SlyTF1 wrote:I've considered both LuLu and Amazon, but I'm leaning towards Amazon.
I considered Lulu too, but when it came time to weighing pros and cons, Createspace came out on top of the ones I considered. They publish through Amazon (they're owned by them), but that's not to say publishing straight through Amazon isn't the way to go either. Let me know how it works out, wherever you go.
SlyTF1 wrote:The $700 is for advertising, I'm guessing. And that's the problem I'd have if I published it with either of those two; advertising.
Advertising is always the dilemma. The good thing about Kickstarter is it's its own advertising (you get the word out about the campaign and the product at the same time). But no matter what happens, advertising is necessary and a good way to spend money.
SlyTF1 wrote:The website said I get to keep every right. If not, they lied. And even if I go in and edit the story after posting it, would it still not be eligible?
You retain all publishing rights and ownership of the material (with exceptions like title, third-party properties you mention, etc.) when you post something on the Internet or when you sell publication rights (unless there's a stipulation in the contract).
Here's a quick-and-dirty rundown.
First publication rights is exactly what it sounds like: the right for someone to publish the material first. So first publication rights, in a sense, is a publishing house's right, not yours, since they'll be the ones offering you money for the chance to use that right. It's your choice to give that right to whatever publisher you want, but it's that publisher's right to be the first if you sign on the dotted line. When they pay you, they're buying first publication rights from you. So you haven't given up any right when you post something on the Internet, since you technically don't have first publication rights in the first place (unless you yourself are the publisher). You've just given up the chance to sell first publication rights to someone else.
So when you post a story or at least a good percentage of it, you give up the chance to sell first publication rights to a publisher, since by posting it on the Internet, you can't then go to a publisher and tell them, "Hey, you there, legitimate publishing house, I'm giving you the chance to publish this first. Pay me for that right," because you've given it to the Internet as a whole. It's out there already. If you post a chapter or an excerpt, you're okay. Just how much is considered okay? I guess that's up to the discretion of the parties involved. Some publishers might be okay with you posting 10 percent, some might not be.
So the site didn't lie: you've retained any right you already had. You still own the material. You just gave up first publication rights if you posted it. And a lot of publishers won't consider something unless they get first publication rights.
But, again, if you self-publish, that's not an issue. Just know that, if it gets out that you've given it away somewhere, you might lose sales. How does the saying go? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free.
