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First of all, participating in the Friday Fictioneers story shares here on my blog is totally FREE. There is absolutely no obligation whatsoever to buy anything at all from me now or in the future. Ever.
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Networking with the Fictioneers
The Friday Fictioneers is a community I started for the purpose of building a network. It is intended to drive traffic to your blogs to read your stories and provide feedback on your writing in a flash Friday campaign. It is NOT intended as a business venture for me other than in the sense that it is building my network. It’s building your network, too. By participating each Friday or as often as you like, you will grow a healthy stash of 100-word stories for your portfolio. This is an asset to you. It’s one of the perks of participation, aside from the feedback and traffic and fellowship.
Motive
Yes. I do hope that by having developed a network, I have success in future endeavors. That doesn’t mean I expect anyone in my network to buy anything of mine, but I do hope it opens channels across the globe that will connect me to others who DO want to buy my books (whenever I have one to sell). When I have articles or stories published, I hope it leads to readers – if not directly then indirectly. That is what networking is. If you are in business, you should want to do this too. I invite you to take advantage of the things I’m learning and sharing as I figure out my own way in this world of business in the technical age. If I rise to higher levels, everyone in my network will benefit. If you are in my network and you rise to higher levels, I benefit. That is how networking works and there’s nothing dishonest or shameful about it.
Terms of Use for Photos
The photos I post as prompts were never intended to be part of anyone else’s portfolio. The photos I post are for sale but no one is required or encouraged or in any way made to feel they have to buy them ever. I have in the past let you know they are for sale. It is an aspect of the business I do here on my blog. On my side-bar I’ve posted that the photos are free to use on your blogs if you provide a link back to me. (It’s also okay if your blog posts through to Twitter and Facebook.)
If you want to collect the photos with your stories on your blogs, that’s perfectly permissible. Just link back to this blog. If you want to print your stories with the prompts for your personal use at home or to give to family and friends, that’s fine too.
However. If you intend to compile your stories with the photos in a collection to offer on a public forum (whether you’re selling them or giving them away free) like Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords, or any other outlet for distribution of media other than your blog – that is different. The pictures are for sale if you want to do that. But some of them have already been purchased by others who want to do that. So you can only buy the ones that are still available.
If you have a question about whether you can use a photo, feel free to ask. If the answer is “no” or if you’re not happy with the terms, please be civilized in your response.
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( This note is to those of you who were here when this document first became a necessity – Thanks for the support and feedback and the disagreement because it helped me to develop this mission statement. )
