BY KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK AND SAM BARRY

The Author Enablers are here to answer your questions about writing and publishing. Together, Kathi and Sam have more than 25 years of experience in book publishing. Kathi is an author, radio producer and former publicist; Sam is a marketing manager at a major publishing company and a freelance editor. They are also proud members of the Rock Bottom Remainders, the all-author rock band founded by Kathi in 1992.

Getting on the (copy)right track

Every time we start to feel like smarty-pants know-it-alls, someone comes along who knows more about something than we do. Actually, this happens every few minutes. Anyhow, here's a longtime publishing pro's two cents on the issue of copyright:

Dear Author Enablers,

After a 25-year career in technical book publishing, culminating as an editor-in-chief at McGraw-Hill and then publisher at John Wiley & Sons, I found your answer in the April edition of BookPage to Carol Perlut's query about copyright a bit puzzling. I have more than a passing acquaintance with the current copyright statute, having served on a copyright subcommittee of the American Association of Publishers (AAP) during the development of the law, as well, of course, as having dealt with copyright questions which arose in my work.

The puzzle I found in your answer was the matter of whether you were advising the author to place a copyright notice on the article before submitting it, or whether actually to register the copyright with the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. The first would be, of course, a very simple matter, while the second would be rather more complicated. And I think, unnecessary, since registration really only seems important to me in regard to published works. Placing a copyright notice © [year] by [author] would be sufficient as an in terrorum warning, I should think, particularly since, as I am certain you are aware, the article is protected by copyright from the moment of creation.

The part of your answer to the question of whether the idea of a future work expressed in the article would be protected is right on the mark, ideas per se of course not being covered by copyright.

Jeremy Robinson
Rockbridge Baths, Virginia

Thanks to Jeremy Robinson for taking the time to clarify this issue (and, incidentally, write half of our column). Our perspective is this: most of the writers who contact us are negotiating unfamiliar, confusing territory when it comes to writing and publishing. We don't see any harm in familiarizing yourself with the Library of Congress protocols and getting a little practice in securing a copyright on a finished body of work. Then, if and when publication does occur, that's one arena in which a new writer can feel confident and experienced.

Robinson agrees that's "Not at all a bad idea." Phew.

Those who want to learn more should check out the U.S. Copyright Office website: www.copyright.gov.

Dear Author Enablers,

I have a couple of ideas that I have written down over the years and feel that some of them could become more than mere ideas with a little training on my part. I finally feel that I have the time to further my education in writing but have been wondering how best to go about it. Would it be better to enroll in classes at a local university or would it be better to pick a few good books and teach myself? I would love to hear your opinion on the subject.

Bob Davidson
Streetsboro, Ohio

We think you should do both! Get some good books about writing (we love Stephen King's On Writing and Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, but there's a vast selection out there—your local bookseller or librarian can help you find them), apply butt to chair—your own, that is—and see what you can create. Then register in a college extension class and/or join (or start) a writers group. A skilled, experienced teacher can offer a great deal of help, and there's no substitute for supportive, honest feedback from other writers.

Thanks for writing,
THE AUTHOR ENABLERS