The Clitorides are open for voting. [ Dismiss ]
Home » Forum » Author Hangout

Forum: Author Hangout

ShadowyTales - request to be an author

Ernest Bywater 🚫

G'day,

Peoples, and others, I received a request from a site called ShadowyTales asking me to become an author for them. Below is my reply to them:

G'day,

I love the note, especially since this is the SECOND email I have from you on this. I looked at the site, and I doubt it will do much for me, especially since I couldn't readily find any information on royalty payments rates for anything published by you, nor did I like the fact it seems the only way to publish via you is to you your program to write the story instead of just loading a completed and validated e-pub, pdf, or html documents.

Since I usually write 50,000 words or more per story and already have over 3,000,000 words in print via Lulu and Stories On-line, I've no interest in having to try and stuff the stories into your on-line program.

So, thanks, but no thanks.

Ernest


The site almost looks like a copy of other sites I've seen that have fallen by the wayside, and I don't like the fact they want people to put stories on their site, even sell books, but I couldn't find anything to say how much they pay you.

Just thought to let you know so you don't have to waste your time on it if they also contact you.

Vincent Berg 🚫
Updated:

I received the same offer—apparently they're doing a blanket invitation to everyone on ASSTR, sniping ASSTR's author base. I tried, in vain, for about an hour to access their site last night—never getting an error message—the page just freezing.

Apparently the key to your questions (about their Terms & Conditions) is answered by this blog entry: "Publish your work for free at Shadowy Tales". The answer is, you publish it for free, meaning you receive no compensation for your work.

Also, the site is a mess, as it keeps freezing my browser whenever I visit the site.

I agree, it's not worth wasting your time on.

It seems a combination of FanFic, racist stereotypes (lots of dominant German women dominating men) and other similar stereotypes. Their 'store' sells a variety of goods from sex toys to cheap-assed lingerie.

However, like ASSTR, it doesn't seem to limit content—meaning it'll soon cater to the kiddie-porn story crowd (which is what's strangling ASSTR at the moment, as that single market has changed most legitimate authors from the site).

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Vincent Berg

However, like ASSTR, it doesn't seem to limit content—meaning it'll soon cater to the kiddie-porn story crowd (which is what's strangling ASSTR at the moment, as that single market has changed most legitimate authors from the site).

Actually, one condition of use for authors is no characters under 18 engaging in sex. I found the site fairly responsive, but my ad blocker software was very busy killing pop-ups. I did wonder if it was another click-bait site.

I did go through all their terms of use, and compared to them Amazon is almost reasonable.

Switch Blayde 🚫

@Vincent Berg

"Publish your work for free at Shadowy Tales". The answer is, you publish it for free, meaning you receive no compensation for your work.

What that means is they won't charge you to publish your story (like a Vanity press does).

I didn't (and won't) visit their site, but if they're selling sex toys and other stuff, the purpose of the stories is to gain traffic.

Vincent Berg 🚫

@Switch Blayde

What that means is they won't charge you to publish your story (like a Vanity press does).

I understood the intended message, but since I didn't see any T&C (I never created an account), I was being facetious.

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Switch Blayde

What that means is they won't charge you to publish your story

From what I could see in the terms and conditions, it would seem free was both what they intended to charge you as well as pay you.

Replies:   Vincent Berg
Vincent Berg 🚫
Updated:

@Ernest Bywater

From what I could see in the terms and conditions, it would seem free was both what they intended to charge you as well as pay you.

Which was exactly my point. They have no problem with profiting by publishing your book, but offer nothing in exchange. I wouldn't give the site three months before it folds.

Back to Top

Close
 

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT...

Storiesonline is for adult entertainment only. By accessing this site you declare that you are of legal age and that you agree with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.