Seeking Clarification on Publishing Contest

[pauljeday]

Hi,

I am just wanting to clarify whether you are allowed to enter a book (manuscript) which has aready been published or which has won awards? (Mine hasn't btw).

Cheers,
Paul G Day

[Scott]

Well you don't need a manuscript to enter.

However, the winner will be expected to deliver a manuscript that has not already been published.

Most publishing deals would have given exclusive publishing rights to the original publisher anyway.

[pauljeday]

Well in that case you might want to tell the leading entry this. Again, I only want to be fair and as my book has only six chapters so far (will be a 50,000 word twenty chapter original novel when completed) and has not been published at all, it is not really fair that someone could potentially win with at least some content having already been not only published, but according to the entry, has won awards.. I think perhaps it needs to be clarrified on the competition page. As I said, I'm not being picky, but it has to be a level playing field.

Sincerely,
Paul G Day.

[bookowlie]

Well in that case you might want to tell the leading entry this. Again, I only want to be fair and as my book has only six chapters so far (will be a 50,000 word twenty chapter original novel when completed) and has not been published at all, it is not really fair that someone could potentially win with at least some content having already been not only published, but according to the entry, has won awards.. I think perhaps it needs to be clarrified on the competition page. As I said, I'm not being picky, but it has to be a level playing field.

Sincerely,
Paul G Day.

I agree. The top vote getter at the moment describes their book as already having been published in another country and won an award. I think there may have also been another entry where it's mentioned that that book is published and wons awards, too. I don't have a dog in this race, but I definitely agree it should be a level playing field.

[gali]

I agree too. @"Scott"?

[bookowlie]

Well in that case you might want to tell the leading entry this. Again, I only want to be fair and as my book has only six chapters so far (will be a 50,000 word twenty chapter original novel when completed) and has not been published at all, it is not really fair that someone could potentially win with at least some content having already been not only published, but according to the entry, has won awards.. I think perhaps it needs to be clarrified on the competition page. As I said, I'm not being picky, but it has to be a level playing field.

Sincerely,
Paul G Day.

@Scott I agree that there should be a level playing field. The #1 and #5 vote-getters both stated that the book has already been published and won awards.

[Scott]

I have added a note to the terms displayed on the entry page to the entrant. The note makes it clear the manuscript that gets published is expected to have not already been published.

I don't think it is unfair for someone to mention that they have won awards before or that they have been previously published.

Entrants do not need to even have a manuscript at all to win the contest. Thus, it's not really possible to say that the person has delivered a manuscript that doesn't meet the criteria. Entrants aren't entering manuscripts into the contest as much as they are entering themselves into the contest.

-- 12 Jan 2016 10:36 pm --

In short, the most crucial thing about the contest is the concept that whoever gets the most votes wins. I don't think the goal of fairness can trump that because then that would be unfair to all the current entrants who entered under the promise that the contest is that simple.

[bookowlie]

@Scott I definitely see your point. I hope I was not misunderstood. It's certainly fine for people to market themselves and say they have been previously published and even won awards. What I was trying to point out is that there are two people who make it clear they are entering a specific book that has already been published and that the specific book won awards.

Anyway, I don't want to beat a dead horse. Good luck to the contestants!

[pauljeday]

It is reasonable to assume that this is a contest for books that have not been previously published. The leading entrant clearly ststes that their entry has already been published at least in part. On that basis it is unfair. Most people who have entered would assume the same. You don't enter a contest for work that has already had success. This is clearly what the entry in question has had. Unless this complaint is duly considered, I will withdraw my entry because nobody can compete with an entry which clearly already has great support and in normal circumstances I would say "good on you" but this is not in the spirit of the competition. It is hard enough to get recognition as it is without entrants who have already been published (for the book they have currently listed). Unless you can convince me I have half a chance, I'm no longer interested.

[Scott]

@Scott I definitely see your point. I hope I was not misunderstood. It's certainly fine for people to market themselves and say they have been previously published and even won awards. What I was trying to point out is that there are two people who make it clear they are entering a specific book that has already been published and that the specific book won awards.

Anyway, I don't want to beat a dead horse. Good luck to the contestants!

@bookowlie I will contact those two people and ask them to change the blurb.

I agree it's not really what was intended.

On the hand, I don't think it's really unfair.

It is reasonable to assume that this is a contest for books that have not been previously published. The leading entrant clearly ststes that their entry has already been published at least in part. On that basis it is unfair. Most people who have entered would assume the same. You don't enter a contest for work that has already had success. This is clearly what the entry in question has had. Unless this complaint is duly considered, I will withdraw my entry because nobody can compete with an entry which clearly already has great support and in normal circumstances I would say "good on you" but this is not in the spirit of the competition. It is hard enough to get recognition as it is without entrants who have already been published (for the book they have currently listed). Unless you can convince me I have half a chance, I'm no longer interested.

@pauljdeday I am sorry if I made it seem like I am not considering your complaint. I am far from perfect, but I will work to consider the matter as duly as I can. I mean that sincerely.

I'm in a tough spot because I also think it would be unfair to the entrants to add rules that were never listed originally. From the get-go, I agree with you about what is reasonable to assume. Upon your feedback, I added a note in red to the terms clarifying that that was the intention all along: for the eventual product to be a book that was not previously published. Unfortunately, I also have to stick to what I explicitly said. I cannot add new rules.

I beg you to continue the contest. Out of so many people you are ranked so high. And the contest is still pretty new.

Thank you,
Scott

-- 13 Jan 2016 02:55 pm --

Update ~ I asked the two entries in question to rewrite the blurbs to not imply that they were entering an already published work. They both generously agreed. The blurbs have been updated. I hope this is a satisfactory resolution to all involved.

[pauljeday]

Ok, thanks Scott.

[pauljeday]

Please remove my competition entry. Thanks.

[HalcyonFlower]

Will there be a formal platform for feedback once the contest ends?

[bookowlie]

HalcyonFlower - what do you mean by feedback?

[pauljeday]

I agree it's not really what was intended.

On the hand, I don't think it's really unfair.

I wish to withdraw from the contest on principle