I've virtually finished my first ruff draft of a sci-fi Novel. How can I trust an editor with it? Do I have my novel copy written first before passing it to an editor?? Someone has advised me I should copy write it after so I'm a bit confused as to my next step...
A cheap way of ensuring copyright is to post a copy to yourself, but don't open the envelope. The date stamp will prove you wrote the novel be.fore you submitted it to anyone
I concur with Carolyn, Deborah and David's comments above.
You can also just run every programme in your computer over the work. That works out a lot cheaper than a professional's time and effort.
I have a footer on every page that states my copyright and date - although that doesn't really amount to a great deal legally.
You can also only give part of your work to any one editor - or omit a page here and there. An incomplete work is difficult to "complete" entirely in style and with continuity should anyone want to steal it.
Another option is to commit everything to a couple of discs and seperately mail them recorded to yourself. When they arrive back don't open them but store them. SHould you ever need to challenge anyone for stealing your work you have them as evidence - to be opened by your legal representatives.
Then again... Any professional editor is in the business of editing - not stealing material - if they were to steal - they would be out of their day job as soon as word got around.
David