Muddling By – Copyright

Like I said on a few social media posts, 

“Mini-celebration
Muddling By (my most recent book)
just received its copyright
Another one for the shelves at the Library of Congress”

(on LinkedIn)

But didn’t I say the same back in January 2026? (Library Of Congress – Muddling By) That was when I sent in the application. Yesterday I received the official notice. Yay. But why?

Write a book. Yay. Publish a book (even if it is self-published.) Yay. Sell a book (which is harder to do, lately.) Yay. Market it. Of course, or at least try. Protect it, hence, the copyright.

A copyright is not necessary. You can sell a book without registering it with the Library of Congress. Sales are sales. Most readers don’t care. Copyrights, for me, are more about doing due diligence in case a book becomes popular enough for people to copy. A copyright doesn’t prevent them from copying it, but it is a sign that at least you tried to establish at least some official recognition that the work is yours. Readers may not care, but maybe judges and lawyers will.

So far, it has never mattered for me.

My copyrighted books are officially in the Library of Congress, so there is some allusion to permanence, some immortality. Lately, that allusion seems less certain, but I am not surprised at the possible impermanence of anything official. I’m a fan of history, so I am very aware that governments are temporary. Still, my applying for a copyright is a sign that I care.

Permanence. Due diligence. Is there any other reason? Probably, but for me, a copyright is the last step in the process. It is closure. It doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t sell any, but it helps me move onto the next book.

I have dreams. They aren’t dreams of phenomenal wealth, though I wouldn’t turn it down. My dreams, especially for a book as auto-biographical and touching on social commentary as Muddling By, are for recognition. Recognition of me is secondary to recognition of a reality that has less to do with modern stereotypes of wealth and its lack. I don’t march. I do vote. And I wrote a book, Muddling By.

Maybe no one cares, but no one seems to care about which way I vote, which is fine. That’s private. The book is public, and now is officially part of the public record. 

Some write for fame and fortune. I usually have written because friends have said that they want to hear what I have to say. Bestsellers can be marketed into existence, but I’d be satisfied to hear that I’ve made a positive difference. Some of that wealth thing would be good, too.

Currently, I’m working on my next work of fiction, Fire Moon. I’m guessing that it has another year to go. I’m also guessing that the world is in such flux that guesses are more guesswork than usual.

There’s always more to do. For now though, Muddling By now has a copyright. Hopefully it and my other copyrighted titles are on a shelf or in a box at the Library of Congress. I’m glad for that milestone.

Now, onto the next one.