Updates on Textnovel.com

We have had inquiries from members asking for updates on Textnovel.com.  As you know, we haven't launched any recent contests and our Editor's Picks haven't been updated for a while.  This isn't because we are shutting down!  Here's an update:

Contests

We are looking for input from our members on whether to do more contests and how to structure them.  We are considering eliminating any requirement that winners sign any kind of publishing or representation arrangement with Textnovel.com, LLC.  However, if we do that, we need a way to fund the contest.  This may mean a small participation fee or alternatively, a flexible prize amount and/or contest end date based on the total dollars contributed during the contest for upgrades and in donations.  If you have thoughts or comments about this, please either post them here or email them to us at support (at) textnovel.com.

Editor's Picks

Textnovel is a community of writers and it can only function with the involvement of its members.  We are looking for volunteers to help us select weekly Editor's Picks and to provide feedback and encouragement to authors.  The types of volunteer opportunities we have are:

• Textnovel Genre Mentor -- be a leader and encourage and coach members within your favorite genre(s) both on the website and in the forum

• Textnovel Editorial Team --help select weekly Editor's Picks and give feedback to authors

We will develop a special badge for volunteers that will highlight their profile and stories.  Volunteers will also receive perks like free Featured Story or Featured Author grants.  If you are interested, let us know at support (at) textnovel.com.

New Features

Just to let you know we have no intention of shutting down, here's a small tidbit: we are working with a partner on an exciting new feature that we hope to announce soon.  Yes we realize that sentence says practically nothing -- sorry about that!  We'll make an announcement as soon as we can.

Keep writing!

Textnovel Team

 

Comments

[Lief Fist]

Did any of your software updates interfere with the resend verification link?

[ergelina]

Is this also the reason of why the updates of some stories come to my e-mail and some don't? Even though I've marked it ...

What exactly do I have to do in Textnovel Editorial Team?

My opinion about the contest - if it'll require payment, then I'll most likely stop publishing stories here or joining in the contest. Because I'm not from USA, I'm from Estonia (Northern Europe) and it's already hard enough for me to get a premium story or to become featured. It's kind of unfair for those who don't live in USA ... I'm only stating my opinion, and the reason of why I haven't made any of my stories premiums.

[saewod]

Have you considered teaming up with current publishers? Epubs, traditional, etc? Perhaps making them a part of the finalist selection process, etc and having the ability to pick up the option to publish one of the selected finalists - you obviously retaining the right as agent. I think this would be a great way to boost the contest and perhaps draw more attention around it. It also garners some press for the publishing company.

I also know that there are a great deal of writers out there online with years of writing and publishing experience. Perhaps seek out some of them to act as an editorial board to choose editor's choice winners - or even provide a quarterly editors choice selection with a #1 winner who receives a free critique of their work.

Just my thoughts and ideas.

[Textnovel Team]

Thanks for the replies and information we will get back to you shortly. We have the same opinion as some of you and are looking to make it happen. But please be patient as there are so many different ideas to put into action.

As for the Editorial Team, the main role would be to read stories on Textnovel with some criteria in mind that we will provide and help make the Editor's Picks. On the other hand, to support the community by posting up encouraging comments and feedback on stories you've read. In the future, perhaps our team would be reviewing stories prior to publishing processes.

We aim not to require payment to submit to the contests, and are still working out the details.

Please keep an eye out for further updates

[excel development]

Hi, I'm the founder of the site and saw your question. I can tell you that the site is never going to steal your work! Why would we do that? I invite you to try the site out and share some of your work with others and get some feedback. You might win one of the cash prizes or get published!