Anyone going to do the SmashWords NaNoWriMo offer?

[Amelia]

Looks like SmashWords is offering you the chance to publish your WIP with them as you write it, which might be a great marketing opportunity for those with backlists to sell (I'm writing the third book of my trilogy for NaNo, so....)

https://www.smashwords.com/about/nano...

[Chani]

I didn't know about this! Thanks!

[Robert]

I wouldn't recommend it. SmashWords is awesome, don't get me wrong. But direct uploading without editing? I'd be iffy about that.

[Dan]

That's an interesting offer. The added pressure of having people read as I write might be just what I need...

[Amelia]

Robert,

If I did do it, I would definitely throw on a big disclaimer up front that what is there is the first/rough draft (I'd probably put that in all caps) being offered for free as a special promotion because of NaNoWriMo and that it was subject to change through the editing process and would be available for purchase at a later date.

My thought was that by uploading and updating Book Three for NaNo, I might drive sales toward Books One and Two.

I'm still trying to decide.

[Cameron]

Robert wrote: "I wouldn't recommend it. SmashWords is awesome, don't get me wrong. But direct uploading without editing? I'd be iffy about that."

I agree Robert, especially if the work you are doing for NaNo is going to end up on the shelves for sale - why would ppl buy it if they saw the half-assed 1st draft?

[Hayley]

Cameron wrote: "Robert wrote: "I wouldn't recommend it. SmashWords is awesome, don't get me wrong. But direct uploading without editing? I'd be iffy about that."

I agree Robert, especially if the work you are doing for NaNo..."

But if you could just post a few bits and peices - maybe stop and given them a basic grammar edit beforehand, I think it oculd drive up sales for Ond Two, and well and build the hype for when you finally published Three.

[Cameron]

Hayley wrote: "Cameron wrote: "Robert wrote: "I wouldn't recommend it. SmashWords is awesome, don't get me wrong. But direct uploading without editing? I'd be iffy about that."

I agree Robert, especially if the ..."

See your point Hayley, but as what I'm doing is already promised to a publisher I don't know how they would feel about me dishing out freebies. But then everyone's situation is different and it might be a really good promotion idea for others.

[Robert]

...words words words...

People don't want to spend money on drafts. They want perfect products. This is your audience you're talking about. You don't want to send any impression except the right one.

Smashwords rocks, and I use them to sell a few short stories. But Nanowrimo is about quantity, not quality.

If you want a freebie, then offer it in its entirety in a location where your audience understands what it is. Keep in mind - your average reader won't have a clue what "Nanowrimo" is.

[Tara]

If I’m reading it right, all nanowrimo novels have their own category. They won’t get mixed in with the other novels. And they STRONGLY suggest that people don’t charge anything for it since it is a work in progress. It doesn’t get added onto any other lists until it’s out of the work in progress status.
Maybe not the best idea if you’re thinking of publishing but it might be a nice way to show friends and family the process that goes into writing a novel and why it takes so long for them to get to read it.
If I did his I would probably spend too much time trying to edit and not enough time writing, defeating the whole purpose of nanowrimo.

[Jacquel]

I'm going to do that when I have five chapters completed.

[Keith]

Love Smashwords, but will have to pass. My WIP is a very, very rough draft. I will need about eight edits to make it perfectamente.

[Sparrowlicious]

While this sounds nice the thing that makes nanowrimo awesome for me is actually the following:
it doesn't matter if my characters go on babbling for paragraphs to no end because I won't let anyone read the first draft anyway.
If I'd sign up for things like this smashwords offer I would automatically try to write something that others would like to read instead of writing what I like to write.
So yeah, while this sounds nice for people who plan on publishing and give it their all on writing a likeable book I'm better off with myself. :D
Also, I'm an overachiever and therefore my story goes rather slow but has a lot of words for scenes that other people probably wouldn't even include.

[Richard]

I would no more upload my manuscript in progress than I would bring a bowl of raw cake batter to a party. It wouldn't be a good experience for anybody.

[Robert]

Richard wrote: "I would no more upload my manuscript in progress than I would bring a bowl of raw cake batter to a party. It wouldn't be a good experience for anybody."

*snerk*

[ReadingToTheStarsAndBack]

I would do and give copies to my family so that they new i had actually done some work in November :) lol

[Jennivie]

Interesting.... While I do share snippets with people there is no freaking way anyone outside of a few close friends is allowed to go anywhere near this monstrosity *cackles madly*