Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California

Re: Book publishing question

First, the word you're looking for is "copyright" not "copy write" (which is something completely different).

Although copyright protection is automatic at the time a work is created, yes, you can register a copyright for an unpublished work with the copyright office and receive protection. If you want to allow strangers on a public forum to read your draft, you should place a copyright notice on it so they know you are not placing the work in the public domain. Even though a copyright notice (or even registration) is not required in order to receive protection under current law, it may serve as a deterrent to those who might borrow passages for their own use.