tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post6480104463903397913..comments2024-03-19T09:19:45.353+00:00Comments on Dan's Adventures in Fiction: When a Big Prize Means Even Bigger FrustrationDan Purduehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-42581791330222342942013-03-18T19:56:04.584+00:002013-03-18T19:56:04.584+00:00Hi Chris,
Firstly, congratulations! I get the imp...Hi Chris,<br /><br />Firstly, congratulations! I get the impression Chapter One still get a lot of entries to their contests, so well done for getting noticed.<br /><br />You're right, the 2010 anthology did get published - I wrote about it here: http://lies-ink.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/closing-chapter-one-chapter.html<br /><br />It seems like Chapter One have not made a radical change to the way they operate and my suggestion with regard to your anthology would be that you don't lose hope, but also that you don't hold your breath. I would guess it might be next year before you see the finished book.<br /><br />Try not to let it get to you. It's disappointing to have a story "locked up" for so long, but it's not the end of the world. Write more, send stories to other places, and find success elsewhere. In my experience they're not great at responding to emails and the effort you put into chasing them up is probably better spent doing something more constructive. I wish you luck!<br /><br />All the best,<br />Dan.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-79800045882327635302013-03-16T14:53:26.329+00:002013-03-16T14:53:26.329+00:00Hi Dan
I was shortlisted in the 2012 comp and was...Hi Dan<br /><br />I was shortlisted in the 2012 comp and was expecting a proof of the story and bio in November 2012. It's now March 2013 and I've heard nothing from them, despite emailing them and writing letters. Their lack of professionalism is very disappointing. Looks like the 2010 anthology did get published in the end though? It's on their website... 2011 and 2012 not there though. Cheers, ChrisChristopher Fieldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17033578002964512402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-76273275612407471232012-08-20T09:22:51.267+01:002012-08-20T09:22:51.267+01:00Thanks for the warning, Dan. How frustrating, but...Thanks for the warning, Dan. How frustrating, but at least you'll end up having been paid and still having your work, or having been paid and the publication finally making an appearance. Keep us informed - I expect we all want to read your story now!Linda Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08845487317521150618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-64740768942362810522012-08-20T08:53:15.044+01:002012-08-20T08:53:15.044+01:00This is a really interesting post, Dan and I'v...This is a really interesting post, Dan and I've retweeted it.<br /><br />Anyone running a writing competition should ensure they have the prize fund available as soon as the comp ends. It's nothing to do with being professional. It's about being ethical. No one should have to beg for their prize money, and/or have it paid by instalments.<br /><br />It's possible that the entries didn't cover the prize fund, but that's not the entrants' problem. I don't carry Chapter One comps on my blog or in my Writers Forum pages anymore, because of all the problems people have had with them. This post has confirmed that I've been right not to list them.Quillershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00148636009202550512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-33877711899841236282012-04-27T15:47:55.903+01:002012-04-27T15:47:55.903+01:00I'd make that comment above a blog post in its...I'd make that comment above a blog post in itself, Dan. Title it 'An open letter to Chapter One Promotions', and alert them to it.Teresa Stensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027879292470220383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-2462062223685734752012-04-27T13:53:25.888+01:002012-04-27T13:53:25.888+01:00Hi all, thanks again for visiting and for your com...Hi all, thanks again for visiting and for your comments.<br /><br />I wrote this blog post out of exasperation, really. If you just look at the prize money, the Chapter One competition should be somewhere between the Bristol Prize and Bridport. But in terms of prestige, unlike those two competitions, I doubt it shows up on many literary radars. This is what annoys me the most, I think. It wouldn't take much to address this, but the organisation seems tangled up in other stuff that detracts from the credibility of the competition and the anthologies that are (eventually) published.<br /><br />I know it can take a while to get stuff organised, but once 12 months have passed from the closing date, you've missed the prime opportunity to sell anthologies. Small presses and the like can struggle with funds, volunteer staff can leave, time can slip away and deadlines end up getting missed (which I guess is the problem with the magazine you mention, Jessica). But if you set up a competition where the prize fund runs into thousands, you need to take precautions against such eventualities.<br /><br />The bottom line is, it doesn't take two years or more to put an anthology together. I did mine in a week, and it's readily available to anybody who's interested in it.<br /><br />I don't know what the answer is. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of urging people not to enter the competition, as I'm convinced the only reason I got paid was because people were entering the 2011 competition. What I would recommend though is that Chapter One rethink their strategy. If the current prize fund is unmanageable, then it needs to be scaled back. The winners need to be paid within a few weeks of the result being announced; the anthology shouldn't take more than six months at the absolute maximum. Make sure the book is full of good quality stuff, make it available, bang the drum for the writers involved. Plenty of places do it really well, and even though their prizes aren't so generous, writers fight tooth-and-nail to get on the shortlists. The alternative seems to be a policy that does nothing but irritate entrants, and undermine the winners' success. In these days of blogs, Twitter and the like, this isn't sustainable as discontented voices will drive away future entrants.<br /><br />I've got no objection to people or organisations running competitions to make money, but that doesn't have to be at the expense of a contest that promotes good writing, and treats people fairly and with respect for their efforts.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-12996109767476093612012-04-26T13:12:10.935+01:002012-04-26T13:12:10.935+01:00I'm in the same position as 'Anonymous'...I'm in the same position as 'Anonymous' above. I actually just emailed them about the so-called proofs and Johanna got back to me immediately saying they were still waiting for 2 stories and 3 biographies and that they were looking into new processes to make things run more smoothly from now on. To be honest I had forgotten all about the anthology until they sent me an email at the beginning of April asking me to email them my story. It's truly bizarre.SJIHollidayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395935935929608392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-40484334361910351752012-04-25T08:56:27.790+01:002012-04-25T08:56:27.790+01:00I was also 'succesful' in the same competi...I was also 'succesful' in the same competition and whilst I was never due any prize money I was led to believe that my story would be published as a result.<br /><br />In email and telephone contacts and other investigations last year I came to the conclusion that it was best to expect absolutely nothing from Chapter One. So far I've not been disappointed. <br /><br />I was recently asked for a biography and told that the proofs of the anthology would be available soon. Like you...I'm not holding my breath....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-59843417825023797932012-04-24T12:19:54.063+01:002012-04-24T12:19:54.063+01:00Very best of luck getting your rights back, Dan. H...Very best of luck getting your rights back, Dan. Having just won my first competition I know I would be extremely gutted if it all turned out to be this much of a drawn out hassle getting my prize.<br /><br />Try and focus on the good stuff - you have a brilliant story and will be able to use it again (hopefully soon)!Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-15096648203077886572012-04-24T12:16:25.116+01:002012-04-24T12:16:25.116+01:00Several times I've nearly entered Chapter One ...Several times I've nearly entered Chapter One competitions but haven't because this is a story I've heard about from different people on various forums over and over again. Generally they seem to be considered unprofessional - running competitions with big prize money to hook people in, and then dragging it out for years. They still get listed in some reputable places so they can't be all bad, but I know many writers won't touch them with a barge pole.<br /><br />I'm glad you got the money (though it was unprofessional again to do it in installments). Really hope you'll get the rights back soon and find somewhere else to sell the story as I, for one, would really love to read it! If it's one of your best then it's awesome!Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-91477383557410565992012-04-24T12:05:30.764+01:002012-04-24T12:05:30.764+01:00Thanks everyone for your comments - I'll be ba...Thanks everyone for your comments - I'll be back to respond in a little more detail, but before things go much farther I just want to reiterate that I did get all the money that was due to me in the end, and as far as I can tell there's no breach of contract at this point (unless paying the prize money in instalments counts as breach; the contract doesn't actually say it would be paid in one go).<br /><br />I'm not saying they're doing anything wrong/illegal, just that it's all incredibly slow and frustrating.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-78856567952381690572012-04-24T11:51:28.263+01:002012-04-24T11:51:28.263+01:00On the face of it, it would seem that Chapter One ...On the face of it, it would seem that Chapter One Promotions are just another money-spinner for the organiser(s).Vanessa Gebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09088301040602803489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-2524090044367902072012-04-24T11:13:24.823+01:002012-04-24T11:13:24.823+01:00Hi Dan
I used to work at Chapter One Promotions an...Hi Dan<br />I used to work at Chapter One Promotions and I really recommend extracting yourself from any dealings with them asap and telling *all* your writer friends *never* to even consider sending work to them.<br /><br />Myself and 2 other members of staff were not paid for months and months after our payment was due and had to threaten legal action. We have since reported the company for financial mismanagement.<br /><br />In my opinion Joanna Bertie knows next to nothing about literature and cares even less (we never had a single conversation about a writer or book), though she did manage to get lots of good literary folk involved to judge competitions and run workshops etc. so none of those people are to blame.<br /><br />I better stop now because even though I left four years ago I am still angry with COP and really urge you to warn other writers.<br /><br />Anyway, I would love to read your story and suggest you call and demand the rights are returned to you which, considering that COP have broken their contract, shouldn't be a problem. I suggest you be very firm.<br /><br />Go forth!<br /><br />I really don't mean to stir anything here I just feel quite strongly and after I saw Tania Hershman's retweet I felt I had to respond.<br /><br />Best of luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-51611916989080777752012-04-24T10:54:12.243+01:002012-04-24T10:54:12.243+01:00Dan, I think you should get the rights back to you...Dan, I think you should get the rights back to your story and send it out to other places. <br /><br />Two years ago I had a short story accepted for a newish (issue 3)magazine. I am still waiting for the print edition to arrive! They keep making promises on their FB page and their website keeps disappearing and then reappearing. They are already taking money for issue four and five. <br /><br />The PDF version arrived in January. So maybe I will get to see my story in the print edition soon.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08947711142075013900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-56073221228123965572012-04-24T10:51:27.366+01:002012-04-24T10:51:27.366+01:00Definitely get those rights back. Also, they may b...Definitely get those rights back. Also, they may be in breach of contract.Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02427952228859939998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-26247168167302271312012-04-24T10:36:13.074+01:002012-04-24T10:36:13.074+01:00Yeah, they're not going to produce the antholo...Yeah, they're not going to produce the anthology in that time, are they. <br /><br />The best thing is that you're going to have the rights to your story back. What will you do with it, you think?Teresa Stensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027879292470220383noreply@blogger.com