FanStory

Does anyone know anything about FanStory.com? I found it through Writer's Digest, I think. Or, maybe someone mentioned it on here before. Any feedback?
Louisa

I put up a link on my writers' forum about the FanStory contests. I got the link through Writer's Digest.

They look like good legitimate contests. They have some particular rules so read them carefully.

I'm thinking of joining. I don't understand the part about paying. It sounds like you can do certain things for free and others you have to pay for.
Louisa

Vicki or Louisa, have either of you signed up?

I haven't joined. They have a lot of contests. I haven't figured out which one to enter. I don't think I'll do their daily/monthly fan stories, though. I'd rather create on my own.

I think I browsed there a while last year and read a few pieces. I don't know why I didn't stay, don't remember. I need to check them out again. So many web sites, and only 24 hours...geeish!

JJ

I signed up but didn't join. To join, you have to pay. So what's free, I asked them? You can go on and read for free. Big deal. To enter the contests or send in your stuff, you have to pay. I haven't done anything on the site since. It was a bit misleading in the beginning.
Louisa

Anyone noticing how more and more magazines and online sites want to give us full credit (big deal) instead of payment for our work? I think not.

Well, that has two sides though Ms C...a pro and a con. While established writers don't usually stop and submit, submitting your work for bio lines and the opportunity to get your name out there is just what first time writers need to build clips and show that the world DID take their writing seriously. So writing for free does have it's place in my mind. Don't you think? Now if they only knew they could get ME for a bag of Oreo's....

JJ

p.s. In addition, I will say this(did you really think I would drop it there?) if the trend is just bio lines, then more and more established writers will go else where, start their OWN e-zines and magazines, AND/OR write more books because these business we've chosen, or that has chosen US, is how we make our living.

But I'll be the first to tell anybody starting out writing that don't think you're going to make a living off of writing magazine articles. The pay is good, don't get me wrong, but not THAT good. If you breakout the cost and figure the time you spend researching, writing, submitting, maybe rewrites, editing, gas, mailings, taxes, accountants, advertising, and time, you probably make 5 bucks a hour....LOL!

JJ

My first published, paid article was a day trip story for a newspaper. I got $60. Then I told my husband they liked my writing and he had to take me someplace else so I could write about it. He said, "so I have so spend 4 or 5 hundred dollars to take you away for a weekend so you can write about it and make $60?" He caught on real quick.

Louisa

Has anyone heard of www.thenextbigwriter.com ?

A friend of mine is using it. It is similar to Fan Story. I was just wondering if it is a good site or not. I'm leery of ones that want you to pay to post your work.
Louisa

A good writer never has to pay to post their work is what I have always been told by successful authors. If all these sites want is money, they'd post anything and thats not the sort of dribble I'd want my work next to....