Writing|Writers|Creativity

Sorry, But What Did You Just Say?

Why Plagiarism Sucks

I’ve been with ILLUMINATION since the beginning, as a writer and editor.

And I love what I do. That’s actually the truth. No press release here. But there is something that has been gaining a little momentum around the editing room and it reached a point — at least for me — where I felt I needed to talk about it. We’ve mentioned this subject before as a group and one or more articles have already been written about it by the editing staff here, but I decided that I wanted to make it personal, so here it goes.

Plagiarism is more than just an act of larceny, it is a metaphysical form of vampirism, in that it sucks the life blood out of those who spend emotional currency crafting articles and stories that they hope will inform the world and perhaps, even earn them a few dollars.

Finding a successfully executed article and using your mouse to copy and paste their words into “your” story, is several different kinds of wrong.

Why? You say. Let me articulate.

A. Write your own damn words. Spend the time learning a language, any language, until you’re proficient in it. Then spend even more time learning how to use it, to evoke in others, emotions that soothe the soul.

B. Respect yourself. Not an easy task, if you are knowingly, slipping your literary hand into someone else’s work and absconding with their hard-earned words and ideas and claiming them as your own.

C. Think of the harm you do to others. This is not a victimless crime. Yes, writers can write more words and they might even continue earning a few dollars from the article that’s still published somewhere else in their name. But you are violating a sacred trust. Hell, you’re violating a commandment, if you need something more concrete to motivate you not to do it.

D. Karma is a bitch. It is the universal accumulation of deeds that you do in your lifetime that one very important person will never forget — you! It will impede future efforts — yours, even if the immediate reward is a few cents. Is it worth it?

Have you ever sat around a table, brainstorming ideas for an advertising campaign or the next cool product to come out with, and wham — there it is. So, you share it with everyone else at the table, because — that’s what everyone is there to do.

Then two days later, you see your boss patting Bryan on the shoulder for that great idea he had and mentioned to him. And wink, wink — there’s even a bonus in it for ole Bryan.

How did you feel?

Exactly.

So, cut it out. Please stop hunting for your next story on someone else’s website.

That old saying — Finders Keepers — was originally put out there during Roman times and primarily dealt with finding the odd coin left behind by another.

It never extended to — Oh, I just find a gold coin in a pouch, tied to your belt. I guess it’s mine now.

Nothing quite sucks the pleasure out of being an editor than having to spend a considerable amount of time checking to see if the drafts submitted to ILLUMINATION have been copied and reproduced.

Not helping another writer craft a story that makes them happy.

Not, shaping the narrative from stiff to stylish and helping someone get their story curated.

No, using tools to see if text in the article was copied from somewhere else.

For, shame. The United Brotherhood and Sisterhood of Writers, are collectively shaking their heads and uttering some clearly unmentionable words, while lamenting the rise and fall of the 21st Century.

Well, maybe not that dire, but you get the message.

Editing on ILLUMINATION is a voluntary process. As in, no dollar bills found on the lawn to pick up and claim as our own. No weekly deposit made into our bank accounts on the Cayman Islands.

It’s an act of love. It is, even if that sounds a little soapy. Why else are we doing it?

So, two simple Takeaways

1. Write your own stuff. Be influenced. Be inspired. Just don’t be a dick and copy someone’s work and claim it as your own.

2. Enjoy the process of writing. Learn why so many others are doing it. It’s rewarding. It feeds the soul and hopefully, someday, pays for dinner at that French Bistro down the street.

One last point, then I’m done. Think about what good editors can do for writers. How they help them with their craft. Make it more fun. Wouldn’t you rather have that?

Joe Luca is writer and editor for ILLUMINATION and a published author and writer of children’s stories, short fiction, non-fiction articles, screenplays, and poetry. Publications include Child’s Life, Children’s Playmate, and others. There are some other articles below — have a read. And thank you for stopping by.