A Writer's Protection Part II: Protect Your Projects

How to Protect Yourself as a Writer Series

Writers wear many hats. A writer must be 1. an entrepreneur, 2. an editor, 3. a marketing/PR representative, 4. a salesman and 5. a project manager. (Also, it helps sometimes to be a blogger or a journalist, a tweeter or a social networker ... but these are not requirements of the craft.)

It helps for beginning writers, myself included, to think of themselves as both aprentices of a great craft and project managers of their own destiny.

Project Management for a writer is the understated necessity of accessing all of your resources to bring your projects into fruition. How much time will it take to produce a first draft? Do you have all of the physical resources you need for the draft: Paper, Pens, Typewriters, Computers, Printers, Ink, Software? If you do not have all of the resources you need -- how much time will it take to acquire them.

Most beginning writers focus on backend project management, the aftermath, more than they do the frontend project management. Frontend project management for a writer is how to protect their unfinished projects while Backend project managment for a writer is how to protect their finished works.

Some writers prefer a bit more solitude than others. Nonetheless, the process of producing and distributing art from conception to display requires much more than the sole artist herself. All beginners are eager to share their project ideas. And, the truth is -- you have to share them with someone. So each writer must walk a balancing act of secrecy and exposure in order to incubate their ideas long enough to produce solid works.

1. To Mentee or Not To Mentee

The first Two Decades of my life seemed to be an unending search for a mentor. I have always been surrounded by peers much more disciplined, talented and intelligent than myself. And, I have had world class teachers at every stage of my educational career. But, I longed for a one-on-one connection with someone - anyone - an intergenerational relationship with someone who could teach me, and instruct me.

I thought that mentorship was the answer. It is always feched as the answer to innercity plight and/or African American dilemmas. We need more fathers! We need more role models! Similar chants are often heard from primary education to higher education, from churches to boardrooms.

A few years ago, I heard Paul Robeson, Jr. speak for the first time. The opening line of his talk was about how a person does not need a mentor. His point was not against the value of mentoring or valuable intergenerational relationships; his message was that a mentor cannot do your work for you. You must work for yourself.

The first step of a writer protecting his own projects is to stop searching for mentors. Mentors choose their mentees, anyhow. It's never the other way around.

2. Finish What Needs To Be Finished

Each writer needs to understand the timeline that is accepted in their area of expertise.

Novelists must finish the novel. (The only exception is that if you write one novel, you may get a 2 or 3 book contract before the second or third book is finished.)

Nonfiction authors do not need to finish their book prior to receiving a book contract. However, they often need to have qualifications before they can get an agent, let alone a publisher. Eventhough you do not need to finish the nonfiction book, you do need to finish the articles, the essays, the blogs and the book proposal.

Poets must determine what works best for them. Spoken Word CDs or Chapbooks. Traditional publishers, small publishers or vanity presses.

Screenwriters can be requested to write a screenplay based off of an idea. This seems to be exclusively for dues-paid professionals. Beginning screenwriters need to have their projects finished first.

3. Protect Your Projects

Writers should learn to promote themselves. Even if it simply means standing up at a lectern during a book tour. But timing is everything.

Writers must determine who they can talk to at various stages of their working process.

Phase One: Concepts and Ideas

A newspaper clipping. A line from another poet. A lyric from a song on the radio. An epigraph in a book. Ideas can be found everyday, everywhere. You shouldn't talk about your unfinished concepts to anyone. Maybe your spouse, maybe your editor. Maybe.

Phase Two: Writing the First Draft

Even when you are writing your first draft, you may get tired of your own story if it takes years to finish. Talking to others first will only drain you. Every writer will tell you the same -- perhaps, if you are like me, you will not believe them. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Phase Two: The Second to Zillionth Draft

Now you may talk to a selected few. Maybe your spouse if she helps. If he can help. Maybe your agent or your editor depending on the relationship that you have with him. Or her. Maybe you will take your first draft to your writing group for peer edits, comments and reviews. Maybe you have a professor that you can talk with.

We are still in the maybe phase. Maybe.

Don't tell your family. Don't tell your friends. Don't tell your random lovers. Don't tell random famous writers who you do not know personally. Trust me, just don't.

Edit the damn drafts.

Phase Three: To Agent and Publisher

Now, the only people who can really help you are your agents, your editors... and maybe your writing group.

Phase Four: Pre-Publication

Once you have an agent, once you have an editor, once the book cover has been selected and the marketing plan (from the corporation... and your own personal efforts) have been designed, once the product is actual a product, now you can talk. And, by all means, talk all day long to whoever will listen.

But to speak of your projects before Phase Four is asking for catostrophic distasters. The next step of protecting your self as a writer is, "Protecting your Internet Intellectual Property."

A Writer's Protection Part I: Protect Your Ideas

How to Protect Yourself as a Writer Series

Many writers consider themselves to be artists, placing the mastery of craft far above the desire for compensation of wealth. The humility of a writer's drive is often the very thing that makes the writer and most artists susceptible to harm.

Each writer, regardless of which stage of their career they are in, needs to begin taking the steps to protect themselves, their work and their money.

Prevention is the solution to all of the world's problems. Fortunately, it is not the only solution. Like identity theft, many times it is easier to prevent intellectual property theft than it is clean up the damage after it is done. With attention and dedication, it can be done.

There are seven things a writer must protect in order to avoid being taken advantage of: 1. Your Ideas, 2. Your Projects, 3. Your Internet Intellectual Property, 4. Your Originals, 5. Your Rights, 6. Your Money and 7. Your Brain.

First, Protect Your Ideas

Last spring, a prominent author wrote an article in his e-zine stating that ideas are not enough. Similarly, my brother - a writer and poet - explained to me that the world does not need any more good ideas. Many people will state over and over again that ideas alone are not enough.

While this has a bit of merit and a hint of truth, do not be confused or misled into undervaluing the power of ideas. A brief examination of the innovative leaders of any field will show that a bit of secrecy is necessary. From Apple to Google, from foreign automakers to individual scientists, one finds in science, technology and art alike, the execution of a great idea, as well as the idea itself, is worth a great deal.

The two hardest things for beginning writers and potential writers to learn is: 1. Drop the Discussion and 2. Learn What to Give and What to Take

1. Drop the Discussion

Stop talking to your friends, your coworkers and your family members about your work. Even if they write themselves, they cannot write your work for you. And to a great extent, their attempts to edit and provide feedback will be swamped with unintentional bias.

Writing workshops and writers groups may provide great support networks for writers. But keep in mind that they are primarily support groups. Writers workshops, writers conferences and writers groups cannot guarantee anything beyond a system of support.

Drop the discussion. Meet with people and other writers, but keep your work and dreams to yourself. Even people with good intentions, may hinder and prolong what needs to be done.

2. Learn What to Give and What to Take

Keeping a blog or newsletter is a healthy way to share your ideas with the world. It helps you to reach people who are interested in your interests. And it helps to inspire people who you may never see or meet in person.

Remember to divide your ideas into categories. Which ideas are best for free blog entries? Others you may want to keep for paid articles. Which ideas are best for ebooks or self-publication? Other ideas you may want to send to agents and major publishers. Poets often find that it is easier, lest they be famous, to self-publish and self-produce books and CDs while selling their materials at live performances. Since most novelists, lest they be famous, are not performing as frequently as poets, a self-published novel may be much harder to sell than self-published poetry.

Which ideas will take 2-10 years to produce? Which ideas can be executed within 1 week - 6 months? How many projects can you work on at one time? Can you keep a blog and work each day on your novel? Can you write a weekly newsletter and still query journals for the publication of your poems, stories or articles?

All writers must multi-task. All writers must determine what job will pay the bills, while working on their art. Even if writing does pay the bills, one must determine how much time to spend on freework (blogs, e-newsletters, correspondence), shortwork (poems, stories and articles) and longwork (nonfiction books and novels).

Remember to protect the ideas of your long work while still working diligently on the freework and shortwork.

Once a beginning writer learns to master two steps - "Drop the Discussion" and "Lean What to Give and What to Take", she will learn how to Protect her Ideas.

The next essential part of a Writer's Protection is to "Protect Your Projects".

Building the Writer's Bookshelf

Last Summer, I met with a young college woman who was interested in being a writer. She talked with me about her desire to write books. I reminded her of the importance of reading frequently and writing obsessively. Apparently, she had heard this advice before. Her primary concern is that she didn't have the money to spend thousands of dollars on books. At the time, I did not address her concern adequately. After six months of contemplation, this is my response to her, my peers, and others like myself who are building a writing career, word by word.

1. Promote the Freemium Model

The best thing about the internet is that the vast majority of the important, intelligible and interesting information can be obtained for free. Each time you are introduced to a new concept, a new device or a new product it is a form of advertisement. Each article you read, each blog you subscribe to is advertising other people's ideas and products - usually for free.

The companies that pay for advertising to get in front of you, the consumer, make a lot of the free stuff possible.

If you don't have the money to build a 5,000 book personal library. Go online. You would be amazed at what you can find for free.

(On the Flip Side: Many writers are battling Google against the Library Digitization Project. While I understand that as an artist they want control over their own work, as a reader - a broke, underemployed reader - I love having access to books or at least portions of books through Google. It's better than a local library: No Late Fees!!! If obsessive readers are like me, they'll buy an interesting book that they've read on the internet ANYWAY. By being in GoogleBooks, your book may be found by people who otherwise would not have heard of your book.

So, yes I am for the protection of writer's rights. But, in the mean time, long live free!)

2. Move into your local library

I try not to check out any book from the library. Personally, I read books while I am at the library and leave them their. I am a sucker for library fees. Often, for me, they range in the hundreds of dollars range. By that point, I could have bought all of the books brand new.

3. Try to buy new books when you can -- for Good Karma

Try to buy new books. As an aspiring author, you will have to begin to think like an author. Used Bookstores are a cultural treasure -- but none of that money will go to you when you become a professional, or at least published writer.

While I wouldn't recommend going into debt to buy books (with the risky exception of College Books and Tuition), try to buy new books when you can. It's good karma. When your book comes out, you would want people to go out and buy yours.

4. Take advantage of Used Bookstores and Independent Bookstores

I was heartbroken when one of my favorite Independent Bookstores closed in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was the first bookstore that carried my poetry book on co-signment. Many of my favorite books were discovered through indie bookstores. Not everybook is going to reach the front table or side endcap of a Barnes & Noble or Borders. Try the used and idies, too, you may be suprised at what you find.

5. Build a Writer's Bookshelf

Even if you are a broke writer, there are a few books that every writer should have on their bookshelf. No exceptions, no excuses.

Here are a few necessities that have guided me for the past thirteen years:

I. The Elements of Style

All great writing dwindles down to stories and style. No one can give you a story, but Strunk and White can help you build your own style.

Besides, if you read any book on writing written by any writer they'll refer you back to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. Hate to say, "I told ya so."

II. How to Say It Style Guide

In addition to The Elements, I would recommend the How To Say It Style Guide. It's readable and to the point.

III. Write Down The Bones

In order to prevent the stiffness of stilted prose. You may want to freewrite. It may be the most valuable exercize you will ever learn to do. Freewriting will get you in the habit of writing everyday, and Natalie Goldberg's Write Down The Bones is the absolute best person to teach you how to do it.

I started writing around age 14. In high school, I had peers who would ask to read my unedited thoughts. In college, I had peers who melded freewriting into freestyling -- hip hop into poetry and back into hip hop. In New York and in Detroit, I've had others snoop into my freewriting journals.

So beware: freewriting is truly the most freeing thing you can do. Freewriting is often more personal and revealing than journaling. (Remember, in journaling you think, and self edit before and while you write.) So if you are scared of your spouse, or children, your visitors or burgalers reading your innermost thoughts, keep freewriting -- but buy a safe with a lock.

IV. Getting Started as a Freelance Writer

All artists are entrepreneurs. All writers are freelancers. The sooner you understand this, the sooner you can get your financial house in order. While most writer's struggle to get by -- there are a few who make a living off of what they love.

It may be a good idea to learn a bit from those who do. Getting Started as a Freelance Writer is a book that every writer, journalist, poet, novelist, playwrighter or screenwriter should read. Hey, everyone has to eat.

V. The Forest For The Trees

My favorite book on my bookshelf is Betsy Lerner's The Forest for the Trees. (Beware, re-reading this book multiple times may be a form of disguised procrastination). I am certain that most writer's who read this book, regardless of what stage of their career they are in, will have a Roberta-Flack-Lauryn-Hill-Strumming-My-Pain ("Killing Me Softly) sort of experience.

Written four of five years before I even discovered the book, Lerner nailed my writing (and lack of writing) characteristics and habits, from my unfinished ideas to my skin eczema.

Who would know better than Maxwell Perkins, that most writer's, "cannot see the forest for the trees"? And who better to illustrate that than Betsy Lerner?

VI. Robert's Rules of Writing

Sometimes you need a reminder. Reading the reminder is the easy part. The hard part is making the changes.

VII. Keep It Real

Every writer writes, through theraputic habit of ambitious desires, to be understood. Even more than understanding, each writer writes hoping that they will create something that others who they have never met can relate.

The hardest part of 'keeping it real', so to speak, is not getting sued or ex-communicated, blacklisted or blackballed.

If you are writing an article, a blog or a memoir. Actually, even if you are writing a novel or screenplay which may be mistaken for real life. If you write anything with a hint of realism, you should probably read Lee Gutkind's Keep it Real first.

VIII. The War of Art

Steven Pressfield has found the one thing that separates the would-be writers, could-be innovators, and should-be leaders from those that actual are.

Admittance is the first step to recovery. The War of Art will help you identify what is blocking your creativity, and lead you down the path towards productivity.

IX. On Writing

The problem with most books On Writing is that they are written by writers you've probably never heard of or read. Here lies some writer who needs some extra writing, and so they decide to write a book to teach you how to write.

Your bookshelf can put an end to that. Stephen King's On Writing is a great instruction manual that will tell you a little big about hist writing path while teaching you the things you should grasp along yours.

King's basic premise -- "If you are a bad writer , no one can help you become a good one, or even a competent one. If you're good and want to be great... fuhgeddaboudit."

Perhaps it isn't for you to decide whether you are horrible or great. Eventually, the world will decide for you. You may spend your life writing screenplays, while 100 years from now you are only remembered for your memoir.

King tells us that it is possible for a competent writer to become a good, strong writer.

With that in mind, read "On Writing" if you are up to the challenge.

X. Zen in the Art of Writing

I remember on two separate occasions reading the criticism by Amiri Baraka and Nikki Giovanni of Ralph Ellison, one of my favorite authors. Their individual concerns, as stated by Baraka is that Ralph Ellison spent so much time polishing the gun (with Invisible Man) that he never got a second shot.

Each writer must come to terms with his own productivity. Bradbury shares a few lessons in productivity through advice on reading, writing and the writer's life.

XI. The Top Ten

One of the most important aspects of writing is what you read. Every writer doesn't go to college. Every writer doesn't study American English Literature on a collegiate level. With the hundreds of thousands of books published each year, how can you determine where to begin?

By reading what other writer's have read.

I love lists. I am as obsessed with lists as I am with books themselves. Every young writer writing now should purchase The Top Ten as a guidepost for future reading. In addition to being informative, it is a pleasure to discover what books have influenced and inspired the works of your favorite writers.

Even when you're broke, each writer needs a Writer's Bookshelf. A great dictionary, a thorough thesaurus and the books listed above are a great place to start.

The Only Thing More Important than Talent

One of the post pressing issues in a writer's life is the problem of consistency. It is the single most important tool any artist or professional can gain. While not all writers believe in rituals or schedules, each successful writer chooses to write each day, each month, each year.

The problem of consistency is a problem of priorities. What do you value the most? How much time will you spend in front of the blank page of a computer screen. How much time are you willing to spend reading? How much money are you willing to spend on books, conferences, websites, retreat, computers or journals.

While one does not need to be unemployed or jobless in order to write (and in my own case joblessness only hinders the ability, desire and will to write) and there is no direct correlation between money spent, books read or networking achieved in relationship to the effectiveness or greatness of a writer's work, each time you read a book, each time you write a poem, article or page, you are sacrificing something else for your art or your profession.

For many artists the sacrifice is the most difficult part.

Can you decide to write everyday for the rest of your life?
Will you decide to edit, and edit, and edit consistently and effectively?
How much research do you need to do, how many books do you need to read in order to achieve the level of writing that you are aiming?

Each day, you must awake and decide that your writing is worth it. And satisfied or not, the next day you must awake to make the same decision again.

Consistency may very well be the only aspect of a writer's life that is more important than talent. Perhaps the discipline to prioritize your own writing's worth is a talent in itself.

The Best of the Net for Writers

The Best Internet Websites for Writers.

The Best Sites for Writing Tools:

1. Zoho
http://www.zoho.com

The Zoho.com website provides free Word Processor, Spreadsheets, Email, Database Application, Presentation Builder, and Wiki Site

2. Scripped
http://www.scripped.com

Free web application for Screenwriters


3. WordPress
http://www.wordpress.com
The most professional free blog building website on the internet


4. Posterous
http://www.posterous.com
A new simple way to blog


5. Fast Pencil
http://www.fastpencil.com
A semi-free website for creating Ebooks


The Best Information for Writers


6. Wikipedia
http://www.wikipedia.org
An encyclopedia that you can contribute to


7. Mediabistro
http://www.mediabistro.com
The best single source of all things media


8. Poets & Writers
http://www.pw.org
An internet hub for aspiring and professional writers


9. Creative Commons http://www.creativecommons.com
A new way to disseminate, distribute and control your work


10. US Copyright Office http://www.copyright.gov
The basics of copyright information

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11. Publishers Marketplace
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com
Information on publishing, publishers and agents


12. New Media Rights
http://www.newmediarights.org


13. Google Book Search
http://books.google.com/

The largest library in the world. For free.

The Best Communities for Writers


12. Red Room
http://www.redroom.com
A place where writers can meet


13. LibraryThing
http://www.librarything.com
A place where book-enthusaists can meet


14. Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com
A place where readers can meet


15. Twitter
http://www.twitter.com
The best way to keep in touch with your readers and supporters


16. National Novel Writing Month
http://www.nanowrimo.com
A challenge for writers of all ages and stages