It's common for portions of novels and novellas to be published in journals before publication of the whole. Practically speaking, I don't think this will matter. People who have read and enjoyed the previously published portions would be more likely to buy the book--which is the reason for publishing excerpts in the first place. And as David points out, the thing as a whole is "new." If all four sections had been previously published, that might be a different matter--or maybe it wouldn't be. I think when we say "previously published work" we mean the entire book--published as a book--and not portions of the book. 

--Margaret


Margaret Luongo
Associate Professor, Creative Writing
Department of English
356 Bachelor Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-5221
________________________________________
From: Miami University Creative Writing Faculty [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tuma, Keith W. [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 11:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Novella query

Hello All,

As you know, one of the rules of our novella contest is that previously published works are not eligible. Today we have an email from someone asking if, given that rule, his novella is eligible for consideration. His novella consists of 4 sections. Three of these have been published as short stories. But the entire novella has not been published.

I think the only answer to this is that it’s not eligible. I think that also means that our rule is really this: “If any part of the novella has been published it cannot be entered in the contest.” Does that make sense? Otherwise we get into making a whole new series of rules about how much and what (or as what) and so on.

We should probably clarify our language.

Do any of you know of precedents in other contests elsewhere that I should be aware of?

Keith