next »

[meagain]

I have an edited collection coming out in June.  In addition to editing, I included a chapter of my own.   I've also had a paper accepted for a conference in April.   For the conference paper, I am writing in more depth about an idea I introduced, but didn't have space to develop, in my chapter.   Is it acceptable to use a chunk (1000-1200 words or so) of what I have in my chapter as part of my conference paper?  I would add a footnote stating something like "this section is taken from [page and bibliographic info], forthcoming from Some U Press."     

Put another way, can I cannibalize some of a forthcoming publication for a conference paper (given that the conference is before the book's release date)?   

[systeme_d_]

This might be discipline specific, but in my field, sure you could do that, but you'd serve yourself better by giving a new presentation that is geared toward producing another publication.  Presentations are designed for folks to get feedback on work in progress so they might polish it for publication.

The cannibalized presentation could serve as publicity for the book, but pushing yourself toward a new project might be much better for your career in the long run.

[glowdart]

Humanities here:

In the situation you describe, I'd say absolutely cannibalize, but keep in mind what systeme_d said, too.  The footnote that you mention... is anyone going to actually see the physical paper?  If not, then I would, instead, make those sections a different font so that when you get back to this paper in 3 months, you know which parts have already been published and which parts are the newer idea.  

In general, for me, the choice to cannibalize forthcoming works depends on a few things:

1.  Will you have anything to present if you don't cannibalize it?
2.  Why are you doing the conference?  
2a.  Networking?  Cannibalize
2b.  CV building/keeping your Dean happy?  Cannibalize
2c.  Because you need feedback on an idea?  I suspect there's little point in presenting something cannibalized.
2d.  To share your research & build contacts?  Cannibalize.  
2e.  Have you presented the cannibalized material before to these people?  Don't cannibalize.  

[meagain]

This might be discipline specific, but in my field, sure you could do that, but you'd serve yourself better by giving a new presentation that is geared toward producing another publication.  Presentations are designed for folks to get feedback on work in progress so they might polish it for publication.

The cannibalized presentation could serve as publicity for the book, but pushing yourself toward a new project might be much better for your career in the long run.

Thanks.  I should have been more clear.   In my chapter, I introduced an idea, one that I think has real potential for another publication (in a journal article), but then left it hanging with something like "space doesn't allow me to fully work out the implications of this idea".   I am now returning to that idea, but in the conference paper I want to add new material just to get the type of feedback that you describe.   So, only the setup will be taken from my chapter; the real pitch is new material that I would spend time on over the next couple of months.   I could rewrite the material from my chapter, but that won't help me get the new stuff worked out.   

By the way, this is in a humanities area. 

[meagain]

In the situation you describe, I'd say absolutely cannibalize, but keep in mind what systeme_d said, too.  The footnote that you mention... is anyone going to actually see the physical paper?  If not, then I would, instead, make those sections a different font so that when you get back to this paper in 3 months, you know which parts have already been published and which parts are the newer idea.  

Thanks glowdart.   Only a few people will see the actual paper, so I would include the cannibalized part in the first half of the paper but only to make the second half make more sense.  The actual talk at the conference would be focused on the second half for the reasons you and systeme_d have noted. 

[systeme_d_]

Sounds good, then!  Do it!
But consider abbreviating/summarizing the contextualizing part.

[larryc]

Oh hell yes. People base entire careers on cannibalizing one article.

[bevo98]

This is what we used to call "process" it is fine to revisit and expand one's work.  Actually, it is kind of refreshing in these times when many just leap around.  You are fine.  Good luck!

[msparticularity]

The other thing that no one has mentioned yet is that conferences are more than just an opportunity to get feedback and improve our forthcoming papers. They are an important part of getting our work out there and discussed, so it is actually read and cited once it's published. I don't mean this in a reductionist marketing way, either; conferences are our public forum for discussion, where we become aware of others' work in a world in which it's impossible for us to keep up with everything coming out. We also find out who is working on similar stuff, so we can account for it in future work, and/or collaborate.

[astoryteller]

I'm glad to hear that some think it's all right to discuss something published or to-be-published at a conference. I have a book coming out on (say) Medieval Welsh Oak Basketweaving and the Basketweaving organization just announced Medieval Welsh Basketweaving as the theme of its next conference. This seemed like a great opportunity to promote my book, but I was worried a paper on my book topic might be inappropriate. It's good to hear that this isn't necessarily the case.

[seniorscholar]

I'm glad to hear that some think it's all right to discuss something published or to-be-published at a conference. I have a book coming out on (say) Medieval Welsh Oak Basketweaving and the Basketweaving organization just announced Medieval Welsh Basketweaving as the theme of its next conference. This seemed like a great opportunity to promote my book, but I was worried a paper on my book topic might be inappropriate. It's good to hear that this isn't necessarily the case.

I have done the same thing both in ordinary conference talks and (once) as an invited keynote -- but I usually do not, in fact, rehash anything that's in the book: I look on it as a fine opportunity to "use up" some of the material that I couldn't get into any of the chapters, or the things that I discovered when I went on a vacation abroad (and to a library, of course) after the book was in production and the proofs were due to be sent to me for reading just after I got home. This is new, it's interesting, it's low stress . . . and it's good publicity for the book.

[heptameron]

This all sounds like advice great.  But I am wondering: Isn't there an issue of copyright involved if the OP's cannibalized chunk is in print or is forthcoming? 
OP: Did you sign a copyright form for the chapter you published in the edited volume?

[hegemony]

But copyright doesn't forbid the author from reading the material aloud.  Or have I misunderstood the concern?

[msparticularity]

This all sounds like advice great.  But I am wondering: Isn't there an issue of copyright involved if the OP's cannibalized chunk is in print or is forthcoming? 
OP: Did you sign a copyright form for the chapter you published in the edited volume?

Copyright does not prevent one from presenting a selected portion of a work that has not yet been published at a conference for any journal that I have ever dealt with or heard of. (Some conferences do not allow submission of previously published work, however.) In fact, many journals like the practice very much since it is likely to increase traffic for that article/issue, since the typical conference presentation does not cover the entire work and those present at the session may be more likely to look up the full article. In an ideal world, we will still have time to insert a note in the published version indicating that a portion was presented at the particular conference.

[meagain]

This all sounds like advice great.  But I am wondering: Isn't there an issue of copyright involved if the OP's cannibalized chunk is in print or is forthcoming? 
OP: Did you sign a copyright form for the chapter you published in the edited volume?

I did sign a copyright form.   The publisher would need to clear anything that was (re)published in print form, for example, in another collection or in a textbook...after it is published in the original collection.  I will be reading the paper at the conference, but it will also be posted on the conference website.  So, copyright issues are a concern since about 1000 words will be exactly the same, word-for-word, in both the conference paper (in April) and the printed collection (in June).  One option, I suppose, is to not supply a copy or the conference site (but only for my panel).