I would like to introduce my new website to you avid fans of fiction, here at Quick Topic. http://stores.lulu.com/booksbyeadieallen

Thank you in advance for your support. I hope you enjoy reading my books.

Feeling like you can't get any work done in the old apartment?

Living in Manhattan? Actually making money? Have I got just the $100 carrell for you! (Actually, I would have gone for this at one point. I believe it was 9pm on a Sunday and Lady Ninja was talking to the homicide police about the gunshots outside our window.)


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How about a five-day free trial period to access the Backspace discussion forums and sample the guest speaker program? My partner and I have decided to offer that and will set it up as soon as PayPal gets their act together and lets us make the necessary changes (apparently, they're having trouble with their site today).

Thanks to both G and Sonnett for pointing us in that direction.

Karen

Edited by author 10-04-2004 08:59 PM
Thanks for your input, Sonnett - there’s one vote for a money-back guarantee. My partner and I may well offer that at some point to see if it doesn’t work out better to everyone’s satisfaction.

The decision to charge for access to the discussion forums and the guest speaker program wasn’t an easy one. All of the various more buyer-friendly ways of charging for a service (a money-back guarantee, a monthly subscription rate instead of a yearly one, a limited try-before-you-buy trial period) have certain risks for us, which sort of goes to what G was saying about the difficulties inherent in non-tangible online transactions - only from the seller’s standpoint. It’s hard to find the right balance that satisfies both parties’ needs.

My partner and I would love to be able to make the guest speaker program and the discussion forums available to any and all - aside from the public part of the site (which we’re quite proud of) we think they’re a terrific resource all in themselves - but because our guests' visits are in the form of question and answer sessions, that's just not practical. The relatively intimate atmosphere of the smaller group is much more conducive to discussion as opposed to a large, public venue, and I think relatively fewer participants helps keep the discussions more focused as well.

I like your idea of sharing some of the archived guest speaker discussions, though (that is what you were suggesting, wasn’t it?). Perhaps some of the best of the questions and answers can be assembled into an article or two and put up on the public part of the site. Good thought!

Cheers,
Karen

/m2 Nice site. Perhaps a 30-day trial period would convince me to check out the discussion forums. I would not subscribe otherwise. One should not underestimate the amount of backdoor activity that goes on at sites like Bookninja. This free-to-me discussion space provides everything yours claims to except for the guest speakers. Right now I can only imagine the questions directed at your guests...
As well, I avoid sites with even the slightest buy-a-blurb, laying-on-of-hands ring to them.

Edited by author 10-04-2004 01:16 PM
I think the majority of people are still skeptical about internet-based transactions. I've started buying more and more online, but I'm still reserved when it comes to paying for services based solely on websites.

Some concerns: the potential for fly-by-night operations (ie, will they be around next year, the year after?), the transfer of credit card info to strangers (not much more dangerous than paying at your local gas station though), and the lack of material object for my money. With a magazine I love (like MAISONNEUVE!) I can put it on a shelf in the can and come back to it -- with a website, I only have my desk, which would get messy.

On the other hand, I heartily agree with paying writers, and Peter and I have vowed to do so (which is why you see no new content currently as we figure that out). So however that's accomplished, it's nice to see a site so professionally run with writers' best interests in mind.

The question about paying becomes, can you get this elsewhere for free and if not, is it worth paying for? As far as I can see here the answers are partially and yes.

G

Edited by author 10-04-2004 07:46 AM
re the subscription fee for joining the discussion forums - ninja's right: some of the content on the Backspace homepages is purchased and the fees help to offset those costs, but one of the main reasons for the subscription fees (besides covering the actual costs of running the site) is to accumulate enough cash in the coffers to have in the likes of Michael Chabon or Anne Lamott as guest speakers. Our guests to date have been most generous in donating their time, but for some reason, Pulitzer Prize winners and other notable literary authors are only available through a booking agency . . .

$30/year sounds like a lot to some writers, we realize, but if you consider that it breaks down to just $2.50 a month, that's less than the price of a fancy cup of coffee. And these visits from guest speakers aren't just interviews, or listening to the author or editor or books reviewer or publicist or whoever speak on a panel - for three days members have the opportunity to address guests directly with their own questions and comments. Some Backspace members have seen tangible benefits as well - either arranging to submit their manuscript in the case of an editor, or getting blurbs for their novels in the case of one of our NYTimes bestselling authors.

Besides, of course, all the other benefits of joining the forums.

I'd be interested in seeing some discussion on this if anyone is so inclined - is Backspace making a mistake by charging for access to the discussion forums? Would a 30-day trial period or a money-back guarantee make the forums more attractive? Thoughts?

Cheers,
Karen

Backspace... Hey, I use that key! Lots!

The folks behind a relatively new, yet relatively jam-packed literary website, Backspace, sent us a note about themselves. It's really quite amazing what they've accomplished in just six months. Some big names are attached and it looks like a cool enough place to hang out... when you're not here, that is. P.S. Some of the site is subscription ($30), which is unfortunate, but hey, maybe they're paying people. (Quiet, you. We're working on it.)



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