Sunday, December 14, 2008

Which Would You Rather Have?

Hypothetically speaking...

Would you rather sell a short story for professional rates, to appear in a small circulation ezine, or virtually give it away, but to appear in a print anthology?

10 comments:

Wanu said...

Forgot to put my own answer.

I'd go for the print anthology. I'd have a sense that it would a) look better as a publishing credit and b) potentially reach a much wider audience.

Bryan Russell said...

Hmmmm... I think for me it would depend on the circumstances. Both are great. I mean, right now, with me trying to run a small business in a major recession (in an auto town while the North American Auto Industry is teetering on the brink...), well, I'm thinking a couple hundred bucks for a story would be pretty great. Christmas time... the cash is looking pretty good.

They both look good on a writer's transcript. It might depend on the reputation of the mag, too, and what kind of sales and exposure the anthology is expecting to get. Some anthologies are pretty tiny... A good anthology, though, I might go for that if I didn't need the money too much. It might be a good sort of career builder.

Tough call. Me, right now, I'd go for the pro sale and the cash. If the situation were a little different, however...

Anonymous said...

I think it would depend on the relative reputations, though generally I think I'd go for the pro-rates and take hard cash over kudos.

Bryan Russell said...

Oh, and a print anthology, with a book to actually hold, flip through, and stick on your shelf... call me sentimental and old-fashioned, but I do like that.

A few extra grams on the scale...

Damon Lord said...

Cripes, that's a good question. Right now, as I'm finally trying to get back into writing after a break, I'd say the print anthology, although it would depend on how widely known the ezine is. A print anthology would make good for a writing CV if I were hunting for an agent.

Bookworm1605 said...

Another toughie. I think I'd probably go with the print anthology. Mostly for the reason Ink stated: something tangible to hold in my hands, put on my bookshelf, hit people in the face with who might sneer if I told them I'm a writer. I'm not knocking ezines--they're the future of writing. But ultimately a book in hand is worth two in...er, sorry, wrong analogy. Plus, I wouldn't have to worry about what to give friends and relatives for birthdays and Christmas for several years.

K. A. Jordan said...

I just gave a flash fiction story away, to have it appear in print. So that's the answer to that. (G)

Bryan Russell said...

Lol, Ms Kitty!

Wanu said...

Congrats, MsKitty! I mean it, too, especially as that coincides with my answer.

Kevin P. Kilburn said...

Since I've never published anything, right now I'd say a very definite "print anthology". I don't rely on writing for income, so I'd much prefer to see one of my works published for as much exposure as possible.

Of course, it depends on the price, etc. There's always a caveat.