posted
Hey, everyone! That moment we all wait for just arrived for me. I sent sample chapters, etc. to a book developer, Tenko, and they have asked to see the full manuscript. He said electronic submission would be fine.
How do I copyright it? Do I need to?
I'm going to wait a couple of days so he doesn't think I'm overanxious, even though I'm fairly hyperventilating, in part because he's already said that if this one works for him, he'd like to see my other unpublished work. How about four novels?!
posted
Conventional wisdom -- and I am *not* an expert -- is that you needn't worry.
If you are worried, you can mail yourself a copy before sending it to him. The sealed envelope is called "poor man's copyright"; if you ever had to go to court, you could show that you had the MS on the date of postmark.
In US law, it's copyrighted when you write it down. Conventional wisdom is that putting a copyright notice on your MS marks you as an amateur.
posted
A good question. Please answer that for us before you send anything more to him, lyndafitz.
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posted
I wonder if you are referring to Tekno Books.
quote:Tekno Books is one of the leading and most successful book developers in the world. The Division has had over 1,200 books published in its history, working with such notable authors as Tom Clancy, Dean Koontz, Tony Hillerman, Deepak Chopra, Sara Paretsky and Anne Perry. These books have been sold to 330 publishers around the world in 33 languages, and selected by 25 different book clubs. Tekno Books creates book concepts, sells these concepts to publishers, and arranges for the writing of the manuscripts and their delivery to the publisher. Hollywood Media Corp. owns 51% of Tekno Books.
Please remember Mcdonald's Law: money flows toward the writer.
In other words, don't pay someone to get your book published unless that someone is the printer and you are the publisher. And only do that when you've exhausted all other ways of getting someone to pay you for the right to be the publisher of your book.
quote:If you are worried, you can mail yourself a copy before sending it to him. The sealed envelope is called "poor man's copyright"; if you ever had to go to court, you could show that you had the MS on the date of postmark.
Bad idea. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's been passed off as a good idea for so long that most people believe it.
But think about it - you can mail yourself a blank envelope, giving yourself the date stamp you want, and in ten years, put something in it and seal it.
If you're worried about your copyright, you can register it with the US Copyright office . But if the publisher/agent is reputable, you don't have anything to worry about.
[This message has been edited by quidscribis (edited January 24, 2006).]
[This message has been edited by quidscribis (edited January 24, 2006).]
posted
And don't bother waiting a couple of days, it's an email, for crying out loud. As long as the response isn't midnight of five minutes after they sent theirs, you won't look "overanxious".
A better idea, don't sign anything until your agent looks it over (if you can't get a good agent based on what you're offered, take another look at what's being offered). Waiting until you have a real agent look over any contract is a much better way to avoid being overanxious, rather than just trying to pretend you aren't.
As for copyright, it's protected by copyright law, but not registered yet. Generally, you don't need to worry about registration, anymore than you need to worry about securing an ISBN or all those other little fiddly details (if the people publishing your work can't handle those details, don't let them handle your work). There are certain specific exceptions, none of which would seem to apply to a work of narrative fiction.
posted
Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions! Keep your fingers crossed that this true-skinny deal. I'll send the ms tomorrow.
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