| You might be a published author if...You've ever | | | | allows an audience to read your work and provide |
| printed up several copies of your work and passed | | | | feedback while allowing you to grow as a |
| them out at the mall.You've ever written something | | | | writer.When you begin a writing career it can be very |
| pithy on a restaurant napkin and left it for the | | | | important to find as many avenues as possible to |
| waitstaff.You've ever written a poem in the memo | | | | allow your work to be seen and the web provides a |
| of your checkbook.You've ever published a selection | | | | readily accessible forum for doing just that.Some will |
| of stories in a three ring binder for neighbors as a | | | | refer to this as assisting in the building of a portfolio |
| 'welcome to the neighborhood' gift.The truth is, the | | | | which is essentially a means of showing potential |
| definition of a published author might be more | | | | publishers that your work has been accepted (or |
| encompassing than you may have realized. Most | | | | published) in a wide variety of venues.The more |
| aspiring writers tend to think of a published author as | | | | publishing credits you have the greater your chances |
| one who has had a manuscript accepted for | | | | are that a publisher will review your work a little |
| publication in a book or magazine. However, because | | | | closer.If you have ever participated in a writing |
| there are assignable rights to your work it is | | | | contest, had your work accepted by an ezine or had |
| important to know that chances are very strong that | | | | a writing printed in your local newspaper, you are |
| you are already a published author.If you have | | | | now a published author.The bad news is you've |
| posted a story on the web, you are now considered | | | | forfeited the opportunity to sell the piece for first |
| a published author. This scenario can be confusing and | | | | and/or exclusive rights.The good news is you are |
| sometimes frustrating for writers because some | | | | realizing a dream that is forfeited by many because |
| publishers only accept work that can be provided | | | | of the fear involved in clicking the 'submit' |
| with first or exclusive rights. If the piece has been | | | | button.Scott Lindsay is a web developer and |
| published on the web, these rights are no longer | | | | entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters ( and |
| available.It should be noted that there are also many | | | | many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to |
| publishers that will accept second rights or | | | | become one of the largest online destinations for |
| non-exclusive reprint rights for those works that | | | | Christian writers. Members include writers from all |
| have been published before.One of the primary | | | | around the world. |
| reasons to consider web publishing is because it | | | | |