Correct me if I'm wrong...

[thetruefalse.livejournal.com]

I remember reading in a post about two weeks ago that all winners will be getting, as a prize, one published copy of their NaNovel in paperback. Is this correct? Any information on this would be much appreciated.

Comments

[syntheticjesso.livejournal.com]

If you won last year, you should have gotten an email (or they might still be sending them out, I'm not sure) with instructions on how to get a free copy of your 2007 novel. They are working on securing the same deal for winners this year, but nothing has been set in stone yet.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_xlivetodiex/]

I love your icon. Hah.
Did they always do that? I've won a couple of years and never got anything like this.

[syntheticjesso.livejournal.com]

I think they first year they did it was 2006. Possibly 2005, I don't really remember. Their contact at lulu.com left the company, and they couldn't get it lined up in time for 2007. This year they switched to CreateSpace, which is why they're doing it retroactively for people who won last year.

(I love my icon, too- I love the idea of Ravenclaws voting for Obama, even though they are British. I got the icon from slyferret, who's done all the houses :D)

[muji]

Oh man. What an incentive if it holds up this year!

[night-sky99.livejournal.com]

Agreed!! That would so wicked if I got my novel in actual novel form!!
-runs to go type more-

[onyourown.livejournal.com]

I know they did it in 2006. Last year they wanted to do something similar with LuLu, but the person who had been in charge of it in 06 wasn't working for LuLu anymore. Last I heard, the only way to get a copy of your book from them was to pay for it. I've not heard anything about them doing the same thing this year.

[shesmysanity.livejournal.com]

I say to refer to the NaNo FAQs.... but if it is true.... thats pretty awesome....

[pernwebgoddess.livejournal.com]

We haven't added it to the FAQs. It's really more a CreateSpace promotion that a NaNoWriMo prize, like the Lulu thing.

[faedreamer.livejournal.com]

I'll say as I did in the other thread about this. It's a fine idea for those who do not wish to ever get their book published. But if, at any point ever, you might want to have your novel published by a legitimate publishing company and not a vanity/self press, this is a bad idea. By printing that single copy through Creatspace, you are using up your first publication rights, which *most* publishers require. Your book becomes "pre-published" and, as such, much more difficult to sell.

But, if you never want to pursue publication for it, then it's a fun little prize to allow people to hold a copy in their hands. Just be aware of what you are giving up when you do it, because those rights can never be gotten back.

[moonhorse.livejournal.com]

Good to know.

[arwensouth.livejournal.com]

Actually, no, this is not true. If you print a single copy, for your own use, and it is never offered for public sale, it's considered a "proofing copy" and does not count toward first publication rights. I looked into it very carefully before I got mine printed.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Very excellent info! Thank you! I didn't know anything about this 'prize', but I am writing this novel for real, and hope to one day publish it, if I should be so lucky. I will look into this myself, too, but thank you so much for sharing this tidbit!

[syntheticjesso.livejournal.com]

This.

Also, Playing For Keeps was totally sold on lulu.com AND given away as a podiobook, and it still got picked up by a "real" publisher.

[faedreamer.livejournal.com]

I never said it was impossible. I said it made it *harder* to then sell to a real publisher. It does.

[faedreamer.livejournal.com]

Whether it is for sale or not has nothing to do with it being considered published. Posting a novel on a blog or journal counts as published these days and can hinder one's ability to then sell said novel. Money does not need to exchange hands for it to be considered published.

This is from the Createspace contract, that users are required to sign in order to use the service:

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, you grant to us a nonexclusive license, during the term of this Agreement, to (a) create digital versions of Content you provide in nondigital format; (b) create a digitized version of the Content that we will use to create a Unit (each, a "Source File") and, if applicable, a nearly lossless digital file (a "Future-Proof Archive File") using your Content; (c) reformat for online delivery, reproduce, and distribute your Content through (i) the CreateSpace E-Stores, the Amazon Properties, and other sales channels in digital form on physical media, and (ii) the Amazon Properties in digital form via Unbox or Amazon MP3, as applicable, subject to content usage rules that are in accordance with Section 6.2 below; (d) create Promotional Clips from your video and audio Content, provided that we will only create Promotional Clips upon your request for Titles not distributed through Unbox or Amazon MP3; (e) distribute, display, transmit, perform and use the Promotional Clips (if any) and the Descriptive Materials to advertise and promote the Titles and the Services; and (f) create Packaging Materials from the Descriptive Materials. Meaning you are liscensing your rights. Therefore those rights are no longer *first* rights, which are the most valuable ones. Your book is now pre-published.

You agree that we and our affiliates may include your written Titles in the Search Inside!™ program, which enables visitors to view, search, and "page browse" through your written Titles. Accordingly, for each of your written Titles you hereby grant us permission, on a nonexclusive, perpetual basis, to (x) reproduce and store the entirety of each Title in digital form on one or more computer facilities of or under the control of us or our affiliates or our independent contractors; and (y) to display portions of each Title on the Amazon Properties so that a user will be able to (i) use queries to locate, select and display excerpts that include the search terms for every occurrence of the search terms; and (ii) view a limited number of pages within a Title during any single session. Perpetual. Which means forever. You may withdraw your title, yes, but they have the right to forever display it via their various websites and outlets.

I'm not disputing that you retain ownership and copyright when using a self-publisher like Createspace. What you are using up is not ownership, it is *first* rights. Absolutely one may sell second, third, however many other versions of those rights, but they lose value and it is a hard thing to find a home for a book that has been published. Self-publishing is still publishing. It still uses up those rights that legit publishers want.

Printing a single copy for your own use at, say, Kinko's or the like is different. Createspace is a self-publisher, not a printer, and requires a contracted licensing of rights to the book they will then print for you. Contracting it then to a legit publisher, you would be contracting second rights, not first. First publication rights are the ones publishers want. Not saying they *never* buy pre-published books, because of course there's exceptions to every rule. I'm merely saying it makes it harder. I think people need to be aware of what they are giving away if they go the self-publishing route.

[fairytaleaddict.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ♥

[arwensouth.livejournal.com]

Well, the LuLu agreement was different, and that's what I had researched:

By posting your Content on the site, you grant that Lulu, in service to the creator may excerpt your Content, excluding any Personal Data that may have been included, for use in marketing materials, and Lulu may make minor modifications to the Content for technical reasons. Of course, Lulu will credit you and/or the original artist, and we will usually ask you first. You further agree that Lulu may make minor modifications to the Content for technical reasons. We will not feature Content that you have marked "Direct Access" or "Available only to me."

I'll admit that I haven't researched Createspace as closely, but Lulu has the "Available only to me" setting, which allowed you to upload and print a copy of your book without anyone ever being able to search for it, read it, excerpt it, buy it, anything. And once it was printed, you could withdraw it without any sign that it had ever been there. Therefore, I don't see how it is any different from taking my data stick over to Kinko's and printing out a copy there. In either case, I don't feel that printing a single copy for my personal use would constitute first publication; if I were to make several copies and start handing them out to family and friends, that would of course be a different case entirely.

Unfortunately, I can't find the link that I had where all of this was explained more eloquently. I rather suspect that it was in the NaNo forums somewhere.

It does sound as though the Createspace agreement is less writer-friendly, which is unfortunate. I think I'd rather go back to Lulu and pay them to print a copy.

And I agree that posting a novel on-line or in a blog counts as publishing, and also that money need not change hands in order for something to count as having been "published". But I think there can be ways for people to obtain a single nicely printed and bound copy of their work without giving up first publication rights.

EDIT: Okay, I went out and looked at the CreateSpace site, and found this info:

On Createspace, your book goes through a series of steps, including:

* Awaiting Proof Order: The files you uploaded have been reviewed and meet the submission specifications. You may order your proof copy at anytime.

* Proof Review: You have ordered a proof copy of your book. If your proof copy meets your complete satisfaction when you receive it, log in to your account and click the Approve Proof button. Your CreateSpace E-Store will immediately activate and your Amazon.com product detail page will become live usually within fifteen business days. You can also edit your title if necessary and order a new proof.

To me, this says that you could upload a copy of your novel, order a proof copy, and then just never go back and click on the Approve Proof button. The info never gets sent to Amazon, and the book is never offered for sale. We'd probably need a lawyer or other professional to give a final opinion, but I'd say that obtaining a proof copy and then deleting the book from Createspace's website would still be the same as printing at Kinko's. My unpaid, non-professional opinion, of course.

[ansleylc.livejournal.com]

How is everyone handling the idea of EDITING your book? I know a lot of the stuff I'm pumping out here is such terrible drivel, and I know that's kind of the point of NaNo. But I wonder if I got it published before I did any really extensive editing, whether I'd later cringe to read it...

[playla.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'd love to see a copy of my NaNo novel in print, but not until after I've had time to edit and revise it.

[syntheticjesso.livejournal.com]

They usually give you some time. Last time, the offer didn't expire until sometime in late January, I think.

[dianne-the-geek.livejournal.com]

I think the offers are usually good for six months. Not a lot of time for polishing, but it might be enough for a quick edit. I plan to rework last years' novel strating Dec. 1.

[morvashepley.livejournal.com]

You are not the only one. My inner editor is crying. I'm embarrassed by the sheers lack of story-telling craft I've used.

But we're mot the only ones. I've found a whole forum devoted to just this aspect, including some humorous responses on how to deal with that inner editor who won't let you go forward.

For me, the whole point of NaNoWriMo is deal with just this issue. Wish me luck.

Good Luck to you too.

Cheers
Morva Shepley

[nano1689.livejournal.com]

OH, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. *is boggled* O.o

[13-stories.livejournal.com]

Last year's winners were given codes (good for six months) that would get you a free copy of your 2007 book but I don't know if they are doing that again this year.

[technicolornina.livejournal.com]

I'm writing fanfic. I wonder if I could still get that . . . ?