If I share a story on here, how do I know that anyone won't steal it and use it themselves somewhere else?
Replies
Hi Kim, as you can only post up to 3000 words on here, and I saw on your bio you're writing a novel, if you're sharing an extract of your novel it's unlikely anyone would be able to steal it to write the same novel as you. Even if some unscrupulous person did steal your work (surely there's no such people on W&A though!) they would have a very small sample and wouldn't be able to replicate your work. In addition, you'd also have a record of you posting it on here should someone steal it and produce a best-seller. I suppose you should only post of you feel confident that what you post wouldn't give away your whole idea. I hope you decide to post something, I've been given some really helpful in work I've posted before and it helped me to improve my MS significantly. And, I'm intrigued to see a sample of your novel - if you're worried someone might steal it, it must be good stuff!
You don't, I'm afraid. But the chances are infinitesimally small, IMO. About the same as someone copying a Kindle book and passing it off as their own work, though given the number of ebooks out there I gather this does happen occasionally.
Why would anyone do it? Since you own copyright as soon as you've written anything (in the UK at least) an upload date would prove your rights to a piece of work.
Just put small pieces that will interest others. For example look at my shared work and you'll see what I mean. Someone commented: "I would have preferred an extract" but then I know that they would steal that. If you just put a little bit on there you should be fine as they won't know the entire story. You could also sue them for copywright if things get out of hand.
Hi Kim, as you can only post up to 3000 words on here, and I saw on your bio you're writing a novel, if you're sharing an extract of your novel it's unlikely anyone would be able to steal it to write the same novel as you. Even if some unscrupulous person did steal your work (surely there's no such people on W&A though!) they would have a very small sample and wouldn't be able to replicate your work. In addition, you'd also have a record of you posting it on here should someone steal it and produce a best-seller. I suppose you should only post of you feel confident that what you post wouldn't give away your whole idea. I hope you decide to post something, I've been given some really helpful in work I've posted before and it helped me to improve my MS significantly. And, I'm intrigued to see a sample of your novel - if you're worried someone might steal it, it must be good stuff!
Clare
You don't, I'm afraid. But the chances are infinitesimally small, IMO. About the same as someone copying a Kindle book and passing it off as their own work, though given the number of ebooks out there I gather this does happen occasionally.
Why would anyone do it? Since you own copyright as soon as you've written anything (in the UK at least) an upload date would prove your rights to a piece of work.
I wouldn't worry.
Just put small pieces that will interest others. For example look at my shared work and you'll see what I mean. Someone commented: "I would have preferred an extract" but then I know that they would steal that. If you just put a little bit on there you should be fine as they won't know the entire story. You could also sue them for copywright if things get out of hand.