Fear Keeps Writers in Prison
Most folks know the acronym: FOMO, or “Fear of Missing Out.” With would-be writers, I suggest another: FOBS. That stands for “Fear of Being Stolen.”
Over the years, it’s one of the first questions raised by new writers: “How can I make sure nobody steals my work?” Locked up by irrational fears over something that rarely happens, these folks allow the enemy of all things creative to keep them in a figurative prison.
This trepidation has given rise to what I consider one of the most ridiculous suggestions I’ve ever heard: to prove a story is yours, mail a copy to yourself via certified or registered mail, but don’t open it.
That way, if a question arises in the future over copyright infringement, you can prove by the postmark date that you are the owner of the article, story, or book material.
Two problems with that: 1) if I had ever done that, it would have cost me a small fortune in postage; 2) today, electronic files have “date created” information that serves the same purpose.
Stealing Exists
I know ideas get pilfered, whether it’s an article, a song, or a book/movie package. But unless you’re in the literary stratosphere occupied by writers like John Grisham, Stephen King, or Danielle Steel, chances aren’t good someone will try to pirate your work.
For one, all written work is protected by what is known as “common copyright.” That means as soon as you finish your story, if someone tries to grab it, you have legal grounds to take action.
I’ve never done that, nor do I plan to, because I don’t have FOBS. A few reasons I tell new writers to skip it:
- Most people are too busy to try stealing your work
Seriously. Especially in the internet/social media/AI age. Everyone I know deals with such a flood of things on their “to do” lists they’re overwhelmed already.
- The same idea can occur to more than one person
One time at a conference, an editor talked about a writer who procrastinated sending in the story they had queried him about. When it finally arrived, the editor had already purchased a similar article, written by someone who had never met the original writer.
“Do you think you’re the only person who God speaks to about something?” the editor asked.
- Instead of hiding your article from imagined prying eyes, you need feedback.
The May/June issue of Writer’s Digest has an excellent column on that point. Written by literary agent Jessica Berg, it’s titled: “Scared to Share Your Writing? Here’s Why You Should.”
Flourishing Collaboration
In her article, Berg notes that it is tempting to keep your work close to the vest, believing that isolation protects ideas.
“But writing in a vacuum has its own risks,” she says. “Without trusted collaborators, you’re left second-guessing in the dark. Think about the writers you admire. Behind every success story is a network of people.”
The agent says that network includes people like critique partners. I would note those can be people in a writers group or (if in a rural area like me) an online meeting. Then there are beta readers who can identify issues. Editors who make the language sing.
As Berg says, finding the right people can help sharpen your writing, ask valuable questions, and suggest solutions to pesky problems.
So instead of allowing FOBS to keep your writing hidden away, bring it out and into the sun.
