A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: 📚 Incorporating Information from Other Sources (When to paraphrase, when to pay)

 

Authors, especially first-time authors of non-fiction books, must and should rely on available, already published information. The question is how to handle the use of it in your own work. Yes, of course, there are guides on how to cite something (APA Manual, Chicago Manual of Style, etc.), but what you can cite is something else. How do you avoid violating copyright law and finding yourself in a big unhealthy pile of muck and perhaps even having to take your book off the shelf? Here are some basic guidelines.

1. Lyrics & Poetry

• Even a single line of song lyrics or poetry is usually protected.
• Publishers almost always require permission and payment for reproduction.
• Safer route: paraphrase the sentiment or describe the effect instead of quoting.

2. Books & Prose

• Short quotations (a few lines) may fall under fair use, especially for commentary, criticism, or scholarship.
• Extended excerpts (e.g., 100+ lines) almost always require permission.
• Rule of thumb: if the excerpt is central to your work rather than incidental, you likely need to license.

3. Academic & Factual Sources

• Facts themselves aren’t copyrightable, but the expression of those facts is.
• Best practice: paraphrase in your own words and cite the source.
• Direct quotations should be brief and clearly attributed.

4. Images, Charts, and Figures

• Visuals are almost always protected.
• Options:

• Create your own version (redraw a chart, summarize data).
• License the original if you need the exact image.

5. Paraphrase vs. Pay

• Paraphrase when: you’re conveying ideas, facts, or general sentiment.
• Pay (license) when: you need the exact wording, structure, or creative expression.

6. Publisher Variability

• Each publisher has its own thresholds (some stricter than others).
• Always check your publisher’s permissions guidelines before assuming fair use.

✨ Closing Guidance for Authors

• Think of it this way: If the borrowed material is the “flavor” of your work, paraphrase. If it’s the “substance,” license.
• Responsible sourcing protects both your credibility and your readers from misinformation or legal pitfalls.

These Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 22 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

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