In my last article I looked at the gig economy and getting the grammar right. This is the last of my three articles on writing my book, and it continues with what worked for me.
Getting permission to use other people’s work
The help I received from Copy Write Consultants was invaluable. I became aware of them, not through one of those gig sites, but through a link on Jane Friedman’s site. They helped and guided me through how copyright works. The only downside is that they are US based and the laws are similar – ish, but different! By the way, that definitely does not constitute legal advice. Again, online meetings to point you on the straight and narrow, from people who know what they are talking about. The reason I have mentioned them in an article where I have avoided plugging products is that I found them particularly helpful. I’m sure there must be others that do this, but this was the team that helped me. Alternatively, you can bury your head in legal books or hire a lawyer.
Lessons were learned when contacting people to ask permission to quote their work. I will not single out people here, but some people came back to me fast, giving their blessing and sometimes wishing me every success with the book. I cannot tell you, when you are toiling away on a labour of love, how much it means when someone who you need help from, not only responds positively and quickly, but then sincerely sends their best wishes as well. It made a real difference. Thank you so much.
On the other hand, there were some people who did not respond at all, even after several attempts. In one particular case, I was trying to quote a writer in the USA. He has a following and is known in his particular area, without being a household name. He has employees, too, but I could not find any way of reaching out to him. The only access points seemed to lead to a sales channel. Perhaps I should have reached out, publicly, on social media, or something? I don’t know. Even when I got hold of someone who dealt with his online store, they couldn’t help as they only dealt with the store. Rather than forwarding me on or pointing me in the right direction, I was left to flounder. I unsubscribed, an action which felt good for me but which, I have to accept, hardly threw him into crisis meetings with his financial advisors as this upstart UK author had unsubscribed himself from his list. Perhaps he doesn’t even know how difficult it is to ask him a simple question, which might have even helped him and introduced others to his work? Or, perhaps, he has just forgotten that once he was a little guy, too.
I did learn, though, that the chasing permission is played differently if you want to quote a big author who is looked after by a big publishing company. Crediting other people’s work is something I get; I understand it. Not only is it the morally right thing to do, but it is also a legal thing as well. When you ask permission and a yes pings back soon after, all feels good. If you are dealing with a big set up, then they work on a different scale, and approaching them to use a sentence or two can be a trauma. From contacting, or being forwarded on, to the right office, here, or in the USA, or somewhere else. Then onto their fees, which depend on what you might want to do with the piece you want to copy, how long you want to use it for, in which geographical areas…………… I gave up. I thanked them politely and said I had chosen not to use them. That was true, but it was more a misjudgement on my part, I feel. If they are a big player, you dance to their tune. That is true in publishing, and in life.
Asking others for help
Once I had the book together and had kind of worked out what to do, I asked two people, who I rated, for an online meet up. Importantly, as I had followed them and read their work, I felt they could help with the kind of thing I needed. Both agreed, and were kind and helpful, and neither laughed at my stupid questions. I have not named them here, because I’m not sure either would thank me for volunteering them for online meetings with budding authors, but they certainly helped me, and this technique is definitely one to try. I found this helpful, especially in what I would call the lessons learnt category, that is, what did you do which, looking back, you would have done differently.
It was partly down to my experiences in asking others for permission to quote their work, along with the two people who agreed to meet up online and help me, that I decided to act, hopefully, quite generously with the work I have done. If you have bought the book, then you can log in and access the diagrams and photographs. If you want to use something that I have written, then let me know, but, overwhelmingly, I’ll say yes. Why wouldn’t I? You like something I’ve done, want to tell others, and credit me with the work, then why would I refuse?
Everything else, caveat emptor – buyer beware!
You can also search around for alternative options to your heart’s content, as I noted in my first article. It is likely that the options I have given have alternatives, so search around. Just for clarity here, none of the links provided are affiliate ones, so I will make no money whether you use them or not.
There may well be other options you want to explore, for example, paying for courses or joining forums, but I have no experience of them.
Finally, just remember that all these options, even the free ones, cost you something important, that is, your time.
So, that now concludes my three articles on writing a book, and once you have put it all together, you can then hit the publish button with pride. You have achieved something; well done!
However, you are likely to learn something quickly. I noted in the first article how Amazon has changed the publishing world and has made it much easier for an ordinary man or woman to write a book and publish it. This means that Amazon is a very big pond, and it is likely that few, perhaps no one, has heard of you. This can be quite a rude awakening, but you can either use your book to establish your credibility, or you will need to get very busy marketing.
I wish you good luck!
