Does anyone here enter writing contests?

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

I don't see how "writing creates copyright automatically."

I didn't make it up. From the United States Copyright Office:
Who Can Claim Copyright?
Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created
in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship
immediately becomes the property of the author who created
the work. Only the author or those deriving their rights
through the author can rightfully claim copyright.
In the case of works made for hire, the employer and not
the employee is considered to be the author.

If you write a story, and I take that story and put my name on it then submit it to a publisher, for all that publisher knows, I was the author.

Let's say the story goes on to achieve a degree of fame. You know perfectly well that you were the author of that story, and so you go to court, accusing me of plagiarism. How do you prove that the story was yours? I'd probably contend that it was you trying to rip me off, rather than the other way around.

This takes care of the problem. You don't suddenly own the copyright because you've registered a document (see the link) but you can easily prove ownership of your copyrighted material if necessary.


U.S. Copyright Office. It's a good place to spend time.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

Mailing a manuscript doesn't create copyright. Writing creates copyright automatically. Reputable publisher don't want to deal with the headache of being sneaky. Work with those publishers and avoid the rest. If in doubt, don't submit.

This is correct. Legally, if you wrote it, it's copyrighted.

You can register something if you want to.

U.S. Copyright Office

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

I didn't make it up. From the United States Copyright Office:
Who Can Claim Copyright?
Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created
in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship
immediately becomes the property of the author who created
the work. Only the author or those deriving their rights
through the author can rightfully claim copyright.
In the case of works made for hire, the employer and not
the employee is considered to be the author.


This takes care of the problem. You don't suddenly own the copyright because you've registered a document (see the link) but you can easily prove ownership of your copyrighted material if necessary.


U.S. Copyright Office. It's a good place to spend time.

SHRA.

I didn't realize you'd already posted this.

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

SHRA.

I didn't realize you'd already posted this.

That's ok! It doesn't hurt to repeat useful information.

[SeaOfGrass]

I've been printed in the local newspaper a couple of times. Does that count? Of course, I was alongside elementary school children, but still...

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by SeaOfGrass

I've been printed in the local newspaper a couple of times. Does that count? Of course, I was alongside elementary school children, but still...

Of course it counts!

I did some 1000-word newspaper articles for a local town paper when the regular person was out on maternity. Got paid $30 apiece for them.

Had a front page--I covered the town event wherein the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts along with the American Legion/VFW collected and properly disposed of old American flags by burning them.

My area newspaper also published "Other Views", 750-word essays submitted by readers. It doesn't pay anything, but it's nice to get your stuff in print. I've had three of them over the years.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

I have from time to time. Got a couple of honorable mentions, but never any money.

Was wondering if anyone else on here did. One good thing is that it gives you a goal and a deadline.

In the past, I've actually thought about it. Never have entered, though. Then again, I was in a creative writing class while in college, and that alone was a contest in and of itself.

[ionlife]

I enter writing contests for feedback and for the potential of getting the MS in front of my editor/agent of choice.
Haven't been burned yet and have been rewarded.

[gentlearts]

Every year, my local paper has a "finish this Christmas story" contest. Twice, I submitted story endings I loved, and twice I did not win. Both times I thought the winning story endings were lame.