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“How do I protect my book idea from being stolen?” is a question I’m often asked.

My answer is usually two-fold.

First, once you have your words down on paper, you are protected by copyright law. So if you sent me (or a literary agent or an editor) your manuscript, you are already protected from anyone stealing your idea. If someone put out your exact words with their name on it, you’d have a pretty strong case for their plagiarizing your work.

However, remember that copyright law protects only your expression–the exact words-not the ideas. (Note too: You cannot copyright book titles. So someone can use your exact book title.)

Second, you have to realize that people you would send your book to–a publishing coach like me, or an agent, or an editor at a publishing house–have no reason to steal your ideas. We are way too busy doing our work (if we’re reputable, and most of us are), to take your work and run with it–especially if you’ve already developed it and are known somewhat for your idea. (There’s that platform thing again. If you already have a following around your idea, how on earth could I or someone else compete? Why would we want to?)

Also, we do have our reputations to protect. What’s in it for us if we take your idea?

Seth Godin, in his recent blog post, makes another excellent point. Book publishing is an industry based on buying ideas. “A company that likes buying ideas has a process,” Seth says. “They make it relatively straightforward and they have no upside in stealing from you. A company that isn’t in that business puts up barriers. They troll around trade shows looking for ideas to take.” (Seth adds that he doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with that, legally or morally.)

The people who might steal your ideas are not those in publishing, but people in your own industry. If your idea is complicated, patent it, Seth says. If it’s simple enough to dream up in a week, Seth says “the only way you’re going to protect it is to build it, fast and well.”

That is, develop it, get it out there to your following (through ezine articles, blog posts, or podcasts, for example), and get known for it. Then you can organize it into a book format you can publish (either by convincing a traditional publisher to publish you, or by self-publishing).

If you were unable to attend the first Publishing Coach Weekly call, the replay is posted here.

Questions answered on this call:

• “What is the first step in writing a book?”
• “What are some good strategies for determining market interest as well as gaps in the existing book market?”
• “When you’re building a platform, how do you step it up and get noticed by a publisher? An acquisitions editor said earlier this year
  I don’t have a big enough platform. When can you go back and say look at what I am working on? What kind of information do they want?”

The Tip of the Call built on the answers to those three questions, and talked about how to survey to find out what your market wants.

There are also some great resources thatcome with this call, including a free Special Report that is a case study about “Surveying for a Winning Title.”

These calls are your opportunity to get in on some no-cost coaching, so please ask your question and listen to the calls! You can ask a question any time at www.askyourbookpublishingcoach.com.

Devon Plumberg just interviewed me for her Blog Talk Radio “Gutzy Gab” show.

We talked about …

• my writing and publishing journey.
• how I became an author.
• how I got into publishing (despite people telling me how difficult it is to land a job in publishing).
• how I found my “calling” as a publishing coach/consultant.
• how to deal with “doubt spasms” and keep others from killing your dream.
• how to find that unique constellation of experience, gifts, talents, and passions that add up to your unique destiny and contribution to the world.

I think you might find it inspiring. (It’s 30 minutes long.)