When to Copyright

It's time to set the record straight on when to copyright your work. Many new writers are understandably protective of their manuscripts. Like proud mama and papa bears they are prepared to defend their literary babies to the death, and so go running off to the US Copyright Office the minute the last word is typed. DON'T DO THIS or you will risk looking like a loon to every professional in the business.

A copyright is only for a work that is completely and totally finished. That means it has already been written and rewritten within an inch of its life. You have had it proofed by at least one other set of eyes besides your own and hopefully two. You never, ever plan to revise it again--at least for a few years until it needs updating to stay current with the times. And you plan to publish it yourself.

If you plan to shop it around to publishers, they quite rightly may laugh you out of the office or into the electronic trash bin if you come to them with an already copyrighted work. That's because publishers seldom take a manuscript as is. They like to tweak things. Maybe they think a character should be older or a different sex. Maybe they want more humor or statistics. Maybe their market research shows that something in particular sells better and they want it incorporated into your manuscript. Publishers will also negotiate a contract, which includes ownership and therefore copyright rights. If you agree to give the company a portion of ownership, all that paperwork you filed will have to be un-filed and redone. In essence you just created more work for a publisher. Getting a contract is hard enough. You really don't want to do anything to jeopardize your chances or give yourself a reputation as hard to work with.

That leads to a final point. Many new clients come to me worried that their stories are going to be taken. They want to know how they can trust me or any other writer not to steal their ideas. Sometimes a friend or family member has cautioned them not to be too open with me for fear that I might take their work. Again, I understand their concern, however I have to smile. Such fears are the dead giveaways of a novice. Here's why: publishing books is a tough business and getting more difficult everyday. Very few people can snap their fingers and have a book published. It's a process that usually involves years of work, writing and rewriting, attracting the attention of an editor and publishing board. If I am going to work that hard at something, I'm going to champion one of my ideas, not someone else's.  We don't need someone else's ideas because most writers are very creative. Coming up with an idea is not an issue. In fact, most writers have multiple projects in many stages. One more idea is of relatively little value to us.

Why then do I write for others? For a couple of reasons: first, I was originally a journalist. I got to go out every day and see and do different things. I enjoyed those adventures. Writing for others helps me to continue that process. I get to learn about the things that interest me, meet interesting people all over the world, and get paid to do it. Second, I get to help teach others about something love. Third, it helps as a supplementary income between my projects. I've never been the type to sit still, relax, and do nothing. Spending a week on the beach or at a spa would be extremely stressful to me!

So when do you copyright? At the very end when you plan to self publish. Otherwise leave it to the publishers. If you're still worried, do a 'poor man's' copyright. Snail mail yourself a complete finished copy of the work through the USPS. Make sure it gets a date stamp on it. When it arrives don't open it, stick it somewhere safe and hold on to it. The seal shouldn't be broken until a court or arbitration board asks to see it. That should be enough to establish ownership rights in the very rare chance someone tries to claim it as their own. And of course don't post the full manuscript anywhere on line or give copies to friends and family to keep.