Something for authors....

[madamos]

Over at Baen's Bar http://bar.baen.com they have a slush pile forum where people post their work and a forum where it gets commented on.

I mostly use it as a source of free entertainment, but it might help someone out.

[Mickey Finn]

I'd be a bit nervous about posting that there. Not cause of Baen stealing it (want a quick way to insult an editor? Include a copyright notice in the submission), but of others walking off with ideas.

[Blitz]

I agree.  I think the better approach is to join an online writing group, where you know everyone who reads about your ideas or work.

[harryismyhero]

I'd be a bit nervous about posting that there. Not cause of Baen stealing it (want a quick way to insult an editor? Include a copyright notice in the submission), but of others walking off with ideas.

So does that mean you shouldn't copyright your material before you start sending it out? I was told I should get my novel copyrighted before I began sending it to publishers. 

[Kali]

If you're in the US, the moment you put it on paper it was copyrighted.  You don't need to register it, send it to yourself in the mail and not open it, nothing.   You may want to do the latter if you really think someone's gonna steal it and you want to have proof you wrote it by a certain date, but you don't need to "do" anything to copyright it beyond putting it down on paper.

[harryismyhero]

Awesome! I knew living in the U.S. had perks! 

Thanks for the advice!

[Mickey Finn]

Bear in mind, proving you did it first becomes a legal issue, and the best way to do it it to register it properly.
However, if you send it to a big publishing house, and you throw copyright info on there, it's a tad insulting to their ethics, suggesting that they might steal your manuscript.
You don't want any reason whatsoever to have them toss you out before they read enough of it to make a "proper" decision. They WANT to find good manuscripts in there, but there's so many in the pile that it doesn't take much to make them move over to the next one.

[blue moon]

From what I understand, the "mail it to yourself and don't open it" thing won't stand up in court.  If you're really that concerned with someone walking off with your stuff, register it.

[harryismyhero]

However, if you send it to a big publishing house, and you throw copyright info on there, it's a tad insulting to their ethics, suggesting that they might steal your manuscript.

Is there a way to submit a manuscript to a large company and not include my copyright info on it?

From what I understand, the "mail it to yourself and don't open it" thing won't stand up in court.  If you're really that concerned with someone walking off with your stuff, register it.

Well, if (and this is a monstrously huge if) my novel actually became a big success, I'd want to be able to prove I'm the one who originally came up with the idea, in case someone claimed I'd stolen the idea from them. So how's the best way to go about copyrighting your novel? I've heard something about being able to do it through the U.S. Post Office?

I'm sorry if I'm asking a lot of stupid questions, but I just want to make sure I'm coming at this from the right angle, and that I don't screw up a really big chance that could've led to me getting published. Because that would make me cry. 

[blue moon]

Here's a website that answers questions about copyright and walks you through how to do it.  Assuming you're in the US, of course.

http://www.copyright.gov/

[Zydruna]

Thanks for the website, blue moon.

Is anyone else deeply disturbed that the site actually has an FAQ for "Can I copyright my sighting of Elvis?"

(FYI- the answer is no, you can't copyright the sighting itself, but you can copyright photos of the sighting....just thought I'd mention in case anyone is now thinking of copyrighting their sightings of Jim  )

[blgarver]

I agree.  I think the better approach is to join an online writing group, where you know everyone who reads about your ideas or work.

Know any good online groups?

I have a yahoo group dedicated to creative writing discussion, critique, etc...  I wanted to make it for mostly posting and reviewing peoples' work, but it's open to whatever writing discussion or book topics you'd like.  As long as it has something to do with the creative process. 

Right now it's pretty inactive.  If any of you are interested in a cyber-workshop type thing, feel free to check out my group.  I only allow writers to join, so there won't be too much off topic crap.

Here's the link:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/doorwaysofthemind/

Hope to see some - or many - of you guys there!