Comments | fangs_fur_fey: A rose by any other name...is still someone else's damn rose

frost_light in fangs_fur_fey

A rose by any other name...is still someone else's damn rose

Jan 14, 2008 14:32

All last week, I watched the news unfold about the Cassie Edwards plagiarism scandal. For those of you who haven't heard of it, you can get the details by going HERE and HERE. For a hilarious, irreverent timeline with opera-themed explanation, go HERE.

Long story short, Mrs. Edwards is an author who was first accused of copying passages from ( Read more... )

writing biz, jeaniene frost

Comments 37

tmthomas January 14 2008, 20:15:01 UTC

I don't really have a good answer. I guess in my personal calculus of cheating, there are two main variables: the identity and the amount.

An author who I really enjoy and who I feel tells good story is more likely to get a pass than someone I'm not familiar with.

Similarly, if the copying is of a relatively limited nature, I'm more likely to get over the initial anger (since I'm an oft-rejected wannabe, but at least use my own words) and check out future books.

I think, to close on a third point, I'd also want to hear a "why"...I may not buy it, but a genuine mea culpa carries a lot of weight in most cases.

green_knight January 14 2008, 20:15:42 UTC

Her actions were despicable. Using a couple of sentences from another source, or using a real-life incident from a memoir in a novel is something I could live with. I'd very very very much like the author to have a note at the back saying 'and thanks to Snoopy for his invaluable advice' but if they fail to do that, *once*, I might forgive them ( ... )

mary_j_59 January 14 2008, 20:25:42 UTC

I'm jumping in from R.J. Anderson's livejournal (procrastinating, I'm afraid!) My initial reaction was: ugh! plagiarism is theft and lying, and both those things are very wrong.

But then I read the examples you gave, and two other books came to mind, one a massively popular and influential work of fiction (The Clan of the Cave Bear and one a book I simply love, by a world-famous author (The Inheritors by William Golding ( ... )

swan_tower January 14 2008, 22:25:14 UTC

Use of factual information from a nonfiction source doesn't have to be cited. I do, however, happen to think it's nice: both as a credit to those whose work helped you, and as a pointer for readers who want to know more. The degree of importance I assign to that credit depends on how central the factual info is. If something you read in a book about Neadertals gave rise to the entire idea for your story, then I'd like to know that.

mary_j_59 January 15 2008, 01:03:35 UTC

Thank you! That makes sense, and also reassures me about Sir Willian Golding (I think they knighted him, didn't they?) The Inheritors is just an amazing piece of writing, and his main concerns, and most imaginative ideas, are clearly his own ( ... )

casaubon January 14 2008, 20:27:54 UTC

Plagiarism is unethical, lazy & dumb but it's hardly an unforgivable crime.

I think it depends on the extent of the plagiarism. Copying (or paraphrasing, like some of the examples) a dozen sentences or paragraphs in a 400 page book will mean that the vast majority of the story (the characters & plot & 99.9% of the prose) is hers. If I enjoyed the author's work I'd give them another shot, assuming that they had any more published.

Much more than that and I probably wouldn't give them another chance.

rj_anderson January 14 2008, 20:28:55 UTC

1. Not unforgivable, but it is apt to make me skeptical of that author's originality thereafter, and color my ability to enjoy his/her work on its own merits.

2. Yes, if it were recommended to me by someone whose judgment I trusted, assuring me that the former plagiarist's new work really was terrific -- and original. I'd check it out from the library first, though.

Also, that opera-themed summary is the most hilarious thing I've seen in weeks. Thanks for linking to it.

rj_anderson January 14 2008, 20:55:07 UTC

Since I have never read Ms. Edwards' books, in her case, the question is moot. But since I don't even buy books that resemble the story, characters or worldbuilding from another author, I imagine my answer would be that I would not buy a book from an author that has broken my trust by plagiarism...unless it was a case of plain stupidity or unintentional usage. Clearly in the case of Ms. Edwards it was not stupidity or ignorance because she was copying verbatim.

For example, I never bought a Janet Dailey book again.

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