Thread: Multiple Submissions?

What are the formalities, and legalities, regarding multiple submissions? By that I mean, submitting one piece to various publications?

Let's say, for the sake of discussion, you submit a short story to The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and Glimmer Train. Each of those publications state that upon acceptance of a piece, they will retain first publishing rights.

Now what would happen if your story was accepted by two, or even all three of them? What happens with regards to your publishing rights?

It's called simultaneous submissions. Look at the submission guidelines, which will tell you if the magazines accepts them. If so, they only require that you notify them if your ms is accepted elsewhere. In the case of multiple acceptances, I would assume the etiquette would be for the author to go with the first acceptance and not leave them hanging for an answer, but at any rate, the ms can only be published by one, so your rights would be based on your contract with that publisher.

Thanks shadow, you've been very helpful.

Cheers!