"Hi Ksenia. First, my congratulations to you—I really commend the work you do as a fiction writer and blogger. I've come to read your site regularly and really enjoy your work. I thought I'd reach out because I know you're great at giving inspiring advice to writers and I certainly could use some at the moment. I've hit a bit of a wall when it comes to both inspiration and how best to move forward [...] I've been a full-time writer and editor for about 10 years [...] my ultimate goal is to write and publish more creative nonfiction [...] and while I've started many a project, I've almost never finished, mostly due to my own fears and anxieties and qualms.
My motivation has stalled recently [...] I've found some articles here and there that indicate it can be a good idea for writers to get liability or media insurance for their work as a precaution. I'm wondering if this is something you've done yourself or have come across in your writing? Do you have any guidance when it comes to this area? I had never thought about insurance as a writer (or even a blogger), but the thought of not having it and facing any kind of issue scares the crap out of me, to the point where I'm not even currently writing..."
Thank you for warm words! And yes, darling (who wants to remain anonymous), I have guidance and advice for you. Three pieces, actually.
1. STOP READING ARTICLES.
2. FUCK LEGALESE.
3. JUST WRITE.
Having shouted all of this out, this is what I'll tell you and everyone else who is reading this:
I have never copyrighted any of my writing.
I have never insured any of my writing or wasted time reading about insurance and freaking out, because if my writing ever gets so big as to warrant being insured, I'll have money to pay other people to do it for me while I do what I love doing—write.
I have posted my writing in all available formats on my site and on a ton of other sites and sent it (both drafts and completed novels) to anyone who would ask for them and gave permission to do fan fiction and derivative works and anything anyone ever wanted provided they published their work under the same Creative Commons license I use, and that is the only legal language I have read, and it's pretty simple.
I have refrained from reading helpful articles and books and blog posts and any other publications on how to protect myself and my writing, and instead have spent that time on writing and sharing my writing, and so far it's been great.
I have figured that the chance of me or my writing getting into any kind of trouble is infinitely smaller than the chance of me never being discovered, and I'd rather be discovered than sit tight over my books all alone.
I don't know shit, so all this advice above is really just to show you that it's okay not to know shit (legalese including) and still write and be perfectly fine and do pretty well.
I hope this helps you, darling, to get rid of your fear, forget about insurance and smart online articles (by the way, don't believe everything you read on the Internet, including this blog post), and JUST WRITE.
If any of you guys know anything about this, please chime in. Thank you.