A website, perhaps?

Now then, now then.

I was wondering what people thought about aspiring writers using websites as a way of 'showcasing' (hate that word but never mind!) their material.

Obviously some people on here have done it but most haven't bothered (as far as I can tell!). It's something I've been thinking about doing myself but I have a couple of nagging doubts: firstly that no bugger would visit it anyway! (particularly if it's just a bunch of written documents without any media/animation jazzing it up), but also, I can't help but feel slightly ill at ease with the idea of having anything decent I've ever written out there for anyone to potentially f**k with, so to speak! Obviously there are copyright laws which give writers some protection against plagiarism and what have you (though whether I have any ideas that are actually worth nicking is another debate altogether!), but do people think it's something worth doing? Are there any potential drawbacks?

Cheers.

I have my own "showcase" website.

And it's not all jazzed up with media wotsits. Just a simple website.

I've had a lot of (small) work offers recently from various individuals companies contacting me through the site. (comedians and radio DJs loking for gags and funnies mostly)

I've put up some example scripts so that people can get an idea of what I can do, but, regarding nicking of work, I don't put up anything "amazing" on the website.
The example scripts are just stuff I wrote, but don't really have any plans to develop with anyone.

Quote: Mikey Jackson @ October 6 2009, 6:53 PM BST

I don't put up anything "amazing" on the website.

View original

This is true.

Quote: Speckled Jim @ October 6 2009, 6:45 PM BST

Now then, now then.

I was wondering what people thought about aspiring writers using websites as a way of 'showcasing' (hate that word but never mind!) their material.

Obviously some people on here have done it but most haven't bothered (as far as I can tell!). It's something I've been thinking about doing myself but I have a couple of nagging doubts: firstly that no bugger would visit it anyway! (particularly if it's just a bunch of written documents without any media/animation jazzing it up), but also, I can't help but feel slightly ill at ease with the idea of having anything decent I've ever written out there for anyone to potentially f**k with, so to speak! Obviously there are copyright laws which give writers some protection against plagiarism and what have you (though whether I have any ideas that are actually worth nicking is another debate altogether!), but do people think it's something worth doing? Are there any potential drawbacks?

Cheers.

View original

I think you have answered some of your own questions - it really depends what you want or expect from a website.
You can have media and animation on it if you want to and you there are various things you can do to make it come high in searches. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, I don't know how to explain it in technical jargon.
You really need to decide for yourself what you put out there for public scrutiny. Anyone can read things submitted in critique or comments that you make here so is there a huge difference?

One advantage could be having something to refer people to when submitting work
and one disadvantage could be finding the time to keep the site up to date.

There are people on here who know far more about it than I do and some of them have great sites - perhaps if you do a bit more searching you will find a site that appeals to you and then you could try doing something similar for yourself.

I like your site Mikey.

Quote: Mikey Jackson @ October 6 2009, 6:53 PM BST

but, regarding nicking of work, I don't put up anything "amazing" on the website.
The example scripts are just stuff I wrote, but don't really have any plans to develop with anyone.

View original

Ah! So I can nick 'em and edit/re-write 'em!

I've had a website for a few years and even with the animation/media jazzing it up I can count the number of offers of work I've had from it on no fingers. Of course that might not necessarily mean website 'showcases' don't work!

On the plus side, knowing HTML has definitely made me more popular with the Ladies.

There are tons of free options. Just setup up a YouTube account and jazz it up or myspace (does that still exist?) and there are others.

I used to have a co.uk site, but never had any material for it. It sucked. I'm waiting till I have vidz n stuff before I do it again. I think yuo're right, script samples aren't very exciting. But on the other hand, it could work as a business card, with contact details and and "CV" of credits.

Quote: ShoePie @ October 6 2009, 8:12 PM BST

On the plus side, knowing HTML has definitely made me more popular with the Ladies.

View original

Explains the viruses.

I don't put up anything "amazing" on the website.

This is true.

OUCH!

I like your site Mikey

Thank you.

Ah! So I can nick 'em and edit/re-write 'em!

They're actually rewritten scripts I found on another writer's website. lol (joking, obviously!)

They're really abandoned projects that I didn't feel had a place anywhere. (Although I've used bits of Two Story House for a radio project though)

Therefore, I figured I'd use them merely as calling card scripts.

Which is what a website is good for. Calling card, script examples, CV, contact details, etc.

As I said, I've bagged a few minor writing jobs as a result of people searching for writers online and finding me.

Thanks for the advice, people. I'll have to mull it over some more I think. (By which time we'll probably all be living in some kind of post-apocolyptic dystopia in which mirth has become a capital offence. Or something.)

Cheers anyway.

It cost me about £5.80 to buy a domain name for 2 years. I only used the free web hosting and when I did upload a video it drained my bandwidth and the site went down til next month. You could probably get hosting dead cheap though.

If you're planning on just having text, it wouldn't be a problem though, unless you've got loads of fans already.

Okay. Cheers, Leevil. And yes, I do have many, many fans. It's just that they're all ants; and ants don't often use the internet. Shame really.

I'm tweaking my own at the moment....

I've got my own site for my own writing (I get a small amount of offers through it)but am getting a funky super-duper one for my production company - it'll have vids, mp3s etc - I'll let you know how it goes.

I've been meaning get my own website for a couple of years. I know it's possible to create one yourself but I'm such a dip shit I can't figure it out.

I want one where I can upload my sketches and add bits and bobs whenever I feel inclined!