Plagiarism--let's blame the publisher? SAY WHAT?

(FYI--in this post, as with all the posts on this blog, I'm speaking only on behalf of myself, not Carina Press. Nor am I speaking on behalf of the publisher in question, though I used to be an editor for this e-publisher. Just being upfront.)


It seems like every few months, we're hearing about another plagiarism scandal. The most recent one floating around the blogosphere involves a person who allegedly plagiarized an author who I understand is beloved and well-known in that particular genre. I'm not going to mention specifics at this point because as far as I know, there hasn't been an official declaration of plagiarism yet. But once there is (and I'm pretty sure I heard it's in the works), I'll come back and tweak this with details.


The publisher of the plagiarizing author in question has, as far as I've heard, withdrawn the book and is pursuing a suit against the author.


Lots of people are throwing out lots of opinions on how things should be handled--to be expected during something like this, for sure. But one thing I've noticed is that some people are blaming the publisher (if not in full, at least in part) for the plagiarism. Those people indicate the publisher should have caught it before it was released.


Frankly, I'm disappointed and frustrated that people are blaming the publisher. Really? So every single editor in the publishing universe is supposed to intimately and thoroughly know every single book that's ever been published or produced since the dawn of time, so we can recognize, or at least suspect, when we get a plagiarized work?


To be all-encompassing, that means we would have to know, thoroughly enough to identify when plagiarism occurs, the following kinds of works:

• traditionally published books
• self-published books
• vanity press books
• books that were hand-written before the printing press was invented
• ebooks
• books that had a minimal print run (e.g., 1-2 copies), like my Master's thesis, or my first e-pubbed novel, haha
• books that were published in every other country in the world
• translations of the books that were published in every other country in the world
• books that were published in the past but are currently "out of print" or unavailable
• books that are currently "in print"
• and more!

Okay, that seems a little goofy and excessive, yes? I barely have time to eat some days, much less read (to my everlasting woe). While I'd love to be that familiar, I can't possibly remember every. single. thing. I read. I just can't. The human brain isn't wired that way. Nor could I ever hope to make even a tiny dent in what has been published. Not that I won't die trying, haha.


So, let's look at the other approach being offered up by those who would hold the publisher accountable for plagiarized works: editors/publisher should to take every manuscript acquired (and I assume do the same for works already published?) and run it through a database or Google or whatever to catch plagiarism pre-emptively, before the work is released.


While this isn't a bad idea (and in fact, as a prof I can use this--the school offers databases that store some student papers), it's just not anywhere near possible right now. Did you read the types of books there are out there in my above bulleted list? haha. What kind of database could possibly be created that will hold the FULL, SEARCHABLE TEXT of every single one of these publishing formats in that list, PLUS appropriately translate foreign works into the appropriate language needed, INCLUDING works that haven't yet been digitized? 


I'm amazed at the power some seem to think publishers have. Do people grasp the scope of how many books have been published in the past, present, and will be in the future? How MASSIVE this database would have to be, to scan a manuscript against every single word in every single book ever created? How LONG it would take to run a single manuscript through this database?

Editors try to be as well-read as possible (I shovel in as many books as I can when I'm not working on a manuscript--not because I have to, but because I love books like oxygen), but it's impossible for us to catch everything. It's never going to happen. Publishers aren't gods or machines--they're run by people trying to do the best they can.


Authors sign contracts when their work is acquired, PROMISING the work is their own original creation. Are we supposed to assume every author is lying, then? Why even make them sign a contract with that stipulation if we just assume they're all lying? In fact, why acquire authors at all--isn't that too dangerous, given that they could be lying about the origin of their works? Why not just find a stable of people we deem trustworthy, lock them in a room with no internet or other books or any other source material to prevent even accidental plagiarism, and make them write for us?


How far do publishers have to go?


The above proposal is ridiculous, of course--giving extreme examples is what I do best, haha. But my point is, editors and publishers generally do the best they can to provide high-quality work to readers. Stop holding them accountable for authors who are too lazy to do their own creative work.


See, that's why it's good that readers are paying attention--you guys catch things we can't possibly know, because you guys love books as much as (if not more than, sometimes!) we do. That's why I view this more as us working TOGETHER on things like this. Not publishers vs readers. When you suspect plagiarism, research it. Send that proof to the editor or publisher. That's the stuff that gets this plagiarized crap off the streets.



But stop vilifying the wrong people.

Superheroes galore--my adult novel Super Zero is out!

So, make sure to ch-ch-ch-check it out! It's on Amazon. Don't have a Kindle or e-book reader? No worries! Download the free app HERE to read Amazon ebooks on your PC, Mac, smart phone, etc.


It's also on Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks! You can read an excerpt HERE. 


And now, a book blurb: 




Working for superheroes isn't all it's cracked up to be... 

Jenna Peterson, personal assistant to the number-one Midwest superhero The Machine, is thrilled to safeguard the changing crystal, a jewel that grants or changes superpowers. It's supposed to be a cake job, earning her street cred with The League. But someone out there wants the crystal, badly. Can she trust Vigilante, the hot, grumpy hero assigned to help her?

And the word of the day is "creepy"

It's that time of the year when I like to post the most unusual search terms people use to find my blog. And let me tell you, there's some fun ones in here! And some scary ones.

--"single mom writer" -- That's actually kind of cool. Go, single moms!

--"creepy songs about young girls" -- Really? Uh, why??

--"creepy crazy singing with creepy eyes" -- Okay, honestly I have no idea what this even means.

--"father figure creepy" -- I hope you're talking about the song. *eyes someone out there suspiciously*

--"creepy insane music" -- Sensing a theme, guys? How many people used "creepy" to find me? haha

--"stupid" -- Well. I don't even know what to say about that. Meanie.

--"teen angst, activate" -- hahahahahahahahahaha

--"loveline 3000" -- This is rad. It's the made-up device Felicity uses in my Stupid Cupid series.

--"Rhonda Stableton" -- So, so close. And yet, not quite right. le sigh

--"pregnancy workshops in cleveland oh" -- Uhhhhhh....????

Well, regardless of how you find my blog, I hope you stick around and keep reading! Lots of whacky adventures await you. haha

Super Zero excerpt

Woohoo! Here's an excerpt from Super Zero, my superhero romantic comedy that'll be releasing soon. I hope you enjoy:


The bell jingled when the door opened. We stepped into the brightly lit room, where suits and dresses and clothes were strung up in the background. The room itself was immaculately clean.

“Who is it?” a delicate voice called from the back.

“Mrs. Wong, it’s Jenna,” I said. “I’m here to get The Machine’s uniform. Is it ready?”

“Be right there,” she replied.

A moment later, Mrs. Wong popped up in front of the counter. She had to be no bigger than four feet tall, and she was dressed from head to toe in a tiny pink jumpsuit.

The look on Vigilante’s face almost made me giggle. His eyes were popped wide open, his dark eyebrows shooting straight up into his hairline. I could tell exactly what he was thinking—Mrs. Wong didn’t look strong enough to physically carry a suit, much less run a whole store by herself.

She eyed Vigilante up and down. “What you looking at?” she asked, hostility rippling through her voice. She bared her teeth, revealing teeny fangs no bigger than my pinky nail.

He jerked back, startled. I’d felt the same way when I’d first met Mrs. Wong. She had some kind of morphing powers, but only used them to protect her thriving business. Pretty much every superhero in the district frequented her store. In fact, I bet she even got business from several local villains. Not that she’d tell, of course. Discretion came with the territory.

Personally, I’d give anything to know how she got all those stains out of spandex.

“He’s okay,” I said to her. “The league hired him to protect me.”

“You need protection? You ask me.” She pushed out her chest and poked one little finger toward it. “I win kung fu competition twice in nineteen seventy-four.”

I bit back a smile. “You got it. If ‘tough guy’ here doesn’t work out,” I said, thumbing in his direction, “I’ll call you.”

Mrs. Wong glanced at Vigilante again then dismissed him with her eyes. “Anyway, I get your clothes.” She disappeared into the back, reappearing a second later with The Machine’s uniform in a bag. “Anything else?”

“Thanks, that’s it,” I replied, taking the bag with my free hand. “Just put it on the tab.”

“Yes, okay. Bye-bye,” Mrs. Wong said, her face deceptively angelic.

I almost felt bad for people stupid enough to wander into her lair thinking she was an easy hit—she’d probably tear them up and feed them their own asses.

We left, me snickering behind my hand. I slipped the cooler onto the floorboard and draped the dry cleaning bag across into the back seat then got in the driver’s seat.

“She’s…feisty.” Vigilante folded his long, muscular body into the passenger side again.

“I think she likes you,” I replied, laughing. I tucked myself into the driver’s seat, turning the car on.

“I don’t think she likes anyone,” he mumbled under his breath, “except you.”

“Better not get on her bad side then.” I went to shift the car into reverse, but a loud thud on the back of my trunk froze the car in place.

I slammed it back into park. “Oh God, what—”

Vigilante flew out of his seat and dashed to the back of the car, not waiting to hear the rest of my sentence. I spun around, trying to see through the back window. Two punks stood there in matching dark green spandex, greasy-haired and openly derisive.

“Oh, lookie here,” the blond one said in a loud voice, baring his teeth in an exaggerated fashion so everyone in the free world could see his gums. “This little girl’s got a protector. Well, listen, I’ll take you down, and then I’ll get her. You won’t stop me from completing my mission.”

“That’s right,” the black-haired guy said. He dramatically threw back his head and laughed. “You’re mine, sucka.”

These were guys sent to get the crystal? They sounded like they’d gone through Captain Kirk’s Superhero School for Overactors. But like with Mrs. Wong, appearances could be deceiving, so maybe it’d behoove me not to underestimate them.

I rolled down my window. “What’s going on?” I called out to Vigilante. “Should I come out?”

“Stay in the car,” he called back to me. “I’ll handle this.” I saw the bottom of his trenchcoat flap lightly around his ankles as he stood in the parking lot. He made a formidable picture, standing tall and proud in the stark yellow streetlight, blocking my car from them. I was suddenly glad he was on my side.

With a speed I wouldn’t have guessed possible, the black-haired guy threw a series of knives toward Vigilante’s face.

Holy crap, this was no game.

My heart stopped, and I watched as Vigilante dodged out of the way with super speed, left-right-left-right. The knives sailed safely past his head, clanging into the dry cleaner’s brick wall and falling to the ground.

The blond guy ran toward Vigilante, who deftly grabbed him by the lapel, pulling him up close to his face. “Like flying?” Vigilante asked.

Before the blond could reply, Vigilante threw him across the parking lot. It had to be a fifty-foot toss. Blondie screamed as he soared through the air, his cries echoing down the otherwise silent street.

“What is going on out here?” Mrs. Wong appeared in the doorway, her high voice somehow cutting through the blond guy’s screams.

The black-haired guy had taken off, nowhere to be seen. No doubt the smart move—crossing Vigilante, or even Mrs. Wong, didn’t seem like the best idea.

I ran out of the car toward her, shaking and breathless. “Oh my God, Mrs. Wong, these two guys—”

“I handled it,” Vigilante said, staring hard at Mrs. Wong. He added, “Jenna’s safe.”

She eyed him up and down then nodded slowly. “Better be.” She swaggered back into her shop, looking like a tiny cowboy in hot pink.

“Get back in the car,” he said to me. “It’s okay now.”

Before I could stop myself I ran over and hugged him tight. “Thank you,” I whispered, pressing my face against his chest. Even though I worked for Mason, I wasn’t around when he was fighting baddies, so it was scary watching Vigilante in action and worrying, hoping he’d be okay.

He froze then hugged me back. But just for a moment.

Plot vs Theme--what's the difference?

I've decided to start doing a regular series on the craft of writing, giving my perspective on how to develop your own skills. As a writer, editor and teacher I have developed my own methodology for analyzing, implementing and teaching different elements of writing, style, etc. I hope these tips will help you enrich your own writing.

Or, if you're a reader, I hope it helps add a new layer to enjoying the stories you buy.

I think I've mentioned before on here that I teach English composition at a local college. In our English 1010 class we discuss short stories--analyzing meaning, looking at the elements that make up a story, etc. One of the things we talk about is plot vs. theme. A lot of students get confused at that part and wonder what the difference is in the two.

So, let's talk about it!

Plot:

The plot is the series of focused events that happen in your story, building toward a climax and resolving at the end in an emotionally satisfying way (well, we hope, right? hah). In your plot, you're only going to show events that are relevant to the main issue. You're not going to talk about EVERY single little thing the characters do, like brushing teeth, putting on shoes, going to the bathroom, etc.--you only show the scenes that move the story forward by revealing something new about the characters, or illuminating a new piece of the plot puzzle, or even complicating the plot, for example.

Your plot generally centers around the fact that your character has a goal, has a reason for wanting that goal, but there's a conflict or problem that keeps him/her from getting the goal.

One fantastic resource I recommend for developing plot (and character at the same time, since the two are so greatly intertwined) is Deb Dixon's Goal, Motivation and Conflict--it spells things out very nicely with tons of great examples. I can't sing its praises enough.

Theme:

The theme is the overall message of your story. There are scads of themes out there, which often tend to be universal, like "love conquers all," or "death cannot be escaped," or "growing up is difficult" or "blood is thicker than water" or "revenge is harmful to everyone" or "salvation is found in love."

For each theme (like "salvation is found in love", for example), there are a variety of different plots you can use to illuminate this message. For example--in Jane Eyre, you could say that Mr. Rochester's story shows how salvation is found in love. It's Jane's love that saves him after he's blinded by his mentally ill first wife when she burns down the house and generally makes a hot mess of his life.

Or, to show this theme in a different plot, maybe a heroine is saved through love because she'd closed herself off and has to learn to open up and trust before she gets too hard and bitter and can't be "saved."

Or, the plot could even be about father/son love--the father is saved from his increasingly obsessive focus on material goods or work or whatever because of the love his son has for him.

Overall, your theme shows an often universal concept/message that gives your plot purpose and meaning.

There are lots of books about theme out there, so check them out and see what works for you!

* * *

Interestingly (or confusingly?) enough, you can have numerous themes within one plot. Looking at Jane Eyre again, we mentioned how "salvation is found in love" could be a theme. It could also be "love conquers all". It could also be "never settle for less than what you deserve," which Jane exemplifies through her stubborn insistence on getting what she feels is right, even when getting lots of flack (and of course, she's rewarded at the end by getting it).

So, I hope that helps. You can have multiple themes within one story. You can have a variety of different stories that all illuminate the same theme.

When I write, I try to think about the overall theme I want to get across in my novel and how the plot can reflect that. When I edit, I try to determine what I think is the theme and see if the story shows that in the strongest way possible.

Any questions? Dish 'em up. I'm happy to answer!