How to secure authorship of my circulated writings without formally publishing them?

Question

Asserting authorship: How can I ensure that the authorship of my circulated writings is provable without actually publishing them (e.g. with an ISBN)?

Answer 1

Use certified mail to mail a copy to yourself. It has to be certified because that way you have to sign for it and there is a record stored at the post office. Make sure you don't open it.

This is a poor man's way to secure patent or copyright rights. However, I have heard it is not fool proof, so your should only do this as a temporary fix while you go through the years long proper channels to get a real patent or copyright.

Answer 2

i forget what the process is called, but you can print up an essay or editorial or whatever it is you write, stuff it in an envelope, and mail it to yourself. when it arrives. dont open it, just file it away.
that gets you a postmark on work, so you can prove its your original work later.