NOVELS: Guidelines for pitching to Premium

[desktop_dragon]

Hi there! The free chapter scheme that you bring up doesn't work with the monetization tools that we have, but we're working to ensure that free-to-read readers will always have access to high-quality stories. The free-to-read community is and will continue to be in our radar.

[Jen-Jen]

Sorry if this is a question with an obvious answer, but what, exactly, does it mean to pitch your novel to Tapas? That we'll receive marketing help from Tapas, and have the opportunity to lock episodes? Or, are we all here on a trial basis, and accepted novels can stay indefinitely?

[katiemcguire]

Wonderful! You can address it to me (Katie) and, yes, that's the correct email!

[Webimpulse]

If you already posted some of your story on Tapas itself, can you still submit it to Premium? I have one story I want to actually finish but I already posted the first four chapters on Tapas.

[milejdyvan]

Oh boy. Well good luck to everyone pitching I was already working on my pitch but it is inevitably going to take longer than everyone else for sure 🤣 I just hope pitches are still accepted after a while too.

[TL_Shay]

Wow. The number of subs required has been removed for novels? That's kind of refreshing. 80k words required makes a bit more sense. Most of my works are around that when finished unless it is a fantasy novel. At 80k tapas would know that the writer was more committed to finishing the story if it wasn't already. I might have to give it a try with one of my web novels. Thank you for bringing this information to our attention.

[katiemcguire]

All excellent questions, thanks!

Yes, we mean the first 5 Tapas chapters/episodes—apologies for any confusion!

The second and third questions have a similar answer. We take a number of factors into consideration while reviewing submissions, so I can't say what might increase or decrease your chances of being selected. That said, we'd love to know if you've had success or have a non-exclusive contract elsewhere, and you can also let us know if your novel is already available on Tapas and how things have been going. Please do include that information in your cover letter.

If you either decide to edit your novel or take is elsewhere and see success there, sure thing, we can take another look down the line.

Finally, you'll likely hear from us about two weeks after submitting, depending on the volume of submissions at any given time. I'm certainly going to do my best to let everyone know our decisions, but feel free to follow up if you haven't heard from someone after two or three weeks.

[shreyaamerica]

So, does that mean that we can't publish our book elsewhere? I have a book I might pitch, but I also have it published elsewhere on other sites...

[katiemcguire]

At the moment, I think the plan is to keep the submission inbox open indefinitely, so please do send your pitch when you're ready!

[nostalgicroxas]

Any information in regards to Copyright? That is if one already has their book copyright'd but is not formally published or distributed? Who holds the rights to the Copyright once submitted and accepted? Would this contract make the work become an exclusive to the distribution of Tapas only?

[katiemcguire]

We're here to answer any and all questions! Thanks for asking.

You'd be pitching for consideration for our Premium Program, which means after a certain number of free-to-read episodes, later ones would be paid. And yes, you'll receive some marketing help, as well! Hope this clarifies.

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

Thank you for saying this!
I am in the process of rewriting my chapters, but I'd like to let my friend go over them first for grammar before sending them through. And these things often take a while.
So, I understand that we'd have to use the parts we'd use for tapas?

My chapters vary from 2.5k word to 4.5k words, so I split them up to work with tapas.
Meaning some chapters get split in two or three parts.
Do I sent through 5 full chapters in this case or only 5 parts (meaning two full chapters)

Sorry if you have already answered this before.

[katiemcguire]

Yes, you can submit in-progress stories that are already on Tapas!

[fortunusgames]

Can the novel be in Play/Dialogue format?

[katiemcguire]

We'd like to see the first five Tapas episodes (so, in your case, two full chapters equaling those 5 parts)!

[EmmyPax]

@katiemcguire
For the plot outline, is it okay if we use bullet points or something like that? I'm used to traditional novel synopsis writing and I'm struggling to get my page and a half synopsis down to 400 words.

Also, when you say plot outline, you mean more like a synopsis, where the whole arc of the book is described and less like a query letter, correct? If not, I will happily send a query instead, which would actually be the right length without fussing, lol.

Thank you so much for being here answering all these questions! You are a rockstar!!!

[katiemcguire]

Bullet points are fine—I understand the struggle of chopping down a synopsis! And yes, if should definitely be more of a synopsis, so we know where the story's headed.

Thanks! Happy to do it, especially if it means getting to read some excellent new novels!

[EmmyPax]

Perfect! Can't wait to pitch

[katiemcguire]

Hi, everybody! I'm logging off for a bit, but will be back later to answer any new or missed questions. Thank you so much for your responses so far!

[NicoDreamyMouse]

I might try pitching Thorn Arena. Oh boy this is going to take a long time to get to. Hopefully eventually!