HELP HELP HELP. someone has to know the answer!!!

BeeBomb · Mar 10, 2006

I posted the following question on another thread but decided to start this one to find out who knows the answer. Someone out here on this great site has to know something about it. Care to give an answer? I and other people would appreciate your take on this issue.

Perhaps this is not the forum to ask this question but it has been posed to me several times and I can't give an accurate answer. Enlighted me and everyone else who asks this question.

If a person places a poem, short story or any other written works on a web site and wants to enter one of them in a contest, is it considered as published? I know what publishing is but in this instance, for contests, would it be legal? I know contest rules vary from one to the other but no one, anywhere, has stated in any of their rules if using web posted works is legal or would be disqualified.

Now that I am thoroughly confused and need a cup of coffee to figure out what I have written.......help!

Joyce

NickDangr · Mar 10, 2006

I believe a lot of publishers / contests consider anything posted to the web as published - could be wrong.

I used to participate in a flash fiction group and attempted to submit one of the works (that merited further attention) to a writing contest and was rejected because it was already published in their eyes.

On the other hand, if you find a means of putting your work on a website, keeping it invisible to search engines, and submit it to a contest, who'd know it was on the web to begin with? <shrug>

I think it probably varies depending on the party with which you're working. Check with the contest people?

MarkN · Mar 10, 2006

I know a lot of critique groups (including AW) put passwords on any forum where unpublished works are available over the web precisely to prevent them from being regarded as published. On the strength of that, I'd say that any work available over the web without needing a password should be considered published.

Cathy C · Mar 10, 2006

Most contests consider "published" to mean that you've intentionally given, or sold for money, the right to print the poem or story for a paying audience. I've asked a few about this issue.

Critique sites such as AW, where the poem is (even lightly) protected by a password, generally doesn't apply. However, there's the possibility that the story/poem appearing on your OWN website (with unlimited access) could constitute publishing for their purposes. It can never hurt to remove something you want to enter into a contest from a site before you seal the envelope or press "Send." You can also send an email asking for further clarification if you have concerns.

Hope that helps!

HELP HELP HELP. someone has to know the answer!!!

BeeBomb

NickDangr

MarkN

Altogether Ookie

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!