Exclusive content serves the interests of the publishing industry. It 'increases the credibility of writer' only to the extent that readers continue to abdicate their judgment of what constitutes 'good' fiction to industry gatekeepers or brands.
The internet has created the opportunity change the standard practice of first-time or exclusive rights and to fully empower writers as owners of their creative work. To see the Ink Well trying to perpetuate the old way of doing things -- to ask writers to limit themselves in the free market in order to build the brand -- on a radical new platform like Hive, is disappointing to say the least.
And to suggest that it is ethical to limit by myself as a creative artist in order to serve the interests of a centralized brand? Oh buddy, I think not.
Thank you for your point of view, you raise some important points. The great thing about the Internet and Hive is that people are free to make their own decisions. Anyone may publish anything to their blog without reference to anyone else, and everyone is free to set up a community with the boundaries or lack of boundaries they choose.
You're right of course. And, the Ink Well has clearly put together a competent, intelligent team who can appreciate literary work. I really wanted to participate. But I'm not going to refrain from sharing my work as broadly as possible.