Why I Think We Are Failing at Copying on Medium

And what to do instead

My problem with copying on Medium

I sat down to read some Medium stories last night. But it took me over half an hour to find one I wanted to read. I can’t be alone with this problem in Medium and we need to put it right.

I scrolled through endless tiresome titles and it struck me how many stories seem to copy one another in general or specific terms. The frustration built sufficiently in me that I felt compelled to write this story. Here’s why I think we are getting copying all wrong on Medium and what to do instead, so we can all have a richer reading experience.

The copying I see on Medium appears to be leading our platform and collective voice towards a rather empty, homogenous and increasingly boring set of stories that could be more diverse, challenging, interesting and personally engaging.

Don’t get me wrong - there are great stories on Medium but we shouldn’t have to hunt for them. At the same time, we are all practising and learning our craft and can’t be expected to write great stories every time. Understandably, there will be a mix of quality amongst the thousands of stories being published daily. Bearing in mind that there are 1,385,000 stories published each month on Medium.

Many writers are rightly protective about the copyright associated with their work (you will see mine at the end of this story) but copying is not always negative. Let’s look more carefully at copying.

Why do we do copy, what are the benefits and pitfalls and how we can positively reframe copying to become better writers and people.

Why do we copy others?

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”.

This famous phrase popularised by Charles Caleb Colton essentially shows us that copying another demonstrates admiration.

Why do we copy each other at all? To copy is to be human. It builds social bonds, shows others we conform and that we agree. To copy another is to subtly show them we respect them as a leader and at its heart, builds trust and cohesion in our relationships. It is a natural building block of society and wider ecosystems and meets a social need in us to “fit in”.

Copying and passing off

The copying which I am talking about here is not the same as blatant illegal copying relating to intellectual property laws and their infringement. Sadly, there are times when someone has blatantly stolen, copied and passed off another’s work for their own gain. There is an argument that this is on the rise.

I am not a legal professional so cannot advise on this but I have had an experience of this. The day I saw a brand new website with all of my writing on it, without my permission, generating profit for a new company did provoke some anger. I am pleased to say I was on the winning side of legal action to protect my work. Don't plagiarise!

Medium tools for copying

Thankfully most of us don't actively set out to copy one another, it happens subconsciously. The helpful tools in Medium could feed this subconscious copying. The very useful highlighting function enables us to copy sections of text we like, whilst at the same time letting the author know we appreciate their craft.

But those highlighted stories, titles and phrases can then work their way into our subconscious and are unintentionally replicated in our future writing. We end up copying the theme of stories, copying titles to grab attention, copying structures and turns of phrases. Even the excellent artist Ed Sheeran is currently in court, declaring he has not infringed copyright, with reports over his “borrowing” and “ Magpie” methods of song writing.

Benefits of copying

Copying will always be a feature of writing. A feature of life. So long as people are not breaking the law there is a lot to be said for the benefits of copying.

It gets us started. This works along the lines of another common phrase “Fake it until you make it”. We all have to start somewhere. It is fine to copy as a form of practice but not for publication.
It helps us check for errors and make improvements as we edit and re-edit. Try writing the same section of text two or three times ,copying the first and you may well find an obvious error or word to improve.
It enables innovation by redesign. By copying something and giving it a subtle twist or new direction we can invent something new and exciting. The majority of innovation is an improvement in something which exists already or adapting it in a different direction.
Copying a piece of writing can help you get into the mind and voice of that author and learn from their style and vocabulary. For writing practice, try copying out a section of this story and see what you learn from writing using the same words as I do.
Imitating, emulating and copying ultimately helps us learn.

Pitfalls of copying

So you have highlighted a crucial line of text in a great story in Medium, maybe even this story (he says hopefully). It is stored amongst a growing set of highlighted lines and paragraphs building up your internal view of great writing. The key pitfall to avoid of course is plagiarism or passing off.

This can be easily achieved simply by good citation and quotation. If you want to use that line, use it as a quote and cite the author so readers can go and see the primary source. If in doubt try and check first with the author or their publisher/publication. I have been approached many times for permission to use my academic writing and I can’t think of an example where I have refused permission.

But more than that, copying robs us of thinking for ourselves and finding our unique writing voice. It can hide our real talent, preventing it from rising to the surface in our writing because we may subconsciously feel the need to copy everyone else by following a similar style and format.

Positively reframing copying

Don’t be the poor imitation! There are enough of those already. There is fake news, and fake stories written by fake people. Don’t follow them. Careful application of some of the benefits of copying can help you become the great writer and wonderful person you know you can be deep down.

“Know yourself, be yourself and look after yourself”.

Dame Mary Marsh.

Dame Mary Marsh was the founder and first leader of the Clore Social Leadership Programme. I was on the inaugural intake in 2010 and this was Mary’s motto for our group. A motto that has become a life mantra. Try applying it to your writing.

This mantra can help you find and maintain your purpose and meaning and ensure you are writing energising, different, challenging and insightful stories. Here are some starter questions for each element:

Know yourself: what energises you, what excites you, what drives you, what angers you and what do you love doing? What do you find easy that others find difficult? What view do you hold which is different to most others about a certain topic? What are your core values? What is your purpose in one sentence?

Be yourself: If you know who you are, it will be easier to be yourself more of the time. Be the writer you want to be not someone else. What interests you? What do you enjoy learning about? How can you write about those things from a different perspective?

Look after yourself: Surround yourself with a circle of support. Life can be tough, and the online world can generate more than its fair share of toxicity. Ignore the haters, focus on the people that know and love you and your work. How can you find and keep supporters? Who are you accountable to? Who is on your dream team? Who can you invite to be your backup?

Conclusion

Copying can be illegal but can also subtly lead us all towards an empty and increasingly boring and homogenous community of stories. If we carefully apply the benefits of copying to our writing whilst being mindful of the pitfalls, we can become better writers and the Medium community will flourish, be more energising and engaging. Don’t plagiarise, don't simply follow the herd - be the better writer you know you can be.

I want to read real writing from real people. Get to know yourself, be yourself as much as you can and look after yourself, the rest will follow.

If you know an engaging, interesting and challenging writer on Medium, let me know and I will check them out.

Write-on friends!

Neil Mapes Bio

Beach wanderer, sea swimmer, trail runner and charity leader. Loving life in the Highlands of Scotland.

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