Writers and Plagiarism

Published on May 3, 2006 By foreverserenity In Current Events

Lately I’ve seen in the news medium how some writers have seemly plagiarized in order to write their books. Either they have lifted paragraphs or bylines, or they write things as life-stories when it should be fiction.

Why, I wonder do these writers compromise in such a manner? Why, if being a writer as been their dream for so long and usually it is for most of them, would they mess up like that? Do they think they would never be found out or that the readers out there are not smart enough to realize that they’ve read a line somewhere before and might actually seek out where they read it?

It certainly does make the author look bad and thus loses the trust of the reading public. It hurts the writer even more if what he/she wrote is supposed to be real-life experiences with which the readers will identify. As in the case of James Frey and his book “A Million Little Pieces”.

Writing is not exactly an easy thing to do for most people. There are times too, that trying to “put two words together” can be mind-numbing because you have writer’s block. I guess this is probably when some people will ‘borrow’ from someone else.

But could this be done innocently? Sometimes someone could be writing and they can’t really put into words what they‘re trying to say. After reading something else, they suddenly get inspired. Could this inspiration be the reason why some people will plagiarize? Then, instead of putting their own thoughts down on paper, they might end up re-writing that which inspired them? I don’t know. This is a whole debatable topic.

There’s now a new word used when someone plagiarizes another writer, it’s called “internalized” as in the case of this 19 year old who received a six figure book deal and was about to have her first book published only to have everything taken away because what she wrote, was so familiar to her classmates who after checking it out, was the same as an established author’s work.

According to her, the author whose work she ‘borrowed’ from is one of her favorite writers and she must have ‘internalized’ what she read and somehow put the same thoughts in her book.

It’s also reported in this link, Link that she’s not the only one who does this ‘internalizing’. It’s been done by many other writers, mostly college professors who never get penalized for what they do.

I think that anyone who does plagiarize should be penalized for doing so. We’re talking the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ of someone who worked hard to put together something that others will want to read. Perhaps it took that writer many a long nights to be inspired to put his/her work out there. Then, to have someone else copy it and gain monetarily from it without consequences? That would definitely drive me crazy!

I’m all for inspiring anyone who might get an idea from something I wrote. I’ve done that too, been inspired by someone else’s writing. However when you write exactly what the author as in their work, that’s where the inspiration ends and plagiarism begins.

So be careful what you write my fellow bloggers, checking your facts and noting references when necessary is always good too. Because even what we do here can be called into question if we ‘internalize’ someone else’s work.

Here is another link which tells about this latest uproar in the publishing world.
Link

Comments (Page 2)

dynamaso

on May 04, 2006

In my younger days, I was so influenced by the music I was listening to, it would filter directly into the music I was trying to write. I think it was sheer passion for what I was hearing that caused this to happen. So, I can understand it but like most here, I don't like it. Thankfully, I've never had anything get far down the track before someone has pointed out the similarities.

I heard recently (I don't know if its true) but Dan Brown is facing strife over 'The Da Vinci Code' because he stole a bunch of ideas he used from some one else. I hope he goes down. He is the most over-rated popular writer today.

foreverserenity

on May 04, 2006

I include titles of stories, phrases of songs, and lines from popular television shows in my articles all the time and no one calls me on it. I could probably back 'em up if asked, but nobody's ever.

If it's not a deliberate act and you don't take credit for it or you name a source or say, it's quoted then that's ok.

Nicky:

But, I've also written short stories or poems, and sometimes well-known lines have found their way into my own stuff. Typically, any good editor would catch it. Problem with the 'net is that not many people have their own editors. It's amazing what the subconcious stores.

As I said above. That will happen to some people sometimes I guess. But in the case of that young lady, she deliberately rewrote something and was having it published. How unaware could she be that she did that I wonder?

Excellent article. After reading about the girl and her book deal that has now fallen through, I was actually going to write an article like this, and also mention James Frey's debacle. Pure coincidence though, no?

Thank you! Oh wow, great minds think alike!

Tonya:

I like to write fiction. Just for fun and to try and create something out of nothing.

Me too and I'm sure a lot of people do!

go so opposite of plagiarism that I paint myself into a corner. For instance, I have to make up new species because I don't want to be accused of writing an elf, dwarf, dragon story that was written by someone I've never heard of.I will use them, but I always wonder, "has this been done already?" But I am learning to just get over it. It's not a matter of has it been done, but has it been done MY way? hehe.

You are creative with your writing! I think that's brilliant to do that!

Great article.

Thx!

That's understandable and I think that's what has happened to a lot of people. Do you realise, or have you noticed that a lot of these musics out there have a familiar tune or string to it? There are so many and I sometimes wonder if the person who sang it realised it and if the orginator will get royalties.

heard recently (I don't know if its true) but Dan Brown is facing strife over 'The Da Vinci Code' because he stole a bunch of ideas he used from some one else. I hope he goes down. He is the most over-rated popular writer today.

I've heard about it too. So far I don't know where they are with that, but I know they are going to court if they haven't done so already! Although I can't remember if I heard an outcome or not? Perhaps someone will enligten us if they know about it!

foreverserenity

on May 04, 2006

Reply By: little-whipPosted: Thursday, May 04, 2006And yes, Doc, I agree with Whip here. Since you have some unfinished business it would be good to clear the air on that blog don't you think?Since he seems to be having problems finding the appropriate thread, I hope you don't mind me posting the link here, FS. I have answered him there, so as not to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere here. Link

Not at all Whip!

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!