So I got admonished by the beloved yesterday. We're lying in bed reading - me, my latest horror-mystery du jour and he, my blog. My blog? He never reads my blog, what's up with that?
A second later after seeing that I had posted the latest excerpt from my Z novel-in-the-works he says, "You have no idea what you're doing, do you? This is intellectual property that you shouldn't be sharing," or something to that effect. It was gentle, short and to the point and, in retrospect, wise in its opinion. It made sense. *sigh*
The beloved believes in nondisclosure. He so lives by this belief that he doesn't share any part of his life - what he's up to, what he's doing, what he's thinking - except with me, his confidante/wife/friend. This little glitch in the 2G (second generation) Program he gets from his paternal family line. The paternal family line is virtually virus free from spam. His maternal family line, however, is not updated and therefore prone to get a lot of viruses and spam.
And seeing how his father has been so effective in updating/reprogramming his mother (sarcasm), and seeing that I also have no desire of being updated or reprogrammed myself, he handles me gently just so I don't freeze up and become nonresponsive.
Two sentences. Packed full of updated need-to-know information. And, I accepted it without any complications.
When the man is right, he's right. Period.
Yes, I have a group of loyal readers (thank you all who stop by all the time and put a smile on my face with your supportive and wonderful comments and whom I feel a strong kinship with), but, I also receive a lot of hits and don't know who these readers are or if they are doing anything with my words or my ideas. Yes, I've always been a little too trusting and Pollyanna-ish when it comes to conducting my life, but the world sometimes cannot be trusted. This is what my beloved constantly admonishes me about. So, unfortunately, because this is a project that I am putting much sweat equity into and hope to peddle one day, I must be protective of it. I've been reprogrammed by my user.
But, all is not lost. I will post updates on how it's going and, of course, there's always the POD! The POD is a whole other story that has written itself and is entertaining. He's become famous here in this little creative space of mine and you readers have come to love our interactions as much as I have. And we all know what a journey and learning experience it has been!
And, because my life right now is the 2W's - working and writing - I apologize if I have not visited as often as I normally do but know you are not forgotten and I do pop in from time to time.
Twenty four pages submitted yesterday, 26 to go before end of this month. Pressure? Nah! Madness...
((hugs))
Rebecca
Picture courtesy of Deviant Art
17 comments:
I hate it when they are right. Which he is.
You don't need to be concerned about somebody stealing your work; what you do need to be concerned about is losing the ability to sell first North American publication rights, or first world publication rights. Many publishers insist, irrationally, on considering this published material, even if your audience does not significantly cut into theirs. There are two ways around this--and this is not just *my* sayso, but the precedents established on critique sights throughout the internet. One is to only put up a short fraction of the whole. How short? Who knows, because there isn't really a rule here, but say a paragraph or two of something that's twenty pages or more in length is fine. The second alternative is to encrypt your story posts so that only people you trust can read them. Plenty of authors put up encrypted stories in their entirety, and such websites as OWW and Baen's Bar are pretty much based on doing just that. If you've taken steps to limit the audience to a finite group of friends, then you retain all publication rights.
Here's a good encryption solution for Blogger, since Blogger doesn't provide its own: http://www.vincentcheung.ca/jsencryption/
If you're ultra paranoid, you can set up the decryption script on your own webspace, and download his entire site and run it off of your computer. I would consider doing it even if you're not paranoid, just in case this guy ever decides to take his page down.
FWIW, of course. I wouldn't put up unencrypted stories, but allowing your regulars to get a taste of your fiction allows you to build an audience for Someday.
Rebecca, your hubby is VERY right. It's very nice to read your latest works, but you MUST protect your intellectual property. There are many plagiarizers in the net and you don't want anybody to take advantage from the works of your imagination, right?
So don't worry, your loyals can wait, hahaha.
I'm a copyrights freak myself -I always register my works -including the blog stories-. Even if they're never published, they're my most beloved works, and I'm proud of them, as you are of your books too-.
So now please focus on your book and submissions, dear. Don't worry about blogging or catching up with other blogs. Visitors and commenters will be back, for sure.
I cross my fingers and toes for your Zafalon story and its future success.
((mil abrazos))
You do what makes you feel most comfortable. I have no problem buying the book! Just keep us updated w/POD posts, that's all I ask. Well, maybe that and a picture of the POD as a visual supplement to the stories.
For your general stuff and short stories, you might want to post a Creative Commons License on your blog. It's basically a "beware of dog sign," but hey. I have them on all of my blogs, though it's not like it prevents theft.
Ahhhh yes, I get it. And, I rain into that with my poems recently too. (Sigh) Hate it when life gets serious. I'll wait for the book too!
your blog was one of the first blogs I came across when I entered this wonderful universe of blogging---I was immediately drawn to your story. That being said, I believe you need to protect your work and focus on the creation--we will all be here waiting for the announcement that you have published your novel! Come here for support and the push you need to get it done. We'll be here.
best-c
Ah Rebecca! It's awesome that your husband/friend/confidante/partner is looking our for you!
I will miss Zafalon. Until we meet again in book format!
You didn't jeopardize too much with what you did publish. It was only a fragment of what you have written and merely serves to whet the appetite. Even if someone steals these parts, they cannot write the whole. It wasn't even enough to guess where it was going.
As for the Publication rights, you have not published too much to jeopardize those either. You're fine. You did the right thing.
I sigh as I type this. Hurry up and finish okay? I wanna read it already! And an autographed copy at that :)
THANK YOU ALL FOR STOPPING BY AND UNDERSTANDING AND GIVING ME YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS.
Hi Meno: I know don't you hate that?!
Hola Leni: Gracias amor. It's a little difficult for me but I realize that he may have a point. But it is a project so close to my heart that I don't want to mess it up in any way. And, I also hope, in the end, I've done it justice. Promise to visit you soon, I miss stopping by. ((abrazos))
Hi Joe: You've given me so much good information here and I thank you so much that. It really is appreciated and I will look into the encryption solution. So posting a sentence or two is safe, huh? Something to think about because I wouldn't be offering much but the readers who are familiar with the story will appreciate it. Do you encrypt all of your in-the-works works? (I remember I read an excerpt of one of your stories this way). And what's FWIW mean? Joe, thanks again for this information. I really do appreciate it.
Hi Stephanie: I will definitely keep you updated on the POD! He's such a character, isn't he? ((hugs))
Hi C.M.: Thank you for those words, your support means so much to me. ((hugs))
MissFe! Yeah, it sucks growing up, doesn't it? What happened with you? Email me.
Hi Cormac: I've always been meaning to look into the Creative Commons License...I don't how much good that will do, but it still doesn't hurt. I'll just have to be careful and encrypt, like Joe suggested, or just post a little blurb or none at all. Time will tell.
Genie my sweet! School over yet? How are you? What you commented is what I was thinking the night he made the comment: that it was only a fragment and what could they do with that really? But then upon speaking with my good friend the following day and picking her brain, she agreed, take it off. *sigh* So I did. But, hopefully, Genie, this novel will have good legs to stand on when all is said and done. So far, the POD is pleased, very pleased. So that's a good thing right there. ((hugs))
Hey Rebecca. :)
I haven't been blogging all that long, and I don't have that much yet that I think is good enough to share. ;) I plan to put up bits and pieces, and that's why I researched that encryption solution. Hopefully in the next week or two I can post an encrypted short story. I ended up having to take a little hiatus shortly after I posted that bit that you read, and now I'm trying to get back in the swing of things, but I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall. :)
Rebecca...point taken re ‘intellectual property’ especially as there’s been lots in the media re breaches in blogger's privacy:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/16/20090617/ttc-bloggers-have-no-right-to-privacy-sa-6315470.html
http://www.lillyslife.com/2009/06/blogger-beware-part-ii.html
I MUST HEED these warnings! Btw, lucky for you that your 2Ws are ‘working and writing’ at the moment (and much to my dismay) my 2Ws are ‘working and working’... (lol)! All the best with your writing endeavours :)
ps thanks, Joe... for the very useful information!!!
Wow. You're an excellent writer. Thank you for your support. I've posted a new blog up if you would like to read it. Take care!!
Hi Rebecca!This is right.Protect yourself,you have to.I'm working on that too.Have a nice day :)
Rebecca - Your writing is lovely, honest and open; you paint pictures well and I enjoy passing through. I too agree with your husband. You are blessed to have one who cares so. I love the way you address him and listen. But the opening made me laugh aloud. :-) I look forward to reading your novel. All the best!
Rebecca - I believe you can password protect your stories, and you know what, you could also charge us to read it. I really don't mind paying $25 (or what a book would cost) to read it. The beauty of the Internet is, now many people know that you're working on the POD story - we are your witnesses so to speak, so if someone else steals that from you, you can sue him/her for millions! :)
Although it has been fun and great reading your excerpts, he is probably right. You never know who is out there and what they are doing/taking.
I look forward to hearing updates. Good luck with your writing!
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