And Poof, She’s Gone
Some may have heard about the plagiarist at Survival Instinct, Charlotte 2323. She’d been merrily using the plots of other writers’ fics and/or weaving other fics’ details/scenes into her own stories. When called on it in reviews a few times, she’d pulled down a couple of chapters and even copped to it once, but otherwise, carried on for months.
I sent her a PM outlining all her plagiarism* and asking that she credit the authors in her author’s notes, or if she didn’t believe this meant she was a plagiarist, we could turn this over to stop_plagiarism for judgment. This was mid-morning my time on Labor Day and by early evening, all her fics and membership was gone from SI, which is a common plagiarist move when contacted.
First, I’m asking fellow A/R shippers to keep an eye out. It’s not uncommon for a plagiarist, having tasted the sweet candy that is someone else’s earned feedback, to return. I’ve already noticed some interesting new member’s names at SI. (She doesn’t appear to have an account on either LJ or Fanfiction.net) So watch for a new writer posting fic rapidly, probably ripping off poor Louis Ellis, apparently her favorite writer.
Second, pass word to her victims that she’s gone for now. Some writers will see this on my f-list, but I don’t know everyone.
*bsg_aussiegirl did the legwork because I couldn’t bear to read this person’s atrocious writing. Thanks to aussie for taking one for the team! She was able to identify herself, Louis Ellis, Escapedvelocity, Katamarann, Captain’s Quarters, and Cavgirl. There were probably more but those are the main ones that jumped out.
And now a bit of my opinion. It’s not egotism to think it’s wrong for someone to steal your ideas and to call them on it. Yeah, if you’ve written a certain amount, been around long enough, you’re going to see some of your stuff popping up here and there in other writers' stories. But consistently, from the same person? Writers work too damn hard for someone else to take the praise and credit. Readers deserve honest writing. Moderators need to be respected for all their hard work. Otherwise, we’re not truly a community.
I sent her a PM outlining all her plagiarism* and asking that she credit the authors in her author’s notes, or if she didn’t believe this meant she was a plagiarist, we could turn this over to stop_plagiarism for judgment. This was mid-morning my time on Labor Day and by early evening, all her fics and membership was gone from SI, which is a common plagiarist move when contacted.
First, I’m asking fellow A/R shippers to keep an eye out. It’s not uncommon for a plagiarist, having tasted the sweet candy that is someone else’s earned feedback, to return. I’ve already noticed some interesting new member’s names at SI. (She doesn’t appear to have an account on either LJ or Fanfiction.net) So watch for a new writer posting fic rapidly, probably ripping off poor Louis Ellis, apparently her favorite writer.
Second, pass word to her victims that she’s gone for now. Some writers will see this on my f-list, but I don’t know everyone.
*bsg_aussiegirl did the legwork because I couldn’t bear to read this person’s atrocious writing. Thanks to aussie for taking one for the team! She was able to identify herself, Louis Ellis, Escapedvelocity, Katamarann, Captain’s Quarters, and Cavgirl. There were probably more but those are the main ones that jumped out.
And now a bit of my opinion. It’s not egotism to think it’s wrong for someone to steal your ideas and to call them on it. Yeah, if you’ve written a certain amount, been around long enough, you’re going to see some of your stuff popping up here and there in other writers' stories. But consistently, from the same person? Writers work too damn hard for someone else to take the praise and credit. Readers deserve honest writing. Moderators need to be respected for all their hard work. Otherwise, we’re not truly a community.