Most days as a writer, I don't want to think about anything but working on my current WIP. But there are a lot more things to think about as a writer. With more and more writers self publishing or working with smaller presses, more responsibility for the legal issues surrounding publishing fall on the author.
One of the first legal things writers think about in the Copyright issue. Many professional writing groups are glad to give you some advice on doing that and why you should. Check out this article from SFWA. Once you take care of your first copyright, you'll find it simple though irritating when you have to pay for it.
Writer's Digest has a great article about making sure you don't infringe of someone else's rights or privacy.
Writers Write shares a general description of the types of rights you own as an author and that you can sign over to a publisher. Lit Reactor shares a list of five things you need to consider including using other peoples' work within yours. That can be tricky.
What exactly should be in a contract and what don't you want in one? Check it the list by Writer's Digest. Savvy Writers and e-book Online advise you to look for The Traps in Publishing Contracts. And this blog or on our Facebook page is a great place to ask the online community if you have a specific question.
More and more writers are finding their own paths and doing things their way. But we still have to understand the legal twists and turns of the business. Any legal issues that give you pause when you sign a new contract? Have you ever renegotiated a contract? Do you know some one who hired a lawyer to protect their work? Have you ever worried about violating someone else's work because you used a copyrighted product of the name of a famous person in your writing?
I might be a little late today responding to comments. I'm on the road to Colorado.
Susan Gourley is published in epic fantasy and also published in romance under her pen name, Susan Kelley. Visit her blog here. Like her on Facebook here. Follow her on Twitter here.
One of the first legal things writers think about in the Copyright issue. Many professional writing groups are glad to give you some advice on doing that and why you should. Check out this article from SFWA. Once you take care of your first copyright, you'll find it simple though irritating when you have to pay for it.
Writer's Digest has a great article about making sure you don't infringe of someone else's rights or privacy.
Writers Write shares a general description of the types of rights you own as an author and that you can sign over to a publisher. Lit Reactor shares a list of five things you need to consider including using other peoples' work within yours. That can be tricky.
What exactly should be in a contract and what don't you want in one? Check it the list by Writer's Digest. Savvy Writers and e-book Online advise you to look for The Traps in Publishing Contracts. And this blog or on our Facebook page is a great place to ask the online community if you have a specific question.
More and more writers are finding their own paths and doing things their way. But we still have to understand the legal twists and turns of the business. Any legal issues that give you pause when you sign a new contract? Have you ever renegotiated a contract? Do you know some one who hired a lawyer to protect their work? Have you ever worried about violating someone else's work because you used a copyrighted product of the name of a famous person in your writing?
I might be a little late today responding to comments. I'm on the road to Colorado.
Susan Gourley is published in epic fantasy and also published in romance under her pen name, Susan Kelley. Visit her blog here. Like her on Facebook here. Follow her on Twitter here.
