Use the copyright symbol. Upon creation of your written work (book, newspaper article, poetry, etc.), you have copyright.

While there is no need to add the copyright symbol, it is prudent to place the © symbol on your work to alert others to your copyright claim. This is straightforward and does not require formality or registration. Simply write it as follows:

© Peggy wikiHower, 2011  OR    copyright©2012 by Author Name

You might also consider adding reference to the legislation that backs up your copyright claim, such as:  

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews – without permission

in writing from the author.