Protecting your work
May 30, 2008 in Teresa Bodwell, Writing Tip
There are two ways every writer should think about protecting her work. First, writers should protect their work from physical loss. In other words–back-up your files! I use both an external hard drive back-up and an online backup. The external hard drive is portable and goes with me when I travel. This has saved me on more than one occasion when my laptop has gone down on route. I’ve been able to plug my external hard drive into a borrowed computer and get work done on the road.
I also use iStorage from Iomega as my online backup. Iomega’s system is secure and easy to use, but there is a fee for use. There are many free online alternatives as well. Start using one today before your writing is lost. You do not want to have to recreate a novel because you failed to back it up. And you don’t want to have to run into a burning house to rescue your laptop or backup device.
Writers should also be considered with protecting themselves from infringement, or accusation of infringement. One of the best ways to do this is by keeping good records. Keep draft files with dates that show when you started working on a story. Also, keep good records of your research. Make sure you know when you are quoting directly from a source and be sure that you credit that source. Also, know when you need to ask permission to use quoted material and be sure to obtain that permission.
When you are using factual sources, remember that facts are not protected by copyright, but the expression of those facts is protected. Be careful. There is no bright line rule about how much you can quote without permission. No 5 word, 10 word or 25 word rule. If you’re uncertain about whether or not you can use a source, it is always best to obtain permission. For helpful information on copyright check out the U.S. Copyright Office website. Also, read The Writer’s Legal Guide: An Author’s Guild Desk Reference by Tad Crawford and Kay Murray.