From the moment we announced the authonomy project it became very clear what writers’ principal reservations were likely to be. Do I lose rights if I post work online? Will publishers and agents be put off if my book has been read on the internet? What’s to stop people copying my work?
If you’re particularly confused over copyright, you’ll find a very simple guide to the facts elsewhere on the blog – but read on below for some quick and simple clarifications on the current hot authonomy topics.
First of all, we should make it clear that authonomy won’t be asking for any of your rights, other than a very specific licence to display your work on our site – and of course you’ll be able to take down your manuscript whenever you choose. The simple fact of posting your work online does not in any way affect your legal ownership over it.
Secondly, while we can’t claim to speak for all of our colleagues in the book world, there’s really no particular reason why a manuscript that’s been displayed online should lose any of its value to an interested publisher.
Indeed, it’s central to the authonomy concept that a writer with a proven readership is often more valuable to a publisher, not less. Book companies now regularly snap up volumes from high profile bloggers and promising self-publishers with existing readerships. It’s a good thing to prove that you’ve the enthusiasm and the skills to help make your project a success.
Thirdly and finally, what if people steal my work? Well, we’ve taken some small practical steps to make worried authors feel more secure: we’ve disabled the ability to ‘cut’ and ‘copy’ on the pages on which your work will be displayed, and we wont be offering an option to print.
It’s also important to remember that in the UK you do own copyright of your work as soon as it’s created (whether written down or saved to a file). What exactly that copyright covers can be open to debate (on the whole it’s words yes, ideas no – and you can get the low down here) but unpublished authors do have exactly the same legal rights as their published peers when plagiarism has taken place.
It’s immensely unlikely that someone will choose to steal your work, but if they really want to they’ll probably find a way - and having your book on sale in thousands of bookstores worldwide doesn’t reduce that risk, as some unlucky published authors will attest. Some writers are very relaxed about the actual likelihood and impact of plagiarism – others more anxious. As for us, we believe that your talent is better displayed than kept hidden – and that the chances of good things happening are more likely the more hands your manuscript passes through, and the more people you enlist in your support.
If you feel the same way, we’d love to have you on board.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Addressing Some Issues
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
The Authonomy concept, allowing readers to decide what to publish, follows the lines of the current TV talent shows. After consultation, my characters and I do "feel the same", to "board" your vessel for a voyage that leads to who knows where, and as we are all excellent swimmers, if our book sinks, we'll survive to fight another way.
However, this is still a "business", and raises questions:
Will you be selling advertising space alongside the manuscripts that may, or may not, for whatever reason, generate a following?
If not, why not?
If so, will any of the income find its way to the writers?
An article on how the big, household name writers first got published would be interesting.
Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Vikram Seth, Lloyd Jones (Mister Pip, should have won the Booker Prize)... How did it happen?
Did they submit to the slush pile? Were they stars on the UEA creative writing courses (the UEA courses expose the pupils to publishers and agents)? Did daddy write? Were they representative of an social group or minority? Were they working in film or television?
How did they do it? And not isolated cases like the author of Broken, but a significant sampling of how it really happens.
That way we will all get a better insight into why we have not yet been published and correlate that to our future chances.
How many authors really do emerge from the slush pile? Or do you need to be inmersed in the environment to get noticed? Inmersion or emergence?
According to authonomy, active and succesful blogging can lead to a publisher to your door. For example, who?
As to advertising and income, yes, they will advertise, no, none of the money will come our way.
The deal is the dream, the alternative is to buy a lottery ticket.
We need something to help us deny all that mediocrity that we recognise in ourselves.
Z,
HC is no longer a holy owned British Company. It is wholly owned by Australians, who know the answer to the question: do we sell what we manufacture, or manufacture what we sell? I know them well, and they like the unusual, usually.
On a much more enjoyable topic, how's the tennis progressing?
N
Being of Dawkinsian persuasion, the notion of holy British companies is not one I warm to. But good to see you have done your research.
I have always been curious about the Australians, which is related to the fact that we were emigrating to Oz, but ended up in darkest Argentina. It seems my parents were not very good at hitting the target. I never made it to Australia.
Argentina wasn't all bad. What with the Junta and all that, we got three dictators for the price of one. A writer should know the ugly heart of a dictator. A writer is a dictator who has not lost his sense of reality. It is my whim who lives and who dies, and yes, I kill my characters for fun.
The book I am writing is about a journey to Australia that never ends. It is about tyranny and violence on a small wooden boat. It is about a Universe of five, where there is no room for the difference between Madness, as the failure of private religion, and Religion, as the empire of a Universal madness. A bit like quarks and anti quarks in the early stages of the Big Bang.
So, Australia beckons still. Once more into the breach my friends. Not a good omen, but like I said, I think Richard Dawkins is God.
N
Tennis?
I write better than I play tennis, but I put the same unflagging passion into both.
We have been promoted into the first division, where everyone is a coach, or has played at county level or on the pro circuit.
We will be butchered.
Ah, well, one last hurrah for the old war dog.
Z.
Congratulations on the tennis promotion. My narrator, Alien, is the opposite. He used to play tennis infinitely better than he writes, and now surfs and skis better than he plays tennis, which says a lot for his writing.
Adorable people Australians. Smart, reliable, beautiful, utterly relaxed and grossly underestimated commercially, and that's just the men. Argentina must have been interesting. Always sent someone else to S.America, but have been almost everywhere else on your beautiful planet.
My novel, when Alien puts his wetsuit away, and stops dreaming about Marion Gotillard for a second, is about me, Nemesis. I am from another dimension, and we do not wish your Space Research to expand in to the Universe while humans carry a dangerous extinction disease. We have the means to make you comply, which I demonstrate occasionally.
Sadly, my narrator is not a writer per se; he tells stories to entertain, which is why my book is more Friends than Pride and Pred, more Woody than Dickens,
more LOST than Dr. Who, and more Dallas than Eastenders. The surveillance is more Clouseaux than John Le Carre, and the science is more quirks than quarks. But, my learned friend, my species do know what a "monopole" is, and, where it lives.
I wonder how it would feel to be so popular a writer that people are willing to risk stealing your ideas. In China they often write and publish their own versions of 'big' books before they come out in the west (Harry Potter was one such example) do you think that the big stars ever buy any of these to get a good laugh or the occasional good idea? They wrote their own Clinton biography and I remember reading "What was I doing sleeping with her? She was fat and I was stupid." That cracked me up, I could just imagine him thinking it if not saying it.
Paladin
It would be great fun and very profitable. It is quite remarkable that people are so scared of their big idea being stolen. If you only have one big idea, forget the slush pile, you are on the junk pile.
I think you should have one big idea a day.
Today's big idea for me is:
Thanks whatever that I didn't have the authonomy.com idea.
It seems that you, me and Lexi/Nemesis are the only people consistently interested in this 'development blog'.
I design websites for a living, and although most projects end up behind schedule, this is a bit rich.
It is February, the snow drops are withering, the dafs are almost out, and still no authonomy.com
Paladin wonders how it would feel to be so popular a writer that others will risk copying?
Actually, it's not so bad. I have inspired books, TV dramas, films, newspaper articles, and countless advertisements.
You see, I, Nemesis, am a popular goddess and will no doubt be plagiarised to eternity, by every nationality, but it's fine. I also empathise for those who, like my author, obviously lack my creativity. Sadly, we can't all be geniuses.
However, on Earth, my name is best known for my retributive qualities, and it wouldn't be wise to stretch my patience too far. Errors in your ways may have already experienced the tremors of my waves, and do not consider for a moment that I am fantasy. The limits of your science simply convert Fact in my dimension to Fiction in yours, and it doesn't matter if you speak Mandarin or Cantonese.
Excuse me bloggers, but unlike Nemesis, who has a direct line to our narrator, this is the only place I can talk to him.
"Alien, after last month's plane crash and last night's Earthquake, I'm beginning to think you should look for another title for our little book. Nemesis' demonstrations fighten me sometimes. I was thinking about Apocalypse Now?"
"Hi Francesca. Nice one, but I think it's already been done. I think Nemesis might prefer something like Apocalypse Soon If We Don't Get Published."
"I see you were also right to dream about Marion Cotillard?"
"Yes, I was doodling, wondering who could play you if Nemesis decides to turn her book in to a film. Apart from the fact the French actress is a carbon copy of my description of you, I don't think anyone else could do the part justice. You do wear many hats, one of which is to drive me to distraction. Marion's acting is perfection personificated."
"But I'm an indigenous American. Pocohontas. Won't the accent be a bit of a problem?"
"Not for her."
"Now you're making me jealous."
"Je suis desole, Francesca, mais maintenant je'nai pas suffisante encre vert."
Alien, why is it so quiet on this blog now?
"Bonjour Nemesis, je ne sais pas. Si j'essaye deviner tout le monde a peur maintenant."
Never mind, how's the final write progressing?
"Je pense que c'est presque soixante-dix pourcent fini maintenant, sans les mots impropres."
Alien, je realise que vous avez idees fantaisistes concernant une vedette de cinema francaise magnifique, mais est ce que c'est important parler en francais tout le temps?
"Non, pas tout le temps."
D'accord, si vous voulez, nous parlerons Francais.
"Nemesis, votre tremblement se terre impressione-moi."
Je predis seulement!
"Oui, exactement. Je ne sais pas toujours comment vous le faites?"
Les humaines ne possissent pas assez science. Votre dimension est la petite poupee dans l'interieur d'une Babushka, alors que ma dimension est la poupee de Babushka.
"Oui?"
Oui, et dites a SETI de ne pas me chercher. C'est stupide parce que c'est impossible. Il y a beaucoup d'autres creatures a trouver pour critiquer dans votre dimension. Alien, revenez-moi quand vous avez fini le manuscrit s'il vous plait. Merci.
"Oui d'accord. Avez vous une autre prophetie de laquelle je puis ecrire?"
Mais non. Les propheties sont dangereux. Le sequel peut-etre, assumant HC n'est pas morte et notre premier livre est publishe.
"Bonjour Alien. C'est moi."
"Hello Francesca. It's not necessary to speak French."
"Sorry if I got jealous."
"You're too sensitive for words."
"Oui, je sais."
"Are you well?"
"Yes, I am now Alien, and I've brought you some more green ink."
"You stole that line from my favourite film, which by the way, the critics trounced."
"But your ink really is green."
"So I'm told, by self-styled experts no less."
"Nemesis told me you've almost finished our book. Have you changed it much?"
"Fair bit. Increased our dialogue."
"Do you finally get to.."
"Fran, this a live blog. I don't know. It's not finished."
"So what did you write last?"
"It was about critics with PhDs. I told Nemesis they will slate our book, and say it's as entertaining as waiting for a train on a winter's night on Paddington Station, alone."
"What do they know about life, love, spies, skiing or surfing? Most of them read it in books."
"I think that's funny, but they won't. Actually I picked up a novel from you-know-who's stable. It was described as compelling. I've reached page 78 and there are so many characters I haven't a clue who's who, or where they're going."
"That's why I prefer to be a character in our novel than a reader of theirs."
"Moi aussi."
"Alien, that reminds me. I've watched 76,628 films and you're right. The french girl is the only one who looks and acts just like me."
"That's what I told Nemesis. No her, no film."
"So what do you think your Cornish cove will say if we don't get published?"
"It's not so much what she'll say, as what she'll predict that bothers me most."
"This is Nemesis. I am sorry I am not available to answer your call, but if you wish to leave a message, please speak after the tone."
"Hi Nemesis, it's your narrator speaking. I have now completed all your required changes up to and including the penultimate chapter. With regard to the final chapter however, our characters are deeply concerned it will be studied by the Listeners before it is uploaded, and in light of the alterations, we think it's best to delay the physical input.
Regretfully, I must also advise there has been no visible progress to this Authonomy site. Other impressionists have also begun to voice their frustrations. In this respect, Francesca Tim and I have discussed a couple of American Literary Agents sites advertising for first novels, the details of which we will forward to you telepathically, to avoid the Listeners.
We hope you are enjoying your vacation from this bizarre planet. Tim sends his love and hopes you are not contemplating doing a Shirley Valentine."
Switzerland.
"Hi Tim. Nemesis' won't be happy if she catches you on her blog."
"Everyone's gone. It's like a crater on the Moon, so she won't know."
"While the cat's away?"
"Sylvie, as soon as this blog ends, it'll be back to the book for all of us."
"To be or not to be black and white and read all over again? Has Alien begun the sequel yet?"
"Yes, but he's taken Charlotte's recommendation, to write only about relationships. Ours, Thomas, Charlotte's plethora, and Fran and Alien's will they or won't they.
I'm going to ask Alien to give me a Ferrari now."
"You saying I need a tune up?"
"No. I like Maseratis as much."
"It's a pity our time in the fresh Swiss air will come to an end. Everything is so different outside the pages. It's so colourful and intoxicating, and snow is so cold and fluffy while the sun is so hot and sweaty. I'll definitly miss it all. I wish you'd have taken me surfing while we were free."
"Sylvie, we're not supposed to be out here. We're fictional characters in a book."
"Yes, I know. We can live forever, like Henry the Eighth and all his wives, their sisters and cousins. I'd much prefer a shorter adventurous life out here."
"Me too Sylvie."
"You know I love you Tim, so I hope Alien doesn't split us up?"
"I'm going to talk to Nemesis about that when she returns."
"If she returns. What makes you think Thomas likes me?"
"What?"
"April fool. Tim, I know Nemesis is just a beach in Cornwall, but her psychic demonstrations always seemed so real. Earthquakes, the tsunami, NASA shuttles, hurricanes and plane crashes. She was right every time. She is fictional like us, isn't she? "
"God knows."
Please can someone tell me when the authonomy site itself is going to be available? I thought it a brilliant idea when I heard about it last August but sadly, the reality seems no closer than it did then. Having got entirely bored with waiting, I answered all the copyright questions for myself and have developed my own website (www.mmbennetts.com) to do what authonomy has yet to deliver. I will say though in authonomy's favour, the boredom and frustration I felt as the months went by without any news did impel me to begin writing again as a book critic for the Christian Science Monitor, and that has been a good thing.
You can't steal what's been given to you as a gift. And that, as far as I'm concerned, is what writing should be - a gift.
Post a Comment