3 Tips For Organizing A Novel

I'm halfway through the first draft of my second novel and it took until now to find the best way for me to stay organized. Yes, I have several hand written notes in manila file folders that I never look at; single-subject, spiral-bound notebooks crammed with chicken scratch that have gone the way of the word processor; and gigabytes of electronic musings saved somewhere in RAM limbo. The result? A novel built from my notes in my one notebook. Everything else has been forgotten or eaten by moths.

Quoting Others In Your Work

I'm currently writing a nonfiction book in which I'm using quotes from a variety of sources. However, I wanted to make sure I didn't get into trouble doing so since the only bars I like are the ones that serve margaritas. Therefore, I researched the fair use act. Here it is for your legal enjoyment. And please feel free to comment with your experience using famous quotes in your own works! I live to learn!


The Fair Use Doctrine of the U.S. Copyright Statute
One of the rights accorded to the owner of copyright is the right to reproduce or to authorize others to reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords. This right is subject to certain limitations found in sections 107 through 118 of the copyright law (title 17, U. S. Code). One of the more important limitations is the doctrine of “fair use.” The doctrine of fair use has developed through a substantial number of court decisions over the years and has been codified in section 107 of the copyright law.