...when the transcript has been reviewed and rejected for publishing. (For example: the transcript is reviewed by a better, more well known author and rewritten under their name.)
2006-10-01
09:01:34
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9 answers
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asked by
adrift feline
6
in
Arts & Humanities
➔ Books & Authors
Thank you everyone for the many, varied and insightful responses. In fact, I'm not a writer at all; simply a curious bystander.^^ The question occurred to me while considering many ppl, who have excellent ideas, stand by while a certain few gain the recognition... I suppose every field is this way; be it authorship or any other art form! lol
2006-10-02
10:27:28 ·
update #1
Do not concern yourself with this. Most manuscripts end up in the slush pile and NEVER get read anyway. Then, they are returned with a rejection letter. Publishers have literally backlogs of work from which to choose and legitimate publishers don't operate this way. Don't bother copyrighting your work or mailing a copy to yourself. Copyrighting ahead of time will only make a publisher shy away form your work (among other reasons) as the work will automatically be copyrighted if it is published. This is a tough field and your odds of seeing publication are slim to none.
2006-10-01 10:45:07
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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First of all, you'd be hard pressed to find an idea that no one had ever written before. Someone, somewhere, has had that idea before. Sorry, you probably aren't an original (but, Shakespeare's stories weren't original either, so you're in good company).
Secondly, if you didn't go through an agent the odds are good that no one actually read your manuscript anyway. Again, sorry. But the slush piles are huge at major publishing houses, and there just isn't enough time to read unsolicited manuscripts.
I'm not sure where this idea came up that publishers stole manuscript ideas. Everyone thinks it's common, but it really never happens.
I really agree that you shouldn't bother copyrighting your work ahead of time. It's a waste of time and money, because the copyright is automatically yours when you put the words down on paper!
In the future, when you're researching, check out the website Preditors and Editors. It can help you spot the scams. If you are going through a reputable company, they would not steal your manuscript because of the legal hassle that could ensue. Check out the site:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
2006-10-01 20:43:08
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answer #2
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answered by Obi_San 6
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If you have a copy of the story, and the date you sent it to the publisher, and the date you got it back (the rejection letter was dated, I trust; if not, keep the envelope with the postmark). If they subsequently publish a story substantially the same as yours, you sue. In the old days, authors would mail the original transcript to themselves in a sealed envelope, and keep it sealed when it came back in the mail. That was considered copyrighting it. The new copyright laws do not recognize that, but it would certainly go a long way as evidence if someone stole your story.
2006-10-01 16:08:53
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answer #3
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answered by auntb93again 7
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You can't stop anyone from stealing your work, however you can make it unpleasant for them once you discover the theft.
You can register your work in unpublished form with the Library of Congress. Even though copyright exists upon the moment of creation, with registration, you provide yourself with legal protection. When you register your work, a copy is on file at the Library of Congress. And so, if you find someone has stupidly stolen your work, you will have proof.
2006-10-01 19:05:23
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answer #4
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answered by Call Me Babs 5
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If the author is pathologically paranoid, the only way to be sure is to lace all the pages with anthrax. However, if the author is capable of operating within the boundaries of what is possible, the copyright should be sufficient.
2006-10-01 16:07:49
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answer #5
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answered by beast 6
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Boy o boy.. That KittyRodgers really knows how to smash, stomp, and kill a dream, huh?
Get yourself to a publisher, ask them about who can do this all for you locally. It will be cheaper, easier, and most likely give you a greater chance of you start off small.
Forget they nay-sayers.. They know nothing. =)
2006-10-02 15:28:35
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answer #6
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answered by rickrock1213 2
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When you mail your manuscript to a publisher, also mail or email it to yourself. That way, you have a date stamp proving when the original was sent. Or, if possible, fax it to the publisher and print a fax report.
2006-10-01 16:07:28
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answer #7
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answered by belmyst 5
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How nice of kittyrogers, she finally gave a decent answer, not to encouraging, but love takes time....
2006-10-02 15:25:57
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answer #8
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answered by laney45 4
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copywrite it!!
2006-10-01 16:03:38
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answer #9
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answered by tyty_loves_matty 3
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