Thread: Publishing First Rights

The issue of publishing first rights is one that causes paranoia among many who post on internet forums. The belief that work may not be accepted if it has first been shown on a blog or writing site is one of the greatest modern myths. The only time this appears to be a real issue for poetry and short stories is with some of the newer e-zines that have appeared over the last few years. With novels it's more relevant but even then publishers don't raise an objection if extracts have been shared because it can help with the promotion of the finished product.


I have never found that having poetry or short stories published on the web has been a block to getting published elsewhere. With poetry specifically, I tend to remove much of my work from the web after a period because people aren't going to pay for something if they can get it for free. Even so, I usually leave a few works out there as a taster.

I had my novel accepted even after publishing it myself through Lulu.

The policy adopted on publications that I'm involved in is to not restrict writers'/artists' rights. We do not insist on first rights nor do we ask sole rights. The aim is to promote writers and artists, not to restrict them from possibly greater success.

Apart from that I have had pieces which have also been previously published on forums and blogs published in magazines and anthologies. I've only ever posted segments of novels on the web but this hasn't been detrimental in any way.

I can't say I have much paranoia about putting my writing up on the web for simple reason that there's no idiot publisher in the world who would currently touch it in any way, shape, or form.

Still, it's nice to know that if I ever get a story into a high-grade form (often through getting help from people via internet forums) that I could still find someplace to publish it, probably.

Thanks for the information, Baron. I thought that some of the things people were saying here and elsewhere seemed a little paranoid!

I have wondered if any of the e-publishers want exclusive access, like if I published on smashwords would lulu still take it?

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

I have wondered if any of the e-publishers want exclusive access, like if I published on smashwords would lulu still take it?

Both Smashwords and Lulu are non-exclusive.

Originally Posted by powerskris

I thought that some of the things people were saying here and elsewhere seemed a little paranoid!

What have people been saying?

I have come across short story competitions whose entry rules stipulate the stories must not have been published elsewhere, including on the internet. So, does having them posted on here count as being published?

I think the workshop section on here is a good way around this potential problem, though I've still deleted the work I've posted in that section before submitting them.

Work posted on an internet forum does count as published unless it's in a forum with limited access. The Workshop is one way around that.

Originally Posted by Candra H

What have people been saying?

That if you put anything on the web from to one of your stories, or an exerpt of your novel, that no one will touch it with a ten foot pole.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Originally Posted by Bilston Blue

I have come across short story competitions whose entry rules stipulate the stories must not have been published elsewhere, including on the internet. So, does having them posted on here count as being published?

I've read the Reader's Digest scam. And yes I call it a scam when you have to pay to submit a work that they probably won't publish, and then they pay peanuts if they do.
I don't think that those places help you at all, and I'd go elsewhere.

Originally Posted by ankles

Better to be safe than sorry.

I can name three writers from this site who regularly post work on forums and blogs and who have had work accepted by publishing houses. Posting extracts for critique can actually be useful for advance promotion. If people like the writing there's a chance they'll be the first to buy the book. I'd say few of those who spread paranoia over this issue have actually been published.

Bless you, Baron.