At what point in the process do you copyright your work? I've heard coflicting recommendations on this, and I'd really like to hear, when you do it.
mesh138 said:I don't know what's wrong or right, but I save all my work onto CD and then mail a copy to myself so that it shows the postmarked date. Maybe this would hold up in a court of law, maybe it wouldn't. It just gives me the impression that my writing is so good that everyone out there is trying to rip me off.
September skies said:I had a teacher in high school who used to tell us to do this. And as long as we didn't open the envelope, she said it would work.
Then in college, we were told not to worry about it.
But I always wondered.
Thank you, banjo. They make me feel all glittery.banjo said:Congratulations Aconite!
emeraldcite said:copyrighting also dates your book. that could be a bad thing if it takes 10 years to sell.
veinglory said:BTW I see thw Sept/Oct Writer's journal has an article that actually supports the 'poor man's copyright' myth. 'Poof' goes the last of my respect for that magazine.
DamaNegra said:I've had the same doubt as banjo. Do I copyright my work before I send it to an agent/editor? Or do I send it to an agent/editor and let them handle the copyright stuff??
Remember, WJ is the magazine that gave the proprietors of Edit Ink a recurring column on "Ask the Editor" that continued for two years after they were indicted.veinglory said:BTW I see thw Sept/Oct Writer's journal has an article that actually supports the 'poor man's copyright' myth. 'Poof' goes the last of my respect for that magazine.
banjo said:At what point in the process do you copyright your work? I've heard coflicting recommendations on this, and I'd really like to hear, when you do it.
September skies said:I had a teacher in high school who used to tell us to do this. And as long as we didn't open the envelope, she said it would work.
Then in college, we were told not to worry about it.
But I always wondered.
maestrowork said:I think that's an important point. Say, you write your book in 2002, copyright it. But you can't find a publisher until 2005, and the book won't be published until 2007. So what is the date of your copyright? 2002? Your book will be severely dated. Not to mention you won't be eligible for any current awards because they ALL require a recent copyright date.
katdad said:You should copyright your work when it's finished, even if you're intending to do some more revisions and editing. The general copyright will stand, even if there is a revised version extant.
And yes, the publisher also copyrights, but I recommend you do it too.