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Simultaneous Acceptance
How I Accidentally Sold the Same Article Twice
I’ve been working as a writer in some kind of professional capacity for more than ten years. I’ve had novel contracts with four different publishers and my stories and articles have appeared in quite a number of print and online media. Still, every year I find that I have more to learn.
Like the majority of writers, I don’t earn enough to support myself exclusively through writing, but it’s always nice to get a check in the mail for a recently placed piece. I’ve found that the best tactic for prolonged success is to generate lasting professional relationships with as many magazine editors and publishers as possible. Bearing that in mind, you can imagine my horror when a series of miscommunications led to a situation where two magazines were set to publish the same article at the same time.
Yikes!
And believe me when I say, it wasn’t my fault. At least, not ALL my fault.
Simultaneous submissions
When perusing lists of literary markets there is a common disclaimer that you will see listed again and again: “no simultaneous submissions.” Publications prefer the chance to read and evaluate a work prior to the author exorcising his/her right to submit that work to a different market.