Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 11:16:48 -0500 From: the limbs of a dismembered poet Subject: [WRITERS] TECH: Selling Contest Entries... The ever mysterious and often fascinating someone has posed a question as to whether putting something in a contest limits the later ability to market the same piece. In short, can you sell something after putting it in a contest? This is a harder question than it may appear to be. I am going to give you some of my ponderings, and I hope other people will feel free to suggest what they think about this. First, as a workshop, I think posting to the list, being critiqued, and then selling your work is perfectly reasonable. I think most editors would not be at all sensitive if you said this piece has been through a workshop -- some of them might even be more likely to look at it, expecting that the rough edges have been cleaned up. On the other hand, this workshop is bigger than most people expect (1,400 members, roughly) and many people worry about the "electronic media". I think they look into the abyss and see their own private demons looking back. All those bits running wild... Second, when I put pieces up for a contest on the web, that's a little more touchy. What editors are trying to avoid is having their market diminished by having the readers say "I read this already..." I would suggest that if you are going to submit a piece that I have on the Web, write to mbarker@mit.edu and we will take it off. Be aware that while editors are still talking about FNASR (First North American Serial Rights) they are also getting interested in electronic rights, etc. So they may want to talk about whether this piece has been on the Web... I do think it may be worth mentioning that many print contests include in their rules phrases like "submissions cannot be sold until after the contest" which indicates people are selling pieces they have submitted to such contests. Perhaps the best answer is to point out that this is largely what you are comfortable with. The editor is unlikely to do an extended search, but if they stumble across the fact that a piece has been published before, they will be profoundly unhappy. If you feel better telling the editor upfront that the piece has been in a contest, let them know. I don't think they will hold it against you. Can you sell something that has been in a contest? Yes. Should you sell something that has been in a contest? If you can, do it. Will an editor buy something that has been in a contest? Yes. Will an editor turn something down because it has been in a contest? Editors turn things down for lots of reasons... And while we are talking about contests, it may be worth clarifying that while the posting and contest entries are anonymous while we are voting, we do identify the authors afterward. I suppose if someone wants us to keep their identity hidden in the erotica contest, we could consider letting "Don Juan" and "Dame Jane" stand up and take the adulation. But in most cases, we do want to let people know who the real person behind the keyboard is. Hope this helps. "I'd call it love if love didn't take so many years but lust too is a jewel." Adrienne Rich [Take a look at Monica's Erotica Contest and write to "Merideth Johnston" before Valentine's Day is over.] tink