Please Don’t Feed the Writer

Sorry for the lapse in anything interesting to say, folks.  I’ve spent the last week and-a-half dealing with a particularly nasty head cold.  You know the kind I’m talking bout.  The kind that doesn’t really make you sick, but rather leaves your head filled with some sort of mental “fuzz” that makes comprehending the written word an exercise in utter futility. The kind that removes any trace of energy from your being, making the thought of getting up for coffee seem as inviting as a trip to the dentist for multiple root canals.  The kind that makes the idea of writing anything a completely unimaginable task…

Yeah, that kind.

For the first time in quite a few days I’ve been able to browse through my RSS reader to the end, and actually get through my email without having to take a break.  It’s quite refreshing really.

I haven’t forgotten about this little space in the interim though.  I have a stack of articles piled on my desk that are simply chock-full of great information for everyone, and I’ll be going through them over the next day or so and getting everything ready to fly.  I plan to start the year by having at least 10 articles ready to go in the queue at all times, so that these unfortunate gaps in release stop happening.  It annoys the heck out of me, and I’m sure that it’s not doing much for you, either.

Another goal for the new year is to never, ever have a sponsored article as my primary post for the day.  The last thing I put forth will be something of interest to writers, and will be worth the visit, period.  if I can’t manage that and put up information that’s going to either make your life easier, make you think or make you laugh, I won’t put up that paid post at all.  After all, you’re here to read about writing, right?

For now, I’m off to take a quick break. (That cold hasn’t let go of me completely, at least not yet.) then I’m diving in.

I hope the winter hasn’t slammed you all as badly as it’s gotten me.

Because of some good sleuthing by the ladies over at Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books, Cassie Edwards is in the middle of a maelstrom. The gals originally posted several passages from Miss Edward’s books that bore a very close resemblance (O.K., can we say a nearly word-for-word resemblance) to descriptions given in several works of non-fiction regarding the customs and practices of native American peoples. This post has gone from a blog issue to a full blown media storm. To say the least, it’s what everyone in the writing world is talking about.

Signet Books, Miss Edwards’ publisher, has released several statements. Though they seemed to be a bit on the wishy-washy side of things at the beginning of this matter, they have now stated that they will review all of Miss Edwards’ works that they represent. I’ll leave you to read their official comments on the news, or at the Smart Bitches site.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the research done. Miss Edwards has definitely taken previous printed material and used it nearly verbatim. While there may be no copyright infringement in the case of some texts which were published in the early 1900’s, there probably is a valid legal case for the use of newer printed materials.

Regardless of the legal aspects, plagiarism is simply not ethical.The original authors were not credited for their work. Instead of using these materials as valid research tools, then finding her own words to put forth her interpretations, Miss Edwards simply did what most failing high school students do. She copied her essay out of the encyclopedia.

I am very interested to see how the publishing world handles this issue and will be following this quite closely. Expect to hear more on the subject over the next few weeks.

This post is long overdue, but the holidays and other projects have kept me busier than I care to admit over the past few weeks.  Now that the new year is firmly upon us, the normal flow of writing can be put back to the fore. I’m stepping back to the plate with new energy and a drive to do more than I’ve done in the past year.

Let’s get ready for a fun ride, shall we?