Hi.
I want to submit a short story to some magazines. I'd also like to have my friend print it in a small 'publication' that he runs. His 'publication' is very small - it's just distributed to neighbours - i'm not sure exactly how many copies are printed - maybe 50-100.

If he prints it, would it then be deemed publised, and therefore not publishable by bigger magazines?

thanks.

Published is published. If it's printed and circulated in a magazine, flyer or paper, it is published, yes.

JB

<Added>

Of course, that doesn't necessarily exclude it from being published in another magazine, especially if you explained the tiny circulation of the original.

ok, thanks

Woah, hang on a second... a local fanzine or the parish church pamphlet isn't what I would call being published. It might be worth saying this appeared in so and so, but to say it was published gives the impression of something bigger. For example, uploading your work up here is "technically" published because it's there for others to see, but it isn't published in the general sense that would bar you from competitions.

In short, I'd say a fanzine means "published" when you talk it over with friends and family, but I wouldn't let that stop you from sending it to mags or competitions. - How would they ever find out?

Colin M

Submit it to the magazines first, offering them first rights. If they all reject it, you can then offer it to your friend. If one of the magazines takes it, they will pay you for the exclusive right to publish it once, and you can't offer it anywhere else until they do. As soon as they print it, the rights revert to you and you can offer it elsewhere with second rights.

Alternatively, do it the other way round – but I imagine most big-selling magazines want first rights, so might not take it if it’s been published before.

Dee

i guess the safest thing for me to do is to send it to the bigger mags first - i'd prefer to have my friend publish it first, since i know it can take a while to hear back from the bigger mags, but i don't want to risk it being rejected for that.

If it is published in your friend's magazine first then you have sold him First Serial Rights. Most magazines tend to not want anything other than first - so yes, I'd definitely submit it to the bigger one(s) first. As Waxy says, even if it's in a very small circ. press, it is still legally and ethically published, and not declaring that could rub an editor up the wrong way - something which I'd seriously advise against!

Cheers,

Nik.

Well, that's what I thought, though I do understand Colin's point of view. It isn't such an official seeming thing perhaps, but technically, yes, it has been 'published'.

JB

You're right, Waxy. But as you say: published is published. There's no half-way house. And as daft as it sounds that does cover things like a 50 copy local church mag. Have a look at mags' terms and conditions, or contracts. When you're selling FBSR you have to declare that it hasn't appeared in print, or on-line, ANYWHERE before.

Nik.

So online counts, then? Rats!

Fraid so - if it's been viewable by the public. Here doesn't count, just as long as you've checked the ww members only or group members only tab.

Nik.