FAQ; Author’s Release Form (downloadable PDF)
The Literature Committee invites A.R.T.S. members to submit personal recovery stories for a new A.R.T.S. Anonymous book. In order to protect the rights of both the author and A.R.T.S.’ use of these stories, a signed Author’s Release Form is required.
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) with responses about the Author’s Release Form.
Question: Why does the Author’s Release mention “gratitude” and “benefits from my participation” in the first paragraph?
Answer: A legally binding agreement requires an exchange of value between both parties. The legal term for the concept is called “consideration.” As A.R.T.S. Anonymous is self-supporting through the contributions of its members, it does not pay members for their member stories. Instead it is suggested that the member acknowledges that they are giving something to A.R.T.S. in exchange for the gratitude they feel for the benefit they have received from A.R.T.S.
Question: Why should I trust my story to A.R.T.S.?
Answer: All members who serve A.R.T.S. Anonymous do so with the understanding and willingness to follow the principles found in the Steps, Traditions and Concepts of Service. The trusted servants who help develop Literature handle, review, edit or otherwise have access to the manuscripts submitted by members and authors. All service entities, including the World Service Office, the Literature Committee, the Board of Trustees, Delegates from the Meetings and those who participate in all aspects of the Conference, hold positions of trust.
Question: Why does it matter that the manuscript I am submitting hasn’t been previously copyrighted, trademarked or publicized?
Answer: As a not-for-profit organization registered in the State of New York in the United States of America, A.R.T.S. Anonymous Inc. cannot violate the law. If the manuscript you submitted is copyrighted by a person (including yourself) or organization other than A.R.T.S., it would be a violation of the law for A.R.T.S. to use it, as it is essentially “owned” by someone else. Consistent with the principle of Tradition 6, A.R.T.S. does not publish or distribute material owned by anyone else.
Question: If I sign this form, it sounds as if I am giving up my story to A.R.T.S.’ ownership. Is that true?
Answer: No. You will always own your story. A.R.T.S. has no ownership of your personal experience, strength and hope. You will always have the right to share your story in any way you like, such as with others, or by writing it for other publications or under your own copyright.
A.R.T.S. is asking for the right to use, copyright and publish the manuscript you are submitting. There may be multiple ways a manuscript can “carry the message to the artist who still suffers.” This may involve editing it, recording it, using parts of it as a testimonial, etc. In order to both use and protect the manuscript from mis-use, A.R.T.S. will have the right to copyright it. Your manuscript can serve to help others recover in multiple ways, and for a long time to come.
Question: Why would A.R.T.S. edit my manuscript?
Answer: The purpose of editing a manuscript is two-fold. The first reason has to do with space. In order for multiple voices to be heard, and for the sake of fitting as many voices as possible into a publication, the space may have to be shared in an equitable manner. Editing can help the manuscript get to the point with fewer words. An example of this can be to eliminate redundancies that may “lose” a reader. The intent is to give more people a chance to be heard.
Secondly, for reasons of clarity a story may be edited in order to help carry the message more effectively. Many people write what they want to say, and yet what is written may not come out the way that was intended. Very often it is the case that a good editing job leaves the writer feeling that the story is now telling what it is they wanted all along.
Some members of A.R.T.S. who wish to become more visible to the world and seek to publish (other than by self-publishing) will find that editing is always involved.
Question: If I am not able to inspect or approve the original or edited manuscript prior to its publication or use, will my name be associated with it?
Answer: There are cases where your name may be associated with the manuscript (whether edited or not), and other cases where it might not. Sometimes it is useful to carry the message in such a way that a reader sees a name associated with it. In other instances if there is a part of the manuscript that A.R.T.S. may want to quote and use in other ways, a name would not be useful. You will be asked to provide a preferred way to name yourself for A.R.T.S. publications. In keeping with the principle of anonymity, in no cases will A.R.T.S. Anonymous publish last names or identifying information about a writer or author that makes them recognizable to others.