We all have these considerations, when we start out. I've had my books on Lulu for about three years, continue to add to them. I have referred the site to fellow writers and have written and published one article on an online newspaper (The Tasmanian Times) on the merits of this professional site for otherwise unpublished writers. The entire publishing industry is metamorphosing and getting past first-base with even a literary agent is time-wasting. Plagiarism is an inherent part of this industry and detail and concepts can quite easily be stolen, re-worked , disguised and published without anyone's knowledge. If your Lulu-published work were to surface elsewhere at least you have a record of it for legal reference. From the beginiing of literature, especially the great classics, all works are milking cows even for our most successful modern novelists. Plagiarism is a form of flattery. Hypothetically if you were stolen, it would give you potential PR leverage and perhaps lead to a deal. Be bold and publish your stuff on this site. In Australia by law a writer is required to send his/her published works to the State Library. Two of my books have been taken in also with the national library. So deposit yours with your library and it will be catalogued and a record of it will be published widely. That's a good start for copyright protection. But self-publishing is more fun than business, so relax and enjoy it said the Bishop to the actress!
Democracy is only a concept.
