One thing at a time

Remember when I told you I could help? If you’ve been following my blog, you know by now that I’m a book enthusiast, and I’m here to support your journey. If you missed my previous post about the “Rule of Four,” you can read it here. I also recommend checking out this post regarding my motivation for offering self-publishing consulting.

Hands to the job

Today, I want to talk about Copyright. This is a delicate subject that has gained fresh relevance lately due to the rise of artificial intelligence. It’s worth noting that while previous guidelines were set to protect intellectual work, the shifting landscape of current administration policies has left many writers, illustrators, and musicians feeling vulnerable to plagiarism and “work cloning.” This is exactly why understanding copyright is more important than ever.

Breaking Down Copyright

The minute you type your story into your word processor—whether it’s Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or LibreOffice—your text is technically yours. However, traditional publishers often prefer that authors don’t formally register their copyright before submitting a query or manuscript. Their reasoning usually comes down to trust; they want to see that you trust them before a contract is signed.

In the world of self-publishing, however, things are different. We often register our work before sending it to an editor or even to Beta readers. The moment you attach your manuscript to an email, there is a level of risk. I’m not suggesting your editors or readers are looking to steal your story, but we must remember that computers and emails can be hacked. With all this in mind, you might be wondering: Where do I actually copyright my book?

The Copyright Site

The name of the site is easy to remember: https://www.copyright.gov/.

Be warned: like many government websites, it isn’t exactly “user-friendly.” My recommendation is to take your time and read everything slowly. Remember the title of this post: The Speed of Time. If you take methodical steps, you can avoid the mistakes I made. Once you’re on the site, look for terms like “Registration” or “Register Your Work.” Before you dive straight into the application, I suggest you review these specific pages:

• Fees
• Copyright Law
• Copyright and AI

Registration

After researching the fees and legalities, you’ll be ready to put the final period on your application. On the Registration Page, you will find the options that apply to your specific work. Read carefully, as legal language can be complex.

Once you complete the mandatory fields, you will need to upload a copy of your manuscript and pay the fee. Eventually, you will receive a physical certificate of registration by mail. Needless to say, keep that certificate in a secure place at home!

I hope this was helpful. If you’re a visual learner, there are many tutorials on YouTube that can guide you through the portal. I’ve included a great step-by-step video below by Abbie Emmons:

How to Copyright Your Book (step-by-step tutorial)

• [08:47] Navigating to the “Standard Application.”
• [10:41] Selecting the “Author” and type of work (usually “Text”).
• [14:51] How to properly upload your manuscript file.

If you feel stuck or overwhelmed, feel free to email me at author@anechypadron.com or leave a comment below.

Next Post

I used to think writing and editing the book was the hardest part of the journey. However, the technical side of publishing has proven me wrong! Curiously, these steps feel tedious because they aren’t “creative” work, but they are essential. Don’t miss my next post, where I’ll be talking about the necessary steps to get your ISBN.

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