Please Don’t Feed the Writer

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.

I’ve seen it on more than one discussion forum and heard it mentioned in coffee shops I frequent. People, especially freelance writers or journalists are quick to condemn bloggers. the battle cry is that “bloggers are not writers!”

Please, people, get real.

I am a blogger. Today I wrote, spell checked, grammar checked and published over 3,000 words. Those words are not rushing off to an editor, they are not sitting in a slush pile somewhere. Those words have already been seen, and comments have been made on them.

Perhaps there are writing purists that believe that bloggers are less talented, or that we, for some reason, do not live up to their standards. but I wholeheartedly and with great vigor refute the claim that we are not writers. many of us are quite prolific. some write consistently more in one day than the greatest of novelists.

We write. It’s our identity. Please step off of your soapbox now, an I shall step off mine.