, hence my now massive collection of poetic series.

* Look for ways to involve people. The more invested they are, the more likely they will sponsor. Frex, you might let them choose a theme for which story excerpt gets posted for free.

* Make sure the fence is low: have things people can sponsor that don't cost much. It's often easier to get small payments adding up to $75 than to get that all from one person. I do have people who buy my epic poems whole, but more donors contribute to the microfunded ones at $.50/line.

Re: Yes...

[the-borgqueen.livejournal.com]

That sounds good and I definitely prefer the idea of microfunding rather than asking for a huge amount up front.

I have two main universes where stories I write take place. I had had several ideas for different stories and then realized I could fairly easily put certain ones together rather than coming up with two entirely separate groups of alien species, for instance, so I hope that will help.

It at the most basic level divides my stories into a modern fantasy setting with magic users, spirits and werewolves and then a more sci-fi based series with genetic engineering, mechs and aliens.

Re: Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>That sounds good and I definitely prefer the idea of microfunding rather than asking for a huge amount up front.<<

I'm glad we could help.

>>It at the most basic level divides my stories into a modern fantasy setting with magic users, spirits and werewolves and then a more sci-fi based series with genetic engineering, mechs and aliens.<<

That sounds interesting. Feel free to post here when you start crowdfunding stuff -- there are folks who will want to boost the signal.

Re: Yes...

[the-borgqueen.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm trying to untangle how and where I'm going to set up base of operations.
I haven't done much with LJ recently. I've mostly been on tumblr BUT I'm not sure that it's really got a good engine to keep track of things the way that I'd like. Alternately I have my own domain that's been idle for a bit also due to recuperating.