Welcome to my webjournal. Here you'll often find my ramblings, rantings, or just an observance or two. Enjoy your stay, and I'd love to hear from you!
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Background by Tspaar
Sleepy
Why oh why did I get up at such an ungodly hour?!First the honor. I was both surprised and delighted to be named as one of the winners of Kate Rothwell's 55 Words or Less Flash Fiction contest. 
This was my entry for anyone who hasn't read through the many many wonderful submissions.
The Letter
She fingered the unopened envelope. Now dog-eared, smudged, and soggy from tears, the writing was difficult to read.
Opening it meant returning to his world. She missed so many things about him.
Scrawling the necessary words over the address, she slipped it into the waiting mailbox.
"Return to sender."
She did not miss his pain...
It was my first attempt at Flash Fiction, formerly unknown to me. She may hold future contests, so be on the lookout to enter! I'll surely post about it here to remind anyone interested.
Now, for the frustration. Hoosier's entry of 8/25/04 "Cheaters never win, not sure about forgers..." brought to mind something that's been stewing in me for a loooooong time. Copy cats, thieves, plagiarists. Call it what you will.
Other than my original work of fiction (which is a historical romance, if my muse ever cooperates), all my works have been set in a particular fandom based on the characters portrayed by Oded Fehr. He's a very talented actor, and two particular characters have inspired me to write over 27 works of fanfiction (most of which you can find at www.fanfiction.net -- there's a link here in my journal if anyone's interested).
As with most fandoms, there are a myriad of writers and most run in the same crowds within that fandom. I've made so many friends this way, and I am honored in knowing these people. Some are fellow writers, some readers, and one particular beta to whom I owe more to than I could put into words.
So wherein this ramble lies the frustration? Those 'writers' within a certain fandom who cannot seem to think for themselves. First, let me make perfectly clear that I understand there will be similarities in many plots. For example -- boy meets girl, boy hates girl or vice versa, boy falls in love with girl or vice versa, and after much angst and, hopefully adventure, boy and girl get together. End of story, yadda yadda yadda. Yep, I get that.
Have you ever had certain elements of you story "lifted", as a friend of mine might say? I have. It is not a good feeling. Is it just my imagination playing tricks on me? Perhaps. But when others point out these similarities to my stories, then perhaps it is not just an overactive imagination.
For the most part, the stories in question have been changed enough, or morphed into a perversion I would not touch with a ten foot pole, but certain elements stick out like a sore thumb. You see, I have a long running series of fics with a certain couple. One of their patented quirks is that the female has a particular pet name for the lead character. They also speak French to each other in their sappier moments. I have recently seen this same thing in another's fic. The exact same pet name and the speaking French in what that author considers 'pillow talk'. Same male lead -- one of Oded's characters.
You'll have to forgive me if this example seems rather petty of me. You see, this particular series is very near and dear to me. ALL of my stories are close to my heart because they are a labor of love, but this series is special. I put my heart and soul into this couple, and to see their special connection appear in someone else's fic in the same fandom churns my stomach.
I've also had two of Oded's characters join together in this series. Mistaken identity was used as a plot device, which led to a world of hurt for the 'newcomer'. Shortly after this particular fic was posted, a friend of mine had been in a chat where a story idea was mentioned by this same 'author' involved in the above occurance. When my friend spoke out how similar this story idea was to the story I'd posted, this said 'author's' resonse was..."It's not posted at so & so (ed. note -website not named to protect wonderful webmistress), so it's fair game." Trust me, I waited and waited for this story to be posted. Once it was, there was the element of mistaken itdenity, but the circumstances and relationship to the characters was changed enough for me not to care a whole bunch. Plus, the story sucked.
Then there was the case of a sweet and poignant piece written in a particular format from a special point of view. Now, this format is not in question here. I did not 'invent' it, nor will I even begin to take credit. However, when a 'similar' fic emerged with certain detail the same (origin of character, meeting at a museum, a particular industry, even down the the father's name being the same), I nearly choked on my oatmeal. Many people wrote to me about it, expressing their outrage, but as the fic progressed, it morphed into something unspeakable.
The last instance I'll mention, since by now I must sound like a babbling simp, regarded a time travel fic. In this fic, I disclaimed up front my inspiration was a movie I had seen called "The Love Letter". The fic was loosely based on it, borrowing the premise of exchanging letters through a mystical vortex in time. Nothing else was borrowed save the setting for the last scene in a graveyard. Dialogue and circumstances were changed completely. One day, I stumble upon a post at another message board where someone is taking a poll on which story she should write first. Well, to be honest, both storylines mirrored two of my stories. The more prominent was the one involving the letters. I said as much on the message board. The woman (and this is a different person than mentioned previously) fully admitted it was 'borrowed' from my story and that she had a different take on it. My response was simple. If you wish to borrow, just ask and give credit from where the idea came. The whole reason behind my disclaimer about what inspired my fic. I was not about to take credit where it was not due!
There have been a couple other instances, but I think I've ranted enough.
Cheers! and as always, thanks for reading. 
I was all ready to comment and I made the mistake of reading Ali's comment first and can't stop laughing at his solution. I bet a kick in the nuts would do wonders for the plagerism problems,lol :)
On a brighter note I would like to say congrats on winning! 
Well, I agree with a lot of the comments here, and I know how hard it is when someone tries to steal your work.
Having heard and witnessed to what Dream has eluded to in her entry, I agree with Ali, Hoosier and Danica...kill them all. 
Problem is the worst offender would come back named Kay...or Fay...and no, I'm not bad. I'm evil. 
hey on the lighter side on sunday i wrote a post called "who will lead me into the heart of God". loosely based on a short tome in the "magical monastery". lucky star wrote back "oh a short version or synopsis of "franny and zooey" a movie i've never seen. maybe that collective consiousness that "Jung" wrote about is real. i say STOP MIND SHARING NOW!!!!! JMO this is not meant to demean the other opinions. only meant to bring a little levity to the problem. of course as all of you who come see me know i don't make my living as a writer. 
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