![]() ![]() Some authors ask readers to fill out a form before receiving manuscript. Please, do not share this document.” They’ll also put the copyright symbol on the pages, just as another reminder to readers that this is someone’s work and it shouldn’t be shared. They say something to the effect of “I appreciate you reading this. Most authors, when they send ARC or beta copies, include very simple instructions in the email. A standard watermark will remind readers you don’t want the document copied or shared and might deter some who would have been careless.Ī reminder/form. If you simply want to add the visual watermark, you can do that easily via Microsoft Word. The other problem with digital security watermarks is that the software to add them to your document is expensive (several hundred dollars). But, some people may not care, may not believe you, or may be tech savvy enough to remove the watermark. And no one wants to be caught, right? Well, we can hope that’s right. The deterrent effect works because the potential sharer, once told your book has a digital watermark, will know that they will be caught if they share the file. If you were to use a different security watermark on each ARC you sent out, and you found your ARC on a pirated book site, you could figure out who shared your ARC. You can read more about digital watermarking here, but the core concept is a security watermark is an electronic way to mark a document so that if it’s copied, you know whose version was copied. It’s effectiveness is in its deterrence power. ![]() This does not actually keep a person from sharing your document. The longer you write, the more readers you will find, so, if you find loyal readers, tap them for ARCs and beta reads. With beta readers, if possible, go with people you’ve met before and have a good feel for (members of your writers group, for example). People tend to be more particular with beta readers (who read drafts that could go through major revisions based on the feedback) than they are with ARC (advance review copy) readers. Tell them you’ve given out all the available review or beta copies, and don’t send them your stuff. If the person approached you in a weird way and asked for your book, or something just seems off in the course of your conversations/online interactions, don’t give them your book. If you’re going to give someone a manuscript to read, you should somewhat trust them. While you can’t guarantee anything, there are some things that people do to try to prevent readers from sharing their work, taking credit for their work, or uploading it to pirated book sites. Like I said, there’s really no way to stop someone who wants to do wrong with your file, if they have it. However, occasionally, an unscrupulous person may share your book. Most people do what was asked: read your manuscript and then either provide you feedback or write a review. The good news is that most people don’t do untoward things with your document. And the truth is, you really can’t stop someone from doing unauthorized things with a document you give them. ![]() ![]() That’s not the answer most people want to hear, but Indies Unlimited is an “Alternative Facts Free Zone,” so only the truth appears here. This question gets asked by readers a lot here at Indies Unlimited: How can I protect my manuscript from being taken by someone I let read it? And as common as the question is, it’s an easy answer: you can’t. ![]()
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