What happens if someone steals your story? What if, say, you posted a draft of your story on a critique forum and someday you picked a book off the shelves and started to flip through it. Then you realize you recognize everything but the character names. Someone kidnapped your plot, put some hair extensions on it and shoved it out into the world to tramp for the cash.
Is this possible? Is this something all authors should take steps to protect against? If you do feel like your blowing in the wind every time you send a manuscript to an editor or an agent, what can you do to reassure yourself that they aren’t going to rip you off and make millions off your hard work?
First off, the chances are slim to none, I’d say. Sure, there are identity thieves out there making thousands and even millions off purloined credit cards and social security numbers. But that is an entirely different racket than trying to pawn off someone’s artistic creation. Why? Well unless you’re selling an advance copy of the yet-to-be-published Harry Potter manuscript on eBay, you’ve really no guarantee that stealing someone’s writing is going to provide you with a story that’s going to be published successfully.
Sure. You can take steps to protect yourself, but most of them aren’t necessary. I’ve heard tell of writers who send proposals, samples and query letters to editors and agents, with written instruction to dispose of the sample chapters or manuscript
Realize that doing this might end up offending the person you submit it to. If you’ve done your research and know them to be a respectable publishing house or agency, why the display of distrust by demanding that they go to extra lengths to reassure you that they aren’t going to rip you off? Is that really the basis you want to start a business relationship on? And how much of an ego does that show, as well? You’re basically saying, Hey, my writing is so amazingly good and is obviously going to be the next [insert bestseller here] that you better wear latex gloves so as not to even sully the page it’s printed on. Oh, and sign these twelve affidavits so I can take you to court if you even come near my artistic license.
If you’re going to be putting your work out into the world in a more open-access medium, whether on your website or whatever, and you want to retain some modicum, or at least the illusion of control over the material, there’s this. Creative Commons
Creative Commons allows you to label your work and apply any restrictions for distribution, financial gain (usually not something you’re going to find by posting stuff online), and being credited for the work. It’s a pretty informational website, and let’s you set whatever limits you want in a legally binding way.
It’s good to take steps to protect yourself, this is true. It’s good to backup your writing (I do at least once a week) to keep from losing your material from a power short. It’s good to know your rights if going into a book contract. Agents are a great help there. But don’t let paranoia dominate personal courtesy, especially with those people you are trying to reach with your writing. If you put too many stipulations and restrictions on what you offer and how, then the likelihood is they won’t even take the time to read through all the clauses before setting the work aside.
I see that smile.