Looking for stories and advice

[gefflong]

I hope this is the right place to post this message. If it's not, let me know.

I'm working on a compilation of cat care tips, cat behavior help, advice, etc. from "real" people who have gone through things and learned from their experiences... advice from vets and everything is good, but that's not what I'm aiming for with this complilation.

I'm also looking for stories about cats that have done amazing feats or overcome something incredible.

If anyone would be interested or would like more information, you can check out my website at http://www.hiddenville.com/cats

Thanks for your time,

Geff

[Traci]

On your site you ask for tips on "home remedies" (for fleas, etc). Please be advised that there is NO home remedy that is safe or effective for flea control in cats, despite what you see on the net. The best approach is through products obtained through your vet only, such as Frontline or Advantage. See Just Say No for more information.

I would suggest that you research your "subjects" carefully before publishing anecdotes or testimonies on the web or e-book, etc, and to carefully weed out misinformation from your submissions.

[E's]

It has been a number of years since I worked as a professional writer (in the Marketing Research and Advertising fields.) However, I have more recently clerked for a large, national bookseller and presently remain an amateur – that is to say, unpublished – author who attempts to ‘keep up’ with evolving trends/practices. From such personal experience, in addition to what I observe on the Internet, it is my opinion that compilation/publication of written and/or photographic works has become an even more complex process than before.

Thus, I feel obligated to say that this post looks to me like (1) a form of soliciting – whether intentional or unintentional - and (2) an open invitation to all sorts of problems re copyright rules, plagiarism and other such unauthorized-use-of-material complications for contributors as well as for compilers – perhaps even for a message board upon which the post appears. JMHI
_________________________
E's hobbit
Austin, Texas

[gefflong]

The flea thing probably needs to be stated in a different manner, because there ARE alternative methods to eliminating fleas from a house. I've personally used a tin pan full of soapy water with a light overhead. At night the fleas jump into the soapy water and that's that.

As far as the other concerns mentioned, i'm not worried about it. This is a compilation of people's personal experiences and will be so stated in the book. I probably just need to state things a little better in the future.

As far as the boards getting in trouble... PLEASE that is a complete crock. Ultimately I'm certainly not going to stay around where I'm not wanted or something I'm planning on doing isn't going to be appreciated. If there is no market for the product I will produce, then so be it. It will evolve or die. It could possibly become an inspiration book about cats who overcame something or did something amazing. Who knows. That was my original idea, but I was talked into expanding by someone who I feel is an "expert" in the creation of compilations and ebooks, but maybe in this certain field, he is wrong.

I do appreciate your well thought out comments, and it has probably helped me focus back down to the inspirational stories part.

And of course it would be some sort of solicitation, I can't come up with all the inspirational stories on my own. I only have 2 cats. I need experiences from others who have went though things. I'm not sure how else to get the information besides messages boards. If you have any ideas, that would be great.

[Traci]

Well, you might want to be more creative. The things you seek can be found at countless of websites, so be original, and maybe focus one subject first, one that is unique...if you plan on charging for information, be aware that again, the things you seek can be accessed elsewhere for free.

Btw, I was referring to applications directly used ON a cat, such as home remedies and "natural" products, etc, that are, totally worthless and ineffective, and many are in fact quite harmful to cats.

[gefflong]

You're right. Almost anything can be found for free on the internet. If you want to spend hours searching. That fact alone is why it's pretty easy to sell information.

You are also right, there are websites out there that have some of what I'm looking for. You say to be creative, but that's what I'm attempting to do. I'd like to find ORIGINAL stories, not something that's been posted already.

[E's]

Geff states: "...I'd like to find ORIGINAL stories, not something that's been posted already..."

And yet, the hiddenville.com home page - which grants admittance only to those who provide identification - has the following warning in bold print:

**NOTICE**
Everything on this site is copyrighted unless otherwise stated. If you want to use something from this site for your own personal use, there usually isn't any problem at all...but if you are going to post it somewhere or link to it, please send me an email.

So let me get this straight... someone gives you their email address et cetera, then posts original material on the website... and this material then becomes copyrighted property of said website? ... and you don't see such soliciting of inexperienced contributors to be in any way legally problematic or at best unethical? Of course my question is rhetorical: I won't argue the matter further.