sitting on two horses is ...

this post was triggered by Vesper's question.

for more details please refer to the post right below this one.

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her question was this: is it possible to submit the same short story to two contests?

i wrote a somewhat mystical, folktale-like piece.

i wrote it upon a prompt given by one contest and decided later on that the writing is more suitable for the regional writers' contest (with the latter being focused on art-nouveau).

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were the two contests at least two months or so apart, i wouldn't hesitate to enter my writing to both.

but they are not.

the deadline for the regional contest is 5 May, and 15 May for the other one.

which is practically the same.

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my first thought was that it was unethical to enter both (or more than one contest for that matter) with one single writing when said contests are held at the same time.

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i asked some of my fellow writers.

i got some 6-8 answers from aspiring writers, published authors and editors. about half of the answers said it is unethical and may cause copyright problems and any writer entering two contests with the same writing will be considered unacceptable by publishing houses. (this latter opinion came from an editor who works for one of the most successful publishing houses in Hungary).

the remaining half assured me that it is my writing and it is my right to enter as many contest as i can and to the hell with the restrictions.

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i asked the organizers of the two contest.

only one of them replied, the one working for the regional contest. she said i may enter my story to any other contest just as i like.

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so, here i am, the deadline is coming and i'm entering the regional contest.

then i'll have another 10 days.