Plagiarism: it’s more than stealing other writers’ words — it’s an abduction of their children.
Writers’ stories and poems are special works created from their heart, their strengths and weaknesses…from places in the soul where love, fear, and anger are born and the mental, emotional, and sometimes even physical exertion it takes to craft these personal compositions is nothing short of a spiritual evolution.
Writers’ creations can become distinct entities of profound significance, altering what people believe in, shaping who they are, and influencing them in ways unimaginable…like a child.
They are precious and endearing, to the writers and their readers, and to have someone pilfer writers’ spirits and then publicly collect on the magic of their hard work is heinous, immoral, and illegal.
Writing is hard work.
To be innovative, creative, bold, deep, funny, articulate, and so many other elements that go into each write can create anxiety, doubt, desperation…but it should never sway one to copy, rape, and abduct other writers’ babies.
Fire the muse, go on vacation, do whatever it takes to create originality.


**In response to the recent theft (by Richard Ridyard) of works by Angel Zapata, Deborah Biancotti, James Wood, H.P. Lovecraft, and unfortunately many more. You can catch the full story here: A Rage of Angel.

Views: 1

Tags: plagiarism, stealing, words, writing

Comment

You need to be a member of The 6S Social Network to add comments!

Join The 6S Social Network

Comment by Paul D Brazill on October 1, 2009 at 4:28am
Spot on!
Comment by mal on October 1, 2009 at 12:38am
Gosh its just so sad, & I know that it does happen , even accidently , but never deliberately - No Way Hosay ,...
Comment by Anthony Venutolo on September 30, 2009 at 11:40pm
My favorite post of the day. Very very well put, Erin...
Comment by Brenda Kelsch on September 30, 2009 at 10:40pm
Give em hell Erin...that is digusting, lazy, slimy, unethical (duh) and you pretty much covered it.
Comment by Ian Rochford on September 30, 2009 at 9:26pm
I used this in my blog post early yesterday (we Aussies get a head start!)

I hope I didn't commit the act myself... I also tracked a few of Ridyard's stolen stories and notified the site owners. Needless to say his name is a fiction (also purloined), and the blatant and obsessive nature of the plagiarism sugests to my always suspicious mind an individual with an axe to grind, a grievance against the whole web publishing community, not to mention an ego that may yet result in him outing himself.
Comment by Bernard S. Jansen on September 30, 2009 at 8:00pm
Good post, Erin. I've also put my thoughts on what I learned from this in a post called The Richard Ridyard Affair.
Comment by Michael Solender on September 30, 2009 at 7:35pm
As shocking and disgusting as the perpetration of these acts are, it has been heartening to see the widespread response and blazing speed at which this scoundrel has been outed, tarred, feathered and blackballed from ever gracing any legitimate outlet for evermore. While I am truly sorry to have seen this happen to my friend Mr. Zapata, I am relieved to know that the vigilance and tenacity of the writing community will NEVER allow these acts to go unpunished.
Comment by Erin Cole on September 30, 2009 at 4:40pm
It is true, shocking huh?, that people do this and to be a part of it, has got to be maddening.
Comment by Jeanette Cheezum on September 30, 2009 at 4:30pm
Erin, what is going on? Is ths true? If a person has to steal someones wok then they're not creative at all.

© 2013   Created by Robert McEvily.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service