tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post5779884209208154407..comments2024-02-29T02:22:31.011-05:00Comments on Rights of Writers: Can I Say That My Story Was Not Previously Published?Mark Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032057917942464490noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post-22762214256586388052012-07-29T23:17:59.700-04:002012-07-29T23:17:59.700-04:00I want to send in a story to a contest; and it say...I want to send in a story to a contest; and it says the prize is a certain amount of money and first publication rights; but after being published; I can 'add it to my collection.' Does that mean that I will never be able to have a publisher publish my story should I so desire if I actually win this contest? I would also like to know what the phrase 'add to my collection' means? Thank you very much for your time and iniative to aid budding writers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post-88116807562494043792011-05-28T07:32:08.166-04:002011-05-28T07:32:08.166-04:00Thanks for your comment, Liz-a-nator. Regrettably...Thanks for your comment, Liz-a-nator. Regrettably, I can't answer individual legal questions. You may wish to consult an attorney with literary property experience, who is licensed to practice in your state. You may be able to get a referral to a free or low-cost attorney through one of the volunteer lawyers for the arts services or professional writers organizations listed in this earlier post. http://www.rightsofwriters.com/2010/12/44-places-where-writers-and-other.htmlMark Fowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07032057917942464490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post-9514371600516767502011-05-19T17:39:53.866-04:002011-05-19T17:39:53.866-04:00This is such a helpful site! I was wondering if yo...This is such a helpful site! I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. I'm looking to send some of my poetry out to a few publications, but in December of last year, I "self-published" a chapbook of my work as a gift to friends and family. I only printed about 50 copies, and the book was not distributed via any other means but my own gift-giving. No money was exchanged and no one else is distributing my work. Are the poems printed in these gift chapbooks considered "published"? Are they off-limits for publications that are only interested in previously unpublished works? Feel free to either comment back, or send me an email at general_silliness@hotmail.com. Thanks!Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17843219433075940501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post-20357234575992037472010-11-29T17:12:14.772-05:002010-11-29T17:12:14.772-05:00great article! I'd love for you to have a col...great article! I'd love for you to have a column on my social network for writers. If you're interested, please let me know. Many writers will benefit from your work and get to know you.<br />Martha Tucker, book coach, publisher, book marketerMartha Tuckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12456412155180720048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post-62587549917594757842010-11-29T09:51:17.962-05:002010-11-29T09:51:17.962-05:00Your point is well taken. The portion of the story...Your point is well taken. The portion of the story posted would clearly have a bearing on whether an editor would consider the posting commercially relevant to the acquisition of "first publication rights." This is a practical business calculation as much as (or more than) a question of legal interpretation of a contractual phrase.Mark Fowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07032057917942464490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3094213262059652791.post-80108266427915232732010-11-29T00:47:25.828-05:002010-11-29T00:47:25.828-05:00Well I would think that if you published an entire...Well I would think that if you published an entire story on-line it might hinder your chances if they demand no on-line pubs. However if it's tiny excerpts (which in the final draft might be edited) I can't see how it would be considered publishing a whole story.Wynn Kozakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05881720648905766350noreply@blogger.com