The Write Transition

From One Life Chapter To The Next

Archive for the category “Decisions”

24 Feb 2012
55 Comments

Caramel Copyright And Creative Commons Trail Mix

It is difficult to talk about copyrighting one’s blog without sounding a bit hoity-toity. Well, let me rephrase that. It is difficult to talk about copyrighting my blog without sounding hoity-toity.

Before reading the next paragraph, pop over to the linguistics center of your brain, and conjure a sophisticated Dame Judy Dench or Dr. Frasier Crane accent. Now use this accent to read the following:

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author, including, but not limited to, placenta fun, bouncy ball catastrophes, crotch-licking cats, dorks writing on treadmills, diaper-crapping man babies, KY Jelly sandwiches, sunburned privates, and conversations with Mr. Nasty Pants, is strictly prohibited.

If your mental voice shifted to Larry the Cable Guy, don’t feel bad. I’m sure you are not alone.

Larry the Cable Guy (photo credit: Ticketmaster.com)

And if you noticed the numerous personal plugs inserted into that paragraph, I hope you will revel in your astuteness and keep it to yourself. No need to gossip about my insecure narcissism.

But my point is, do I need to copyright my blog? The thought of anyone burglarizing my written dung seems laughable. In fact, just like a professional athlete, I’m more than happy to spread my seed around. If a copyright symbol took up vigil on my site, would those lovely reblogs be possible? I don’t know about you, but I rather enjoy blog-pollination.

Okay. I hear you. What if my content appears but not the credit, someone masking the material as his or her own? Once past the question of “why the hell would they?”, I  need to ask myself, “Would I sue if they did?”

From what I’ve read, litigation is what it comes down to. If you don’t plan to sue, then probably no need for the C in the circle tattoo.

Credit: copyrightauthority.com

But wait. There’s more.

During my research, nicely accompanied by Caramel Cashew Trail Mix, one tasty morsel per mouse click, I also discovered something called Creative Commons. This is not a place in the Student Union where liberal arts students get naked and recite poetry—I know, I was surprised, too. Rather Creative Commons is a sort of middle ground in the Internet age, a sliding scale of protection, if you will, where some materials may be used without permission of the creator, while others require a “Please, Sir or Madam, can I post your drivel on my blog?”

I found a lovely comparison in an apropos blog post entitled Copyright Vs. Creative Commons. And as a side note, to these and other bloggers who offer helpful advice, thereby creating a more understandable online world, I sincerely thank you.

I, on the other hand, will continue to pollute and debase the medium.

Naughty-good (!) Archer Farms Caramel Cashew Trail Mix (image from Amazon.com)

So which trail mix goodie do you choose?

The rigid copyright cashew? The sweeter Creative Commons M&M? Or, like me thus far, the risky and sticky, no-protection, rot-your-teeth, chocolate-covered caramel ball?

But remember, as with every taste-bud pleaser, preferences are subject to change. Indeed, if I start dropping teeth faster than a caveman with an animal hide full of snuff, I may need a little more protection.

How do the rest of you feel? Have you copyrighted your blog? Use Creative Commons? If you share your thoughts with me, I’ll share my trail mix with you.

Oops. Sorry. It’s gone.

Cartoon images from Microsoft Clip Art

*     *     *

Other helpful resources I found during my high-calorie research:

Is Creative Commons Right for Your Blog

Should You Register Your Blog with the U.S. Copyright Office

Copyright vs. Creative Commons: How Creative Commons licenses compromise your rights

Related articles
Posted in Decisions, Writing and tagged , , , , , , ,
06 Dec 2011
10 Comments

Making The Leap

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

In part one of this public introspection, I detailed my ten-year journey to a publishing contract, which, thanks to Mother Nature’s antics, came shortly after I started an intense graduate school program, having finally convinced myself the “writing thing” was not going to happen. Dream job be damned. The writer in me, that tiniest little figure within a set of far more responsible nesting dolls, was to remain hidden, only to emerge when outside interest surfaced (“What ever happened with that book you were writing?”)

So imagine my surprise to receive that letter of acceptance. And my angst at my new educational endeavor. I can do both, I hastily declared, ignoring the alarm-firing neurons in my brain (“Hey, Missus, you already tried that, remember? It took forever to get your book finished!”). And raise my children. And work a few hours at a real job, “just to stay in the market.”

I made my writing to-do list: review/sign contract, buy book about marketing, read book about marketing, learn how to set up a blog, sign-up for the Twitter thing, start the blog, start the Twitter thing, learn about other social marketing tools (good grief, when did all this start?), case out the local bookstores, and oh, what about editing? I’m sure the editor will have more than a few suggestions. And what about the next novel? Publishing is a long process; I will need something else warming the bench.

Um, sure, I can do all that and still go to school.

Thus, contract signed. To-do list put aside. Back to class and back to life.

Needless to say, I did not dent that list, not while I was learning epidemiological computations and new statistical computer programs. But how could I quit the graduate program? Succeeding in writing is about as realistic as becoming the next president. Getting a PhD would allow the mid-life transition I sought but with a much more realistic outcome and far less risk. Then again, that has always been my problem. Choosing the practical over the “what if”. Following head instead of heart. Using left brain rather than right.

Many would argue this is just as it should be. A world full of dreamers walking off the job in search of published novels, artistic masterpieces, or Olympic medals would leave us in a bit of a bind. Sure hope that surgeon operating on my heart is not envisioning his next magnum opus. Not all can, nor should, take that train.

At this point in my continuous rehashing of turbulent thoughts, my husband entered. As did his common sense. Allow me to paraphrase. “Look, why do you keep torturing yourself? Do you want to write or not? If so, drop out of the program and give yourself a year. At least you’ll know you tried.”

And so I did. And believe me, I know how lucky I am to have a life situation in which I can do so. That was not the case in the past, and given life’s unpredictability, it may not be the case in the future. But at least it is the case for now.

Posted in Decisions and tagged , , , , , , ,

Post Navigation