Monday, November 8, 2010

Melissa's Myths for Mondays

If Other Writers or Agents Read Your Work They Will Steal It


I used to worry like crazy that if someone read my work, they would see my brilliant idea and think, ah ha, that’s a great idea, I’m going to write a book just like that. For the most part I’ve let go of that idea. While obviously no one can write the same story I would, or even really steal my plots, there are a few things I like to keep close to the vest. Because let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than having a flash of brilliance and then seeing it show up in someone else’s book, even if you never made your idea public.

Anyway, I’ve gotten over the idea that people are going to steal my ideas.

Do you ever worry that someone will steal your ideas and use them in their books? Have you ever found your sparks of brilliance in someone else’s published book?.

5 comments:

  1. Hi! My first time on you very pink blog with an adorable kitty on the side bar! Awww!

    Anyway!! Oh goodness I still get paranoid that someone would steal my ideas but these days I tell myself that most ideas for novels have been thought of already and I probably subconsciously and unconsciously stole my one from a concept I've read over the generations. I also remind myself that I;m not that wonderful and to so get over it already! LOL!

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do worry. I have had people steal my work before verbatim (including a dedication), claim it as their own, and published on the net. It sucks. These articles were not creative, they were educational, but it still stung. When that happen, you have to contact the owner and the web host. Which stinks too because you have to be a meany. And who wants to be a meany?

    You may have noticed that I have flash fiction on my site/blog. I have it there to (hopefully) entice people with my style and have them keep on the lookout for a really live book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rationally, I know that there's a very small likelihood of someone stealing my work.

    On the other hand, there's nothing like paranoia to keep a writer whippersnapper sharp.

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes.. I have the same fear, even though I know it's almost impossible because no one other person can WRITE like you... but nevertheless... I still worry.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Holly, that really stinks. I wouldn't worry a bit about being a meany if someone stole my work.

    Like I said, I still play some things close to the vest, because you never know who you can really trust.

    ReplyDelete