LJ Idol, Week 30: "Involuntary Theft"

[dslartoo]

One of the really hellish things about being a voracious reader is that it invariably colors your own writing whenever you put pen to paper yourself

Comments

[alycewilson]

It's an age-old debate. All writers worth their salt are avid readers, which as you said, makes it more likely they will accidentally crib phrases or ideas. I once unknowingly used an image from a fellow grad student's poem in one of my own. Instead of being hurt, she was flattered. :)

[dslartoo]

I suppose it depends on how the writer who had their ideas lifted would feel. I would find it flattering myself, especially if it was just a word or a phrase here and there....it's when you get to lifting whole chunks of text or entire story ideas that I would get leery. Which is why I try and avoid doing this as much as possible.

cheers,
Phil

[alycewilson]

Yes, that falls within the realm of theft, rather than inspiration.

[myrna_bird]

Wow. You skillfully said a lot of things that I have turned over in my own mind time and againwhen I am researching and writing. I found this fascinating and forthright!

[dslartoo]

Thanks! I do try to avoid it whenever possible, as I said, because it just bugs me when I wind up cribbing from someone, even if it's just a phrase and even if it's completely unaware. I have a packrat mind.

Thanks for chiming in!

cheers,
Phil