Thursday, May 28, 2009

Will Someone Steal My Work?

Quite often in the forums I frequent someone will ask, "Is it safe to post work online for feedback? How do I know someone won't steal my story?" Recently, I received the same question from a potential client of CROSSxCHECKING.

It was easy enough to back up my own assurances. If an editing service were to steal clients' work and try to pass it off as their own, word would spread over the Internet like wildfire, and that service would soon go out of business. But what about all those online writer's groups and forums and classes where writers post for feedback? Unlike the old days when a handful of people would meet each week around someone's dining room table, these days literally thousands of people can view unpublished work in forums. Yet I belong to several large online writing communities, and I have never heard one person complain about posted work being stolen from them or anyone else. Why isn't it more prevalent?

It's funny when you think about it. Cyber-theft would be so easy. These people come along and view your work using aliases. They can drop out, disappear. You've never seen them, couldn't pick them out in a lineup. You wouldn't even know they'd read your work and then, months later you'd find it in print or online under another name. Yet it never happens.

I'd like to say it's due largely to ethics, but, in fact, I think it is more to do with conceit. While we may support our friends who are writers, root for them, even share the joy when they succeed, in workshops, online classes, or feedback forums, we generally convince ourselves that we're a cut above the rabble. Why steal something with so little chance of ever getting published?

Even in those rare cases when we can't deny a certain writer in the group is a standout, we'll decide they don't do dialogue as well as we do or that one particular character is a little flat. Why would we want to pass someone's work off as our own when, good as it might be, it lacks our distinctive voice and style? Why cheat our way in, when we are perfectly certain we can get there on our own and, when we do, our public will demand more of the same, not the schlock other people write.

New writers, I assure you, it is perfectly safe to post your work for feedback in online forums. No one will even think of stealing it––probably not even your idea. Not because it isn't good, but because every writer will see hers as better.

4 comments:

Angie Ledbetter said...

I've never had unfinished work posted somewhere on the Net stolen, but I have found several instances where published articles and essays were used without permission. Google alerts help to let you know when your name or title has appeared somewhere, but what about the unethical pubs/folks who use your stuff without attribution or change the title? Ug!

CashewElliott/John said...

Yeah, I think no point in worrying. I plan to write 100 stories; I'll donate 1 to some lame-o for the advantage of being in a writing group. But still, I don't think it will ever happen. Most people know they can't really make money off a story, so there is no point in stealing it.

Unknown said...

Angie,

I agree, far bigger problem. Like when someone reproduces an entire interview or book review instead of linking to it.

Cashew,

Good point. Why steals something that isn't worth any money?

Michelle D. Argyle said...

I never thought of it this way, but I think you're right. I'm more worried about my ideas being stolen than anything, but even that fear is not very big. I don't keep my work posted for a long time, though. Like my story that won Angie's contest - I'll take that down after awhile. I just don't want it all over if I get it published.

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