Question for DU writers...should I publish my novel online?

I'll probably post this again in the writers forum later, but for now, I'll ask the Lounge.

It's just, a couple of years ago I wrote a book that I think is pretty damn good, unfortunately all my attempts at trying to find a publisher/ agent have failed. I was thinking of starting a website for the sole purpose of publishing my book so people can read it.

Anyone else every do something like this?

What should I know about first?

And finally, I have no experience in building web sites, what should I know about that before I start?

Just looking into the possibilities, that's all...

Steven King has, so it would have to be a one man effort for now...

that way at least you have a place where people can order your book, it's listed with Amazon, etc...

The pros - you don't have to learn HTML
The cons - it can be expensive (try Cafe Press or XLibris)

that concerns me. I've always been told, if it cost you money to get your book published, then keep looking...I'm still not sure.

domain name registry etc... plus the time to either learn HTML so your site doesn't look like a complete hack job, or hiring someone to put the site together for you.

It's a pay me now or pay me later situation.

I know not all self-publishing companies are crooks, I'm just a little wary of them that's all...

it's a coming of age story about a rejected adolescent girl, trying to fit in.

What type of novel is it? What genre?

only the main character is a 16 year-old girl.

I call it "A Suburban Myth"

The short answer is that until you've tried absolutely everything, you probably shouldn't go online because it'll probably preclude ever getting the book published through normal channels. Aforementioned everything includes going to writers' conferences and buttonholing agents and publishers there, enrolling in an MFA in creative writing program and beating your professors over the head with it (that's how a friend of mine got his agent), picking on your old English professors until you find one that knows publishers or somebody published, etc. etc. etc.

That said, if you just want to give people the opportunity to read the book, and aren't worried that the number of such people is likely to be very, very low, by all means put it on the web.

Of course i want it published, and of course i want people to read it, I just don't have the time or money to go through all you've mentioned.

I'm not a professional writer by any means, but you'd be amazed at the number of people who think that once you write a book, you just as good as published. I think writing the book was the easy part.

so it looks like a novel. This would be free. Check it out:

http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=1006&topic=41

and here's a sample novel posted using their method:

http://castleofotranto.blogspot.com/

That might be the kind of thing I was thinking off. I bookmarked the link, I'll def be looking into that one...:hi: