NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been toying with this for some time now, but I figured since here was where I generally developed a lot of my thinking patterns, it might be worth running some stuff by you guys.

Oh, examples of my scribblings are dotted all over the religion topics, if you have never met me in discussion before.

Should I write a book or official thesis on my philosophical/theological ideas? Are my writing style and the general content of my thoughts interesting and engaging enough to warrant having them published?

If so, how would you reckon I go about it? I'm fortunate enough to be in one of the best centres of Education in the whole world, but since neither Philosophy, Theology nor any arts subject are my academic field, who should I approach if I was to consider undertaking this task? Should I chase up a few professors, or should I start looking into publishers first?

Finally, to authors in general, how do you go about securing your work as a piece of intellectual property?

I've been toying with this for some time now, but I figured since here was where I generally developed a lot of my thinking patterns, it might be worth running some stuff by you guys.

Oh, examples of my scribblings are dotted all over the religion topics, if you have never met me in discussion before.

Should I write a book or official thesis on my philosophical/theological ideas? Are my writing style and the general content of my thoughts interesting and engaging enough to warrant having them published?

If so, how would you reckon I go about it? I'm fortunate enough to be in one of the best centres of Education in the whole world, but since neither Philosophy, Theology nor any arts subject are my academic field, who should I approach if I was to consider undertaking this task? Should I chase up a few professors, or should I start looking into publishers first?

Finally, to authors in general, how do you go about securing your work as a piece of intellectual property?

That is a sweet idea. I love philosophy, andI consider myself to be a philosophist. Of course, I'm relatively new here, so I couldn't actually tell you if I liked your ideas... but I'm sure they're great!

Hmm... I'm thinking that if you're really serious about this, you should talk to someone who knows about it... Like a professor or something, like you said. Even if it's not your area... I'm sure they could still help you out. THey might be able to tell you if your stuff is worth sending in for publication or not...

Hmm... I guess I do consider myself an author. But I've never actually thought about securing my work as a piece of intellectual property. I guess... I guess you just have to make it your own... in the writing I mean. Don't copy someone else's ideas/thoughts/style... Just make it your own. If you do that, I think it will make all of your work stronger because it is your own. But that's just my opinion.

That is a sweet idea. I love philosophy, andI consider myself to be a philosophist. Of course, I'm relatively new here, so I couldn't actually tell you if I liked your ideas... but I'm sure they're great!
Oh, you should check some of it out then. It goes by the title Systemity at the minute (thanks to Cabra West for that one). Here's one I made earlier. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9963660&postcount=124)

Hmm... I'm thinking that if you're really serious about this, you should talk to someone who knows about it... Like a professor or something, like you said. Even if it's not your area... I'm sure they could still help you out. THey might be able to tell you if your stuff is worth sending in for publication or not...
Part of the reason I'm asking is to see if anyone here has any experience with it that might be able to impart any advice. But I guess I can go talk to a professor of some sort; the question is, a professor of what subject?

Hmm... I guess I do consider myself an author. But I've never actually thought about securing my work as a piece of intellectual property. I guess... I guess you just have to make it your own... in the writing I mean. Don't copy someone else's ideas/thoughts/style... Just make it your own. If you do that, I think it will make all of your work stronger because it is your own. But that's just my opinion.
I generally meant copyrighting and the likes when I referred to Intellectual Property - that is, making sure other people don't swipe bits of it unless they ask me. But yeah, I'll write my own ideas in my own words. Though admittedly, I may need to refer to another author; would it be a wise idea to get in contact with him about it?

I generally meant copyrighting and the likes when I referred to Intellectual Property - that is, making sure other people don't swipe bits of it unless they ask me. But yeah, I'll write my own ideas in my own words.

Copyright is automatically yours as soon as you write it. The tricky part is, sometimes, proof. There is a way to secure it, by registration with your country's copyright office, but it's quite expensive and not really worth it in this sort of situation, IMO.

Though admittedly, I may need to refer to another author; would it be a wise idea to get in contact with him about it?

Maybe, but it's not really necessary as long as you make sure to cite your references and don't misrepresent the other person.

Finally, to authors in general, how do you go about securing your work as a piece of intellectual property?
I know that in the UK if you seal it in an envelope and send it to yourself, getting it automatically timestamped by the Post Office along the way, and then don't open it, you have got provable copyright on it. Because that way you can prove you wrote it before anybody else, see?

I know that in the UK if you seal it in an envelope and send it to yourself, getting it automatically timestamped by the Post Office along the way, and then don't open it, you have got provable copyright on it. Because that way you can prove you wrote it before anybody else, see?

IIRC, there is no US equivalent of that process, but I don't know where the OP is.

I'm completely unqualified to advise, but for what it's worth:

Go for it. I enjoy reading your posts, and even if you never publish, the exercise of structuring and writing down your thoughts is itself beneficial. Enjoyable even. Furthermore, if you do go to a publisher/professor or whatever, the first thing they'll ask you for is a sample of your work, if not the entire work.

If you're serious about getting published, your biggest problem is likely to be marketing - with no track record or base in the field, you'll have little or no name-recognition. I'd avoid the purist route: think about putting your ideas in an entertaining or interesting context. Alternatively, you could self-publish and go for word of mouth and organic growth. If you're in a university city, you should have some independent bookshops around that take locally produced material. I've also heard tell about some new-fangled publishing medium you might want to check out. I think it's called the Wild Wood Web or something .....

I know that in the UK if you seal it in an envelope and send it to yourself, getting it automatically timestamped by the Post Office along the way, and then don't open it, you have got provable copyright on it. Because that way you can prove you wrote it before anybody else, see?
Ahh, very clever! I may just have to do that, since I'm studying in the UK for the next few years. Thanks for the hint!

I know that in the UK if you seal it in an envelope and send it to yourself, getting it automatically timestamped by the Post Office along the way, and then don't open it, you have got provable copyright on it. Because that way you can prove you wrote it before anybody else, see?
Nothing like the poor mans copyright. $0.37 and its aaaaaaaaall yours