#don't be a lazy selfish asshat basically

[sapphire-rosa]

On Plagiarism, Fanfiction, and Ethics

Having just read the Cassandra Claire Debacle post, I am both horrified and faintly relieved ... but also anxious.

I have read a lot of books, both published fiction and fanfiction, and I often do worry about whether elements from other people’s writing has accidentally crept into any of my own. 

On the one hand, I am relieved because nothing I do by accident could ever plumb the depths of CC’s frankly alarming and preposterous level of deliberate plagiarism. At the same time, I am increasingly nervous in case I do put anything into my work that looks too similar to anything else. 

As an historian I have had The Vital Importance Of Correct And Complete Citations drilled into my skull a thousand times, and I can tell you now that whatever CC or any of her acolytes may claim, if I had done what she did and submitted it as an assignment to any of my professors I would have had my ass handed to me with no ceremony whatsoever, and would very probably have been kicked out of college. 

Plagiarism is not just a legal concern - it is an ethical concern, and this is what so many people seem to be missing here. I don’t care if you can or cannot be sued for copypasting other people’s work into nonprofit fanfiction. I don’t make money off my essays, but I would still be taken to the cleaner’s for not using proper citations and essentially passing off someone else’s work as my own.

Whether or not CC can be legally accused of plagiarism is beside the point, honestly. What bothers me is that she saw the need to copypaste such extensive passages into her fanfiction. If you can’t come up with good enough dialogue and description on your own, then you have two options: 

Go to your local library and borrow every single guidebook on effective writing. Sign up for writing courses. Ask questions of people you know who are good writers (and who don’t see the need to ‘borrow’ other people’s words). Make a nuisance of yourself. Practice, practice, practice until you find your style and can weave words into a beautiful, original picture. That’s how most of us do it. 

Much simpler, much less difficult, much less labour-intensive - DON’T PRETEND YOU CAN WRITE. DO SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD. 

Now, I am aware that CC has in fact now published her own works, and they have been made into movies and TV series. I haven’t read the books. I saw the movie before I knew about her plagiarism. 

I can’t speak for her original work. I don’t know whether she plagiarizes. However, I will say that a leopard doesn’t easily change its spots. She may have been much more careful (she’d have to be!) once writing for the public and for profit - but a lazy, dishonest, unethical, dangerous habit is still a habit, and it’s all too easy to let habits creep back in even when you’re trying not to. 

In conclusion, I now have absolutely no desire to read CC’s work or see the TV series, because as a writer myself, her behaviour with fanfiction leaves a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. Her laziness and dishonesty in the past make me feel uncomfortable, especially in light of her fame in the public eye today. 

I would also very much appreciate it if people who read my work would let me know if they feel anything is too similar to someone else’s work. I can’t think of anything worse than accidentally being the next CC. 

If I have unwittingly lifted anything from your work, please tell me so that I can rectify it immediately. I love my fellow writers and would hate to be the cause of any upset or offence to you. We all work so hard to create beautiful and wonderful things for ourselves and others - anyone who tries to take advantage of that and use it to promote themselves is unconscionably selfish.