For those of you who have never heard of 'The Poor Man's Copyright', don't feel bad. I hadn't either until my eldest brother told me about it. It simply involves mailing your manuscript to yourself. By sealing the envelope and making sure the postal worker puts the label across the envelope's seal. Many people think that this is an inexpensive way of protecting their work from plagiarism. However, this is a myth. And one that has given comfort to thousands of writer's throughout the years.
Unfortunately for any author who has put their faith in this, I must inform you that you have been mistaken. In the event that you ever find yourself in a court of law disputing the ownership of your work, the law will favor the person holding the copyright certificate.
Now, in America, we operate under the general understanding that as soon as you finish writing your novel, poem or short story, you have full copyright protection for your work of art. Plagiarism is illegal and morally wrong. However, being able to prove who the culprit actually is can be difficult (or impossible) without that piece of paper from the library of congress.
Getting a copyright is not as expensive at it once was. When I filed for my first one back in 2002, I had to mail in my manuscript, along with a check for $65 and wait 6 months to a year for an answer. The fee was non-refundable, so I crossed my fingers that I hadn't made any mistakes on the form and hoped for the best. Now, the Library of Congress has added online submission options and the cost of using this service is around $35. Unpublished works can be submitted electronically along with the funds. If the book is published, you can pay your fee on the website, print out the packing slip, and mail in two copies of the finished product.
After your documents are received, you will receive an email from the Library of Congress that includes links you can click on to check the status of your application. Once your application has been approved, it will still take 3 to 6 months before you receive your certificate in the mail. Be sure to put it in a safe place, like a fire safe or safe deposit box if you have one. Don't worry if you lose your certificate. You can always contact the LOC, in writing, and ask them to send you a new one. This is also the process by which you would request they make changes to your file, such as name or address changes.
Also, your copyright is not final. For an additional fee, if you need to make significant changes to the work, you can submit an application to update the previous submission. You will need the original registration number and the date. This form can also be filled out online. Be sure to read all the instructions for the various forms as copyright application fees are not refundable.
All writers eat, sleep and breathe their work, and it is a knife in your heart if you find out that someone has stolen your work. It doesn't take much to properly protect your work. Even if $35-$40 seems like a lot, save your money and do it anyway. This investment is for your future and the future of your creative gems.
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Thursday, November 6, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
secret behind the writer's spirit
When people ask me what I do, I tell them I'm a publisher. They follow up with "Wow. What made you want to do that?" I have a variety of short answers that I give because these conversations often take place in the middle of the checkout line. But for those of you who are really interested in what pushes me forward, the answer isn't quite as simple as "I love books."
First of all, I really do love books. Growing up, we didn't have cable. We literally had 5 channels: PBS, CBS, ABC, Fox, and NBC. There were certain times during the day that there just wasn't anything on that a little kid would want to watch. It was news or soap operas. I wasn't allowed to watch soap operas and the news was boring for me. My mother's solution was to give us books. We spent almost every saturday bouncing between the bookstore and the public library.
My problem was that sometimes I would read a story and I didn't like the way it ended. Maybe the princess ended up with the prince when I felt she should have ended up with the young forest hero. Or maybe I thought that the forest hero should have been the star of the book instead of the prince or ogre or whatever. In my head I would write my own endings or mentally change the parts of the story I didn't agree with. A good example of this is a notebook full of Sailor Moon fanfiction that I was once absorbed in. [Ah, youth. :)]
My first real experience with writing was the school writing fair. It was an annual event that all grades could compete in. My first win was with my kindergarten story about a bear who climbed a mountain to find a fish. That story was about 5 sentences. I entered the competition every year with a new and much longer story. Each year we learned new skills: paragraphs, dialogue, how to revise, why you shouldn't start every sentence with 'the' or mark all conversation with the word 'said'.
As an adult, I often get jaded with the process of revising and crafting page layouts and seeking out cover art that properly fits each book. However, if I think back to that first writing fair (and I often do) I quickly remember writing for the fun of it. And I still do. That love of creating a new story is what pushes me even now.
Many people find writing difficult or consider it to be work. But I don't. I have a blast putting words onto paper and laying my ideas out there for others to see. Sometimes I get stressed out when I'm in the midst of research for a story, and that can be tiring. However, once I start writing the story, I forget all the negative feelings and I quickly get absorbed in the pleasure of writing.
First of all, I really do love books. Growing up, we didn't have cable. We literally had 5 channels: PBS, CBS, ABC, Fox, and NBC. There were certain times during the day that there just wasn't anything on that a little kid would want to watch. It was news or soap operas. I wasn't allowed to watch soap operas and the news was boring for me. My mother's solution was to give us books. We spent almost every saturday bouncing between the bookstore and the public library.
My problem was that sometimes I would read a story and I didn't like the way it ended. Maybe the princess ended up with the prince when I felt she should have ended up with the young forest hero. Or maybe I thought that the forest hero should have been the star of the book instead of the prince or ogre or whatever. In my head I would write my own endings or mentally change the parts of the story I didn't agree with. A good example of this is a notebook full of Sailor Moon fanfiction that I was once absorbed in. [Ah, youth. :)]
My first real experience with writing was the school writing fair. It was an annual event that all grades could compete in. My first win was with my kindergarten story about a bear who climbed a mountain to find a fish. That story was about 5 sentences. I entered the competition every year with a new and much longer story. Each year we learned new skills: paragraphs, dialogue, how to revise, why you shouldn't start every sentence with 'the' or mark all conversation with the word 'said'.
As an adult, I often get jaded with the process of revising and crafting page layouts and seeking out cover art that properly fits each book. However, if I think back to that first writing fair (and I often do) I quickly remember writing for the fun of it. And I still do. That love of creating a new story is what pushes me even now.
Many people find writing difficult or consider it to be work. But I don't. I have a blast putting words onto paper and laying my ideas out there for others to see. Sometimes I get stressed out when I'm in the midst of research for a story, and that can be tiring. However, once I start writing the story, I forget all the negative feelings and I quickly get absorbed in the pleasure of writing.
Monday, July 28, 2014
How do you Describe?
Writing descriptions can actually be a tricky thing. Finding the balance between too much exposition and too little isn't easy. I can't really say there are no tricks to it. When I originally write a scene, I try to describe it exactly as I see it in my head. I want it to be as clear for the reader as it is for me. This usually causes me to end up with a full page or two just to set the scenery. This can be a bad thing if the scene is something that almost anyone can relate to, such as a church or a school or a grocery store. However, if you're like me and often creating a world from scratch, thoroughly drawing the reader in is essential.
One thing you want to do is use metaphors and similes, but you have to find ways to use them sparringly. Also, you want to avoid the standard cliches that everyone is familiar with. While everybody will know what you're talking about, you may get a few readers who will roll their eyes and think "here we go again". Having people thinking your story is going to be something typical and cookie-cutter is not what you want. Coming up with a unique or unusual metaphor can take hours and sometimes days, but often, it is well worth the extra effort. I often write down unique or new metaphors that I come across when reading because I love it when I find something refreshing.
You don't want to over analyze a scene though. Don't add in descriptions that seem unnatural or break the flow of the dialogue or the character's action. Try to explain the placement of important people and objects beforehand. This way, it will be easier to reference these items later as the characters continue to talk or act. Try not to dump information in at random. If you're worried that your readers will be confused, try to make sure you are clear about these things at the beginning of the scene, or weave the information in as the story progresses. It's okay for the reader not to know everything from the start. A story is like life. Secrets and wisdom are revealed as we go along.
I'd love to be able to tell you some sure fire formula for handling descriptions, but there just isn't one. It really all depends on what you want to say and what type of story you are creating. It never hurts to do a little research, especially if your setting is more realistic or historical. Then again, if your story is pure fiction, just run with it. If it's a world of your own creation, then there is no way you can be wrong. Right?
One thing you want to do is use metaphors and similes, but you have to find ways to use them sparringly. Also, you want to avoid the standard cliches that everyone is familiar with. While everybody will know what you're talking about, you may get a few readers who will roll their eyes and think "here we go again". Having people thinking your story is going to be something typical and cookie-cutter is not what you want. Coming up with a unique or unusual metaphor can take hours and sometimes days, but often, it is well worth the extra effort. I often write down unique or new metaphors that I come across when reading because I love it when I find something refreshing.
You don't want to over analyze a scene though. Don't add in descriptions that seem unnatural or break the flow of the dialogue or the character's action. Try to explain the placement of important people and objects beforehand. This way, it will be easier to reference these items later as the characters continue to talk or act. Try not to dump information in at random. If you're worried that your readers will be confused, try to make sure you are clear about these things at the beginning of the scene, or weave the information in as the story progresses. It's okay for the reader not to know everything from the start. A story is like life. Secrets and wisdom are revealed as we go along.
I'd love to be able to tell you some sure fire formula for handling descriptions, but there just isn't one. It really all depends on what you want to say and what type of story you are creating. It never hurts to do a little research, especially if your setting is more realistic or historical. Then again, if your story is pure fiction, just run with it. If it's a world of your own creation, then there is no way you can be wrong. Right?
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Outlines Are My Frenemy
I said once before that outlines are something I never saw the merits of as a teenager. I used to think that they hindered the creative process by restricting what you could and couldn't say. I always thought I had to strictly follow the outline. This is not the case. Well, it is in respect to scholarly papers. Outlines keep you on track with the facts and keep you from straying too far form the point you're trying to make. However, when it comes to creative writing, outlines are like frenemies.
I'll explain. After I had kids, I lost the freedom I had to drop everything and lock myself in a room and write until I passed out in front of my computer. I now have to stop in the middle of a great flow of creative energy to make dinner, pick kids up from school, or take sick kids to the doctor. This often causes me to lose my train of thought. Sometimes, I get a great idea when I'm cutting the crusts off bread and by the time I finally get to my computer, the words are gone.
Outlines can save you from the stress of starting and stopping and forgetting. If you're lucky enough to be able to write all your main points out without getting interrupted, then do it. Fill in with little details: snippets of conversation or description of the scene. These are guidelines that you can use to kick start your brain when you come back later, and will help you pick up where you left off. They also give you the chance to look over your story and see if it has real legs to stand on: that is, can it make sense somewhere other than inside your head?
An outline gives you the opportunity to work out any kinks in your story and character relationships before you commit to writing 50,000 words or more. And the best thing, is that you can throw in any idea you think of. During the pre-writing phase, any idea can seem great, and most times they are.
On the other hand, outlines also can sometimes get in the way. Right now, I'm working on a project and I'm finding myself using only about 1/3 of the ideas I wrote down. While not using every idea isn't a bad thing, I just hate leaving good dialogue to collect dust. But what can I do? The story needs to evolve and improve and while that patch of dialogue might be amazing, it just doesn't fit into the story anymore.
Outlines also become a problem for me when I'm trying to rewrite a chapter. It's hard to change the story when my brain remembers it so vividly another way. I then have to write a new outline of what has actually happened in the story and what I want to happen next. I then compare the new outline to the old one and see if anything repeats or if the ending for the story has changed all together. Again, this is not a bad thing, but it is time consuming.
All the stress that comes with the ups and downs of using outlines, are just part of building a story from an idea into something amazing.
I'll explain. After I had kids, I lost the freedom I had to drop everything and lock myself in a room and write until I passed out in front of my computer. I now have to stop in the middle of a great flow of creative energy to make dinner, pick kids up from school, or take sick kids to the doctor. This often causes me to lose my train of thought. Sometimes, I get a great idea when I'm cutting the crusts off bread and by the time I finally get to my computer, the words are gone.
Outlines can save you from the stress of starting and stopping and forgetting. If you're lucky enough to be able to write all your main points out without getting interrupted, then do it. Fill in with little details: snippets of conversation or description of the scene. These are guidelines that you can use to kick start your brain when you come back later, and will help you pick up where you left off. They also give you the chance to look over your story and see if it has real legs to stand on: that is, can it make sense somewhere other than inside your head?
An outline gives you the opportunity to work out any kinks in your story and character relationships before you commit to writing 50,000 words or more. And the best thing, is that you can throw in any idea you think of. During the pre-writing phase, any idea can seem great, and most times they are.
On the other hand, outlines also can sometimes get in the way. Right now, I'm working on a project and I'm finding myself using only about 1/3 of the ideas I wrote down. While not using every idea isn't a bad thing, I just hate leaving good dialogue to collect dust. But what can I do? The story needs to evolve and improve and while that patch of dialogue might be amazing, it just doesn't fit into the story anymore.
Outlines also become a problem for me when I'm trying to rewrite a chapter. It's hard to change the story when my brain remembers it so vividly another way. I then have to write a new outline of what has actually happened in the story and what I want to happen next. I then compare the new outline to the old one and see if anything repeats or if the ending for the story has changed all together. Again, this is not a bad thing, but it is time consuming.
All the stress that comes with the ups and downs of using outlines, are just part of building a story from an idea into something amazing.
Friday, March 7, 2014
The Slump
It's been a long time since I've fallen into one of these. When I was a teenager, I basically had all the time in the world to write. That's mainly because I would scribble my novels when I should have been paying attention in class. Also, back then, I didn't have 3 kids to raise. What free time I had was my own and I would spend it either reading or writing.
Of course, now that I'm a mom and a business owner, I have to divide my time between my family and my work. This can sometimes lead to what I call 'situational writer's block'. Let's face it, it is best to write when you have that creative spark and that inner passion fueling your words. Unfortunately, life often gets in the way and when you actually have time to sit down and write, there aren't any words floating around in your head. And if there are, you're probably too exhausted to do anything other than sleep. By the time you wake up in the morning, what little inspiration you had was gone and you're back into the routine of packing lunches and shuffling kids off to school (or going to work). But all is not lost!
Why authors fall into slumps or develop writer's block varies from person to person and from circumstance to circumstance. How you break out of one has just as many possibilities as reasons that could be causing it. What I like to do is read or watch anime. I usually start with anime and then move on to books if I can't find anything interesting. I know, I'm a complete and total nerd. But I love the unique ideas behind different anime. I get inspired by all the amazing things I know I would never have thought of.
When I say inspired, I really mean motivated. When I see the end result of someone else's hard work, it makes me all the more determined to work harder at my own stories. And yes, this can mean that sometimes your work will be influenced by what you see or what you read. But I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. As long as you're not plagiarizing someone else's work, you're free to take an element from their story and incorporate it into your own in a new way.
For example, the idea of futuristic space battles doesn't belong to the creator's of Star Trek and Star Wars. Neither does the idea of a human-zombie romance. You of course need to go beyond just naming your characters and planets something different. But you can change the settings and the histories and motivations that drive your characters. Throw in a zombie eating plant or some spacial anomaly that makes both sides your intergalactic war work together.
Remember, not every story you work on has to be designed for publication. I love to play around with different concepts and ideas as a way to jump-start my brain when it gets stuck. I encourage you to give it a try. Why? Because it's fun.
The next time you're in a slump or stalled on the piece you're working on, just write something crazy for the heck of it and see where it takes you.
Of course, now that I'm a mom and a business owner, I have to divide my time between my family and my work. This can sometimes lead to what I call 'situational writer's block'. Let's face it, it is best to write when you have that creative spark and that inner passion fueling your words. Unfortunately, life often gets in the way and when you actually have time to sit down and write, there aren't any words floating around in your head. And if there are, you're probably too exhausted to do anything other than sleep. By the time you wake up in the morning, what little inspiration you had was gone and you're back into the routine of packing lunches and shuffling kids off to school (or going to work). But all is not lost!
Why authors fall into slumps or develop writer's block varies from person to person and from circumstance to circumstance. How you break out of one has just as many possibilities as reasons that could be causing it. What I like to do is read or watch anime. I usually start with anime and then move on to books if I can't find anything interesting. I know, I'm a complete and total nerd. But I love the unique ideas behind different anime. I get inspired by all the amazing things I know I would never have thought of.
When I say inspired, I really mean motivated. When I see the end result of someone else's hard work, it makes me all the more determined to work harder at my own stories. And yes, this can mean that sometimes your work will be influenced by what you see or what you read. But I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. As long as you're not plagiarizing someone else's work, you're free to take an element from their story and incorporate it into your own in a new way.
For example, the idea of futuristic space battles doesn't belong to the creator's of Star Trek and Star Wars. Neither does the idea of a human-zombie romance. You of course need to go beyond just naming your characters and planets something different. But you can change the settings and the histories and motivations that drive your characters. Throw in a zombie eating plant or some spacial anomaly that makes both sides your intergalactic war work together.
Remember, not every story you work on has to be designed for publication. I love to play around with different concepts and ideas as a way to jump-start my brain when it gets stuck. I encourage you to give it a try. Why? Because it's fun.
The next time you're in a slump or stalled on the piece you're working on, just write something crazy for the heck of it and see where it takes you.
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