To copyright or not?

One of the first things new authors ask is how to copyright their material. It is not necessary to register the copyright in order to have protection in Canada. The symbol, author name and year give protection. Many authors want to register their book because they want the certificate that is issued. Some authors think that you should do this as a matter of course. Others believe that if your work is available only in Canada or your province or just your local community, that the expenditure is not necessary. Like many aspects of self-publishing, this is a personal decision.

Copyright protection begins when the work is created and ends 50 years after the death of the creator. It last for the lifetime of the author. It can be sold or gifted, which is why it is important for authors to read the fine print in contracts to ensuer they are not giving away their copyright. Never assign your copyright to a publisher, whether it be trade or subsidy. Copyright can also we willed to your heirs. This means that authors need to make sure their will is updated every time they create a new work and register it.

To copyright or not is a personal and business decision. I will discuss it in further detail in future posts.

My updated website goes live on October 5

Tomorrow my updated website goes live. We have been working on it for some time and finally we have it completed. We want to change the focus from selling Self Publishing in Canada (ISBN 978-1-894208-00-0) to being a destination for self-publishers worldwide.

In my experience, most writers who either have self-published or plan to tend to work in solitude. We want to give you a place to go for help. We will be offering a Free Report on Getting Your Book Into Print and a monthly newsletter. We keep current on what is happening in the publishing industry because it affects the independents too.

Stop by www.selfpublishing.ca and check out the updated website.

A real day off

I have a whole new appreciation for those who work full time and still make time to write. I am having trouble organizing my time to work and write too. But I know others have written books so I am certain I will too. I am co-writing a military biography and organizing a reference book I want to release in January 2009. I just have to make time.

I am trying to get hold of my busy webmaster to make some changes to my website www.selfpublishing.ca and find someone to can design book interiors. I am also looking for someone with Quark to upgrade Self Publishing in Canada so I can put it on the website as an ebook. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed at the task ahead of me (my job is actually very demanding) but I know the great feeling you get when your book is done. Moving forward toward your goals is the best!

A writer friend sent me this quote and I like it so much it's in my signature on all my emails:

Why do writer's write? Because it isn't there.
-Thomas Berger

Cheers,
Suzanne

Sign up for Christmas Craft fairs.

I had a letter from a fellow who was disappointed that his book was not selling well at two local bookstores where he had them on consignment. Dan Poynter always says that bookstores are not the best places to sell books and he is right. The author/publisher needs to drum up more publicity. You also need to get out to markets, book events, art events - any where you can have a table set up to talk about your book and hopefully sell a few. I know a self-published author who does extremely well at all the Christmas craft fairs in her region. Her book makes a great gift. Maybe yours will too. Be creative. But take note that now is the time to book a table or you may miss out on the 2009 season.

How it all started....

I fell into self-publishing when I wrote my first book - a military history that no one seem to want. Under the guidance of my much self-published friend, T.W. Paterson, I learned a lot about the procedure. I also learned there were no really good books telling Canadians how to self-publish so I set out to produce one.

My second book, Self Publishing in Canada, was deliberately published independently.

This blog is for all of you self-publishers - anywhere in the world - who want to understand what it is you took on when you decided to travel down this path.