I knew this blog thing was gonna get me in trouble. Turns out, I can't publish my binding tutorial because it has already been published. Here. On the blog. Apparently, that's considered publishing. I'm not sure I really understand what the conflict is, since probably 30 people have actually read the thing and I'm pretty sure their circulation is several dozen or so more than that (I kid, I kid) but perhaps I'm violating my own copyright or something. But now all of you who have your own blogs can tell your friends and family that you are a published author, and when they ask, you can say, "I'm published on my BLOG. IT COUNTS."
The good news is that they still want something, whether a re-worked version of the same idea, or something else. The bad news is that they sprung this on me during the very specific time of the month WHEN I HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOR. Seriously, you could probably plot it out on a graph and see a sharp dip every 23 days. (This was particularly evident at today's editorial meeting for my day job. These meetings last 4+ hours and really should be banned under the Geneva Conventions. Fat girls like me can't last that long without Dr. Pepper and snacks.)
So I will spend my evening attempting to pull funny ideas out of my ass, and then giving up and watching trashy TV instead. Because this is also the time of the month when I have no work ethic.
(UPDATE - I actually just think that they want completely original content, and I was careful to say in my initial letter that this had been posted on my blog before, in case they had a rule concerning such things. Mark overlooked it at the beginning, but his managing editor caught it. But it's okay, because I achieved the goal of getting them interested in my writing. No worries!)
I don't understand. If it's already published on your blog, can't you just tell us the link so we can go there and see it?
ReplyDeleteSo is the issue that Blogger/Google owns the copyright? Because I would assume that if it were entirely your own, you could give express written consent to reproduce your copyrighted work. I'm really curious now about this stuff!
ReplyDeleteIt's probably just that they want completely original content, but I'll be checking Blogger's terms of use just to be sure.
ReplyDeleteGeez Megan, sounds like a bunch of crap to me. This sounds like the cheap copyright law...if you mail something to yourself and it's dated then it belongs to you? I think I have heard everything now. Maybe I should post "my" pattern for a baby quilt on my blog and "dare" anyone else to steal it. I need some alcohol here. I'll send a chainsaw and chocolates to you, Elaine
ReplyDeleteSucky !!!! We know you can come up with something else. Come on baby you can work under pressure. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteFat girls like me can't last that long without Dr. Pepper and snacks.
ReplyDeleteHere! here!
Who knew that all of this "idle chatter" on a blog is considered "published."
Wow, that really sucks. You are so damn talented you will come up with something else. We all have faith in you, that is why we all read your blog.
ReplyDeleteSo now I can go to my class reunion and list my occupation as "author"? That rocks!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I overheard a woman at the IQS tell her friend, who was perusing the magazine, to "put that down! I bought that once, and it was HORRIBLE! You're not going to find anything in there you can use."
Um, except maybe a sense of humor...
Well, you're very clever and I'm sure you can come up with something original. Of course, then you can't post it to us for review..... darn it!
ReplyDeleteYour blog and title made me laugh this morning...thanks...
ReplyDeleteI think with all the linkbacks the binding thing is getting, you'll probably be getting more exposure than you would in a magazine... just think of all the people that lurk and don't comment. :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I added your blog to my fav. blogs list. Keep writing, at least being an editor yourself, you've got some knowledge of how to format submissions - and they won't be full of grammatical errors either!