Don't starve.
Disclaimer: First, let me hedge this with I'm new to professional publishing and I don't know everything. I could be wrong.
(Tami, feel free to jump in with anything you want to say.)
After speaking to a few people who want to try to get published one thing seems to come up time and time again.
"Oh, crap, I have it on my LJ/Website/Xboard."
Sometimes this is a problem and sometimes it's not. But, enough people have come to me with questions that I think it needs to be addressed.
After a few conversations with Tami, here's how I see it.
"Small critique groups are allowed." Is where you have it posted small enough to be considered a small critique group or can Joe Schmoe websurfer find it and read it?
"Excerpts are allowed." Is what you have posted a small enough portion of the final story to be considered an excerpt?
If in doubt talk to the publisher or your editor. Let me stress that. TALK TO THE PUBLISHER/EDITOR.
You don't want any surprises.
Now, what if this particular piece is out there and there's no going back? And the publisher/editor says that it can't be published, are you screwed?
Nope. Ok, maybe you can't make money off that piece, but it still serves a purpose. You now have a polished piece you can use to get more readers. A lot of writers have pieces on their website so you can sample their work. It brings in people off web searches and it can work for you. You already have it written. Work it. Put it out there even more. Go to other boards and other groups and get it up. You can't sell it, so market with it.
In the future, you may want to avoid this sticky situation by not posting a piece until you know what you're going to do with it. Yes, we're writers. Yes, that usually means were feedback whores. Yes, it's nerve wracking to have a piece and not get any feedback on it. In that case you might want to consider joining a closed critique group.
However, not all critique groups are created equal and you might do better having a few select people you trust read through your piece and give you feedback than a true "critique group."
I've heard more bad things about critique groups than good things. Although, I'm sure there are good ones out there.
Why did I say, "you trust?"
1)You know these people can write and can give you some good feedback.
2)They like you well enough to tell you the truth.
3)You know they won't steal your stuff.
Personally, I give totally different feedback when I read things as a reader and when I read them after being told, "I hope to get this published."
Another thing you really need to think about is who is most likely going to buy your book when it first comes out and have those people already read the story?
Writer's have to pay for food, power and other things just like everyone else. Yes, some of your friends will buy the book even if they've read it and some won't. It's not always easy to tell the difference. Don't hurt future sales by giving away what you need to sell to keep food in your stomach.
The "starving artist" might be a great character in a story, but it makes for a crappy life.
(Tami, feel free to jump in with anything you want to say.)
After speaking to a few people who want to try to get published one thing seems to come up time and time again.
"Oh, crap, I have it on my LJ/Website/Xboard."
Sometimes this is a problem and sometimes it's not. But, enough people have come to me with questions that I think it needs to be addressed.
After a few conversations with Tami, here's how I see it.
"Small critique groups are allowed." Is where you have it posted small enough to be considered a small critique group or can Joe Schmoe websurfer find it and read it?
"Excerpts are allowed." Is what you have posted a small enough portion of the final story to be considered an excerpt?
If in doubt talk to the publisher or your editor. Let me stress that. TALK TO THE PUBLISHER/EDITOR.
You don't want any surprises.
Now, what if this particular piece is out there and there's no going back? And the publisher/editor says that it can't be published, are you screwed?
Nope. Ok, maybe you can't make money off that piece, but it still serves a purpose. You now have a polished piece you can use to get more readers. A lot of writers have pieces on their website so you can sample their work. It brings in people off web searches and it can work for you. You already have it written. Work it. Put it out there even more. Go to other boards and other groups and get it up. You can't sell it, so market with it.
In the future, you may want to avoid this sticky situation by not posting a piece until you know what you're going to do with it. Yes, we're writers. Yes, that usually means were feedback whores. Yes, it's nerve wracking to have a piece and not get any feedback on it. In that case you might want to consider joining a closed critique group.
However, not all critique groups are created equal and you might do better having a few select people you trust read through your piece and give you feedback than a true "critique group."
I've heard more bad things about critique groups than good things. Although, I'm sure there are good ones out there.
Why did I say, "you trust?"
1)You know these people can write and can give you some good feedback.
2)They like you well enough to tell you the truth.
3)You know they won't steal your stuff.
Personally, I give totally different feedback when I read things as a reader and when I read them after being told, "I hope to get this published."
Another thing you really need to think about is who is most likely going to buy your book when it first comes out and have those people already read the story?
Writer's have to pay for food, power and other things just like everyone else. Yes, some of your friends will buy the book even if they've read it and some won't. It's not always easy to tell the difference. Don't hurt future sales by giving away what you need to sell to keep food in your stomach.
The "starving artist" might be a great character in a story, but it makes for a crappy life.