Welcome back to Artistry With Words. Today is June 14th and I’m glad you decided to join me.
Check out the quote below. Don’t you just love it! The topic is plagiarism, one most of us know something about. Not that I suspect any of you of plagiarism, but I do suspect most of you have been victims of it.
I guess if we have had our work stolen it is a form of flattery, but in this case I would rather not be flattered, and I’m with Mr. Smith when he says he simply will not take work from another writer. I have nothing but disrespect for anyone who does that.
Yesterday I had a most wonderful surprise. The editor of an online newspaper asked my permission to print one of my articles. That’s right, he asked my permission, and I gladly gave it to him, and then I told him how much I appreciated him for taking the proper steps before printing the article. He got the article he wanted; I got a byline and exposure; we both won!
Have pride in your work. Even if you do SEO content work for others, do your research but do not copy word for word. The English language is filled with words that can be used in new phrases so you don’t have to copy the work of others. You can borrow ideas but make the writing your own.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I’d rather be caught holding up a bank than stealing so much as a two-word phrase from another writer.”~Jack Smith
I think that about says it all. Why copy someone else’s work when yours might be better with a little effort?
TIP OF THE DAY
If you don’t own a thesaurus then why don’t you? If you don’t use an online thesaurus then why don’t you? These are tools of the trade that will help you greatly as a writer. None of us has an all-encompassing vocabulary, so use the tools that are readily available to you.
BOOK OF THE DAY
That’s right, it’s the Webster’s Thesaurus, online version, and you can find it here.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
I love this picture. I hope it gives you the inspiration you need to move forward and dazzle the world.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Tomorrow might just be your day. I received an email this morning from a writer friend who recently had an article purchased and she was so excited. She had been laboring for months with no recognition and was feeling dejected, and then suddenly she received the good news.
Tomorrow just might be your day, so keep writing and keep submitting and never give up.
SUGGESTION OF THE DAY
I am going to keep saying this until you all hear me and act on it…..find your niche and then pound it home. Establish yourself as an expert in your field and then build your platform. Do you have a tagline yet? Do you even have a niche? If not I fear you are missing the boat, and who knows when that vessel will come back to your port?
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND
Yes, it is Friday and yes, I am excited and no, I will not be doing any writing this weekend. Stick a fork in me because I am done.
Remember that starting next week this blog will appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, thus hopefully freeing me up to accomplish some other things on my to do list.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friends, and thank you for your support.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Awesome, Bill. Congratulations! You’re really flying….. And congrats to your friend, also!
Thanks Sha! It’s no big deal…the big deal was in being asked to use it, and not having it plagiarized. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my friend.
So well deserved Bill and huge congrats to both you and your friend, too!! Have a great weekend now my friend. You totally deserve!! 🙂
Thanks Janine. I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.
About a year ago, I wrote a long article for Constant Content. Someone bought it, then got a refund because they found it elsewhere on the internet. The editors sent me the link, and there it was! As a result, I lost $45. And on CC, they post the article in such a way that you can’t copy and paste it, so the person actually went through the trouble of typing it out! Grrr!
I have a thesaurus in my dock (Mac) and I use it so many times a day, I can’t imagine working without it.
Lizzy, that sucks! I can’t think of any other way to say it more eloquently. LOL……I don’t know how it can be stopped. Online writing is ripe for that type of plagiarism. That’s a hard word to type by the way. 🙂
I’m with you Bill…staling someone’s words is as bad as picking your pocket! I’d never do it. It’s be embarrassed to do something like that!
I have been having Internet issues but I really like your article on metaphors yesterday…read the links too! They were helpful…thanks again! Count comment yesterday so today is progress I suppose:) lol
Thank you Kelly! I visited your blog today but there was no comment section…I was there, though, and loved the pictures of New Orleans.
I don’t know what I would do without my thesaurus! After seeing some of my work copied and posted on other sites, it almost makes you want to give up writing. Thanks for the valuable information, Bill. (aka teaches12345)
Dianna, I would be curious to know how many writers on HP use a thesaurus…..we might be shocked. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by on your Friday evening…have a great weekend.
I use my thesaurus all the time. I have two books and Word has one built into its tools.
Sha, it does not surprise me at all that you use it…good writers do. 🙂
When I have a friend whose words are so inspiring that I start to see light at the tunnel…why worry!
I agree when a writer gets such a surprise, it is esctatic. I wish you success, my friend.
Have a good weekend.
Thank you Ruchira, and I wish you success as well. Have a great weekend.
Hi Bill,
CONGRATS on your article being picked up for an online newspaper! Thrilled for you buddy! I have had a number of hubs “stolen” and put on dodgy sites and it is an awful feeling, I do confess.
I do have to own up and say I do not posses a Thesaurus (yet) which I obviously should have but have checked it out online a fair bit.
Thanks for another great prompt I love it and reminds me how we used to go to a famous puppet show in Dublin, a family who all were involved in the business, performing shows constantly. A favorite for kids parties. Thanks for that memory Bill.
Enjoy your weekend, and congrats again, it could not have happened to a better writer and friend.
Suzi, thank you so much. You are a treasured friend, even though we have never met, and isn’t that remarkable?
bill
I agree it is incredibly frustrating to have your words stolen. It’s happened to me and it’s difficult to do anything about it.
A dictionary and a thesaurus? I would never consider writing anything without these tools within easy reach. Have a great weekend, Bill
Thank you Phoenix, and I hope you are having a wonderful weekend as well.
All well-said. Copycats just ruin the fun all-around. I hope you’ve had a good week. 🙂
Cyndi, I like that….they ruin the fun. Indeed they do. Thanks lil’ Sis and have a great week.
I hated having my work stolen on HubPages. But, I think it was supposed to happen for a reason. I am now pushing forward with two blogs I’m very proud of and can’t wait to see where they go. Great blog as always Bill, hope your Monday is off to a fantastic start! It’s a long weekend here and I’ve just finished packing 3 rooms….I’m pooped! Time to chill and relax!
Mel, good luck with the big move, and when you return to work may your days be filled with inspiration. Thank you my friend.