How do I protect documents before they have been copyrighted?

Answer 1

online or for educational work? YOu need to go to a copyright website to get the rights to your work, many authors do that nowa days

Answer 2

Legally, copyright exists from the moment the document is created. Registering the copyright is a means of documenting the rights and provides certain enforcement rights that are not available for 'unregistered' copyrights. That said, I've heard people recommend sending yourself a copy be registered mail and never opening it. This gives you a sealed copy with the date recorded by the USPS. It may not be legally conclusive, but it will help shift the burden of proof.