Question about publication order

[Orrex]

Suppose you submit two works on the same day to two separate publishers on the 1st of the month.

Work 1 is accepted on the 10th of the month but won't be published until the last day of next month.

Work 2 is accepted on the 12th of the month and will be published on the 20th of the same month.


In this situation, which work would you describe as the first to be published? Does it depend on its print-date, or when you receive the acceptance?



I should mention that, as I typed the question, I think I realized the answer, but I wanted to check with you.

Thanks!

[Ozymanithrax]

1. It is the Print date.

If you are publishing in a magazine or book, it is the day the publication goes no sale, not when accepted. On an Internet Magazine or site (there are many that pay professional or near professional rates) it would be the day that the story is posted.

Print date refers to the day the magazine, book, or website actually appears to the public. Work 2 would be the first publishing credit.

However, only on the Internet would you ever see something that quick, and that would be rare. Magazines usually buy 3 - 6 months before publication and books are bought about 2 years before publication. Websites are much quicker, but still usually buy a month to six months before they appear to the public.

[Orrex]

2. One's a website, the other's an anthology

The piece on the website will be published later this week; the anthology should be out before the end of the year. So the web-piece (which was actually submitted/accepted second) will be published first!


Thanks for the info!