Mailbag Monday!
Hello Allena, thanks for the link and the frequent updates. I’m entering a contest and it asked if my piece had already been published. Parts of it have appeared on my blog. What do you think? There’s no additional clarification.
This is a great question, and I’m going to answer it for all the readers! I myself ran across this very thing recently when I entered the Erma Bombeck Humor Essayscontest on a whim. (Side-note: I found out about this contest through the fine writer’s community at WOW: Women on Writing.)
The Bombeck contest clearly defines what they consider published and unpublished. But, in a circumstance like yours, where no hints are given, we had to take our question to the experts at Writer’s Digest. The verdict ? “It’s considered unpublished if it’s appeared on your blog or someone else’s, though the rules are changing…”
A similar question comes along when freelance writers want to include samples on there site- a good practice- but worry that publishing samples on their site constitutes giving up “first rights” and therefore hesitate to publish the sample. At the same time, posting previously published materials on your sample site may be stepping on your editor’s toes- not to mention your contract. The solution to this last dilemma is simple: ask permission. Most editors will either allow your article to be re-posted , or will provide you a link to an internet version.
As for the original question, I would go ahead and enter the contest with your piece. If you are very worried, an email to the sponsor may be in order.
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