Monday, June 27, 2005
When does published mean published?
I've had several poems up for consideration for IBPC lately and am confused about the definition of 'published'. As I understand it, poems workshopped on a forum, published in a blog or that appear on a personal website don't meet the official definition of published. Am I right or wrong about this?
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9 comments:
You are right. Published in having your poetry in a journal, either an online journal or a print one, or in a book (not self-published).
Thanks, Pris!
Here is the definition of published from the dictinary:
pub·lish Audio pronunciation of "published" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pblsh)
v. pub·lished, pub·lish·ing, pub·lish·es
v. tr.
1. To prepare and issue (printed material) for public distribution or sale.
2. To bring to the public attention; announce. See Synonyms at announce.
v. intr.
1. To issue a publication.
2. To be the writer or author of published works or a work.
~~~
Here is the way I understand it:
I am the publisher of MiPOesias Magazine. I issue MiPOesias Magazine on a regular basis. Therefore writings in MiPOesias Magazine are published.
Blogs, Poetry Forums, IPOD downloads, Internet, etc. bring to the public attention therefore blogs, poetry forums, etc are considered publishing tools.
The definition of published is outdated because the INTERNET is a digital format of "print".
Then there is the personal view of editors and people who PREPARE a publication and what THEY consider "previously published" which I feel may be your real question. You will have to check "GUIDELINES" in each publication be it print, digital or any other format thereof that may become available in the future to see if your work that has appeared (lets say in the internet for example) published.
If you ask me if I consider the works for example placed on this blog or other blogs previously published then my answer would be no because I do not consider works on this blog, poetry forums or other works as something that I and please note _I PREPARED FOR THE MASSES_ or have prepared for an issue. Therefore if you were to "submit" to MiPOesias something I can google or have run into online in a blog or such mentioned previously, and if I thought the piece should deserve further attention then it may be selected and published in the issue I am preparing for publication.
However if I find that your submitted work appears online in another such journal/magazine like MiPOesias or print(yes I read print journals too) then I would REJECT your work and send you a not-so-nice note stating that you did not read and follow our guidelines.
Thank you,
Didi
So, if a poem has appeared on a personal website (not a blog) you do not consider it published?
Ginger
I've run across one publisher who wouldn't even consider poems on a website, but, in my own personal experience, that's been rare. Best thing to do is to check with a journal specifically if you think there's even a chance that's an issue. If it is, I personally would gladly remove the poem from my site until after the run of the publication when all rights revert to me.
It's a muddy pond when you can't see the bottom and wonder where you step. Thanks Pris, I have a much clearer idea now about all this.
Ginger
Ginger,
I replied to your e-mail.
Thank you,
Didi
You did and it's appreciated Didi. Maybe I'm learning impaired; it was hard to wrap my arms around.
Michael.
It takes me more blood and sweat and MONEY to put together a magazine.
If a poet has wasted my time by sending me poetry that has already been accepted by another editor, how do you think I feel?
Didi
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