The Mystery Writers of America has revised the language of their definition of "self-publication" for membership application, publisher approval, and Edgar eligibility. The changes were made for greater clarity and specificity.
“Self-published”
or “cooperatively published” works include, but are not limited to:
the author has paid all or part of the cost of publication, marketing,
distribution of the work, or any other fees pursuant to an agreement between
the author and publisher, cooperative publisher or book packager;
b) Works printed and
bound by a company that does not sell or distribute the work to
brick-and-mortar bookstores;
c) Those works published
by a privately held publisher or in collaboration with a book packager wherein the
writer has a familial relationship with the publisher, editor, or any
managerial employee, officer, director or owner of the publisher or book
packager;
d) Those works published
by companies or imprints that do not publish other authors;
e) Those works published
by a publisher or in collaboration with a book packager in which the author has
a direct or indirect financial interest;
f) Those works published
in an anthology or magazine in which the author is also an editor, except an
anthology or magazine for which the author is a guest editor.
g) Those works published
in an anthology or magazine wherein the author has a familial relationship with
the editor or publisher.
