Always Give Credit: How to Cite Works from the Spirit World

[zizi_west]

One of my librarian colleagues received this question a few days ago, not me, but I was curious enough to research it (librarians LOVE questions like this).  Have you ever wondered how to cite books or other published materials dictated to a human medium?  As this blog post from the APA (American Psychological Association) Style Blog explains, it's

Comments

[spockchick]

This is, with certainty, the best citation instruction I have ever read.

Zizi, you rule!

[zizi_west]

Awww, thank you! I actually enjoy citations & research & thinking about access. Frequently I have to teach library patrons how to cite things and it's always fun for me (hopefully for them as well). One good exercise: ask people to write a citation for their own work, or to think about why they need a Creative Commons license, etc.

I await the day when someone actually asks an even more unusual citation question!

[browngirl]

*makes a note*

[zizi_west]

Maybe it will come in handy someday? Someone might ask, you never know. :)

[linstock]

Excellent...I can't wait to use this!

[zizi_west]

Glad to know that the info may be useful! None of my work writing provides me with an opportunity to use it, but some day the opportunity may arise.

[linstock]

Can't you just see this in a Spock/Uhura fic. Either Spock is faced with having to cite a "spirit source" in some research and struggles mightily with the illogic of the situation. Or perhaps Uhura uses just such a citation in an assignment and Spock (a) think the reference has no value and (b) thinks she thinks she's messed up the citation ... but no! She tumps his Vulcan logical and skepticism sparking his real interest and ...well the rest is history. *grin* I swear i can turn anything into a Spock/Uhura fic!

[zizi_west]

Hey, that's a great story idea! You've created a perfect conundrum for Spock: he's got to grapple with the idea of something logical like citations applied to the human activity of mediumship. Nyota would enjoy the problem-solving & the opportunity to engage Spock in some amusing conversation. If you write this fic I will happily read it -- I enjoy most fiction that includes letters, mock citations, or any satirical use of "real-world", quotidian writing.

[lurkch]

Heh, I've puzzled how to cite some things ... but never this. Good to know though. :D

[zizi_west]

I'm tempted to try to work this into fiction writing just so that I have an excuse to cite something unusual! None of my work writing provides opportunities for something like this.