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How to Write a Book: What is Plagiarism?

I hear two questions more and more these days. If there’s nothing new under the sun, who can say what plagiarism is? If there are basically three story archetypes doesn't it follow that every new story just riffs on the same old plots?* 

You can look at creating a story through that myopic lens, but why would you choose to? In order for your book to be unique, you need to create something different even if it has echoes of familiarity. That's the craft of writing! In romance, The Princess Bride isn't the same as Outlander, but you could create an exhaustive list of things they have in common. For one thing, Outlander is eye-wateringly violent and infamous for its graphic and prolonged rape triggers.

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work as your own and it is a crime. You know if you're stealing someone's characters and plot. But we humans are ingenious. And if you're a writer, you've got quite a reservoir of creativity in you. If you're looking for inspiration,  go ahead and reach for your favorite story and let it inspire your imagination.  Treat it like a Rubik's cube. Give it a few spins in different directions. What would happen if it was set in a different time or universe? What if he were a she with more backbone and what if she didn't want X... It's a fun game. If you write something wholly your own but with a nod to someone else's story, your audience often applauds it as an homage.

My editor kept her eye out for anything "familiar" and even flagged a sentence she thought was similar to a line in an old movie. Legally or even ethically I don't think you have to go that far. But speaking of ethics, I recommend steering clear of describing characters that are obviously real people. Yes, even if they're a celebrity. They're real people and even if you don't use their name, if your character is recognizable as them it's legally hazardous to you.

Ultimately writing a book is a creative process and someone eager to undertake that process is not someone to steal content or likenesses. They know that when their book gets out into the big wide world that they don't want anyone stealing from them.

-- Anna Erikssön Bendewald 


*That is such a limiting question I can't dignify it with a response.



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