The ethics of multiple contest submissions
So I'm gearing up to write an actual full-length novel and I've decided that the best way to test the mettle of my writing (and make a couple of bucks in the process) is to enter a few writing contests.
But I simply don't have the time to write a brand new short story for every. single. contest. Plus, I'm a bit lazy. And I would really not like to waste six months to a year ignoring my wife and children just to write a book that will never break into the top 100,000 self-published Kindle books.
So I think that entering a couple dozen contests in the next few months is a good way to see if my friends, family members and former instructors have been too kind in their praises. I figure if I can't win a contest or 12 then I probably shouldn't waste my time on a novel.
Presuming my logic is sound on having my writing judged via contests, many, if not most, writing contests that give out cash prizes explicitly state that they do not want submissions that have been previously published -- a thoroughly understandable condition.
So here is my question: If I only have the time and/or desire to write one or two short stories of quality, is it ethical or proper to submit the exact same unpublished short story to multiple contests?
Feel free to explore other tangents if they relate to your answer: If I was fortunate to win two different contests with the same story and I got found out is it likely I would have to forfeit one or both prizes? Are contests not a constructive way to gauge the grade of your skill? If not, what is an excellent way to have your work peer reviewed (preferably for free by a professional)?
You certainly don't have to answer these questions; I have no problem saving them for another day for the Writers SE.
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You can try it in a different way...
All I've read about big-company publishing says that you shouldn't send your manuscript to different publishing-houses at the same time but rather send it to the biggest (in your opinion) and see what they say about it. You'll have to wait a lot but you won't have to deal with a big publisher accepting then rejecting your story because they felt insult that you'd sent it somewhere else while they were reading it.
By the same logic, I'd say you should send your story to multiple contests on a (contest by contest) basis and see how it goes. Contests should be much faster in replies (scores) so the process's more tolerable than what's with publishing houses. At the same time, multiple contests would most likely have different times for submitting and scoring so it would take even less time.
And lastly, I would second Standback's recommendation that you view the contests rules and/or contact them for clarification.
This post was sourced from https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/5548. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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This is called a "simultaneous submission," and a well-organized contest should have a clear-cut rule on whether or not they're allowed.
If a particular contest doesn't call simultaneous submissions out specifically, the safest is to try and contact them and make sure what their rules are. At very least, be absolutely certain you can contact them and withdraw your story if it gets published elsewhere first.
As always with contests, watch out for scams or mishandling of your copyright.
And good luck!
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