I Am Not Your Muse

The entry stands on its own. I won't acknowledge who I'm talking about, so don't ask. I'm not going to reference it either - not that I can since it's in published form. Most likely, this will be my first and last comment on it. Obviously it's about someone profiting from my work. I wondered if I was being professional enough, posting this entry. But then I decided that I wouldn't be a professional if I wasn't angry about it. And I'm beyond angry about it.

It happened again and whenever it happens, it appalls me.

My writing and my ideas have been used as "inspiration" for someone else's work.

That's how we frame these things, right?

Because the assumption, when we put our work out there, is that someone else will take what we've written and "borrow it." They'll take what we've written and expand it, or change a few words and steal an emotional truth or two. Or maybe they'll use our quirky phrasing. Because after all, you can't copyright ideas, or emotional truths or quirky phrasing. Supposedly.

Quite a few people have suggested I speak to a lawyer.

As I've said, this has happened before, in various forms. Instead of pointing the finger outward, I'm wondering why I'm not benefiting from my own work, my own ideas, my own emotional truths. What is preventing that from happening?

I've obviously got something to say. Clearly, my stuff is valuable enough to be stolen. I see ideas that I've originated replicated elsewhere without attribution. My writing pops up in the oddest places.

Now I'm watching someone profit off something that was mine. My writing. My life.

This entry will sound egotistical. It will make it sound like I think I'm brilliant. Maybe I am, since someone is profiting off my stuff.

I'm surprised when writers do this each other. Really, it shocks me. But then, I shouldn't be shocked because only one of us is a true writer. Real writers, you see, come up with their own stories, their own truths. Real writers don't have to steal ideas because they have enough of their own. If they expand on someone else's stuff, they acknowledge it.

Which, of course, is not what happened here.

A few years ago, I wrote a series of playwriting essays for an international writing website. This site had far more visitors than I ever knew. Some of my essays found their way into European universities. Of course, I didn't find out about it until I Googled my name. Of course, I wondered why I had a shithole job as a receptionist, when my writing was being used as the basis of lessons in Europe. Of course, I didn't highlight this fact as much as I should have. Because it's only in telling people time and time and time again that you're brilliant. Only then will they actually believe that you are brilliant. Only then, does it seem, that you're recognized for your ideas.

This goes against what I believe. I thought that if you were brilliant, you should just be brilliant. You shouldn't have to tell people time and time and time again that you are brilliant. That your ideas deserve merit. They would figure it out on their own. Your ideas and creations would shine on their own. It would be apparent.

I didn't count on other people walking around saying how brilliant they were and using my ideas. I didn't count on that. Just like I didn't count on people taking my essays without dropping me a note and telling me. I felt like a crappy writer back in 2003, while my stuff was being used in colleges and high schools. It would've helped me to know that my writing had that kind of value. Especially since I was struggling so much with my finances and general direction in life. I was deeply depressed and ill and it would've helped my spirits to know that I was reaching people at that level. That, to me, would've been a nice profit at that juncture in life.

I work hard on this blog. The ideas I present here, the emotional truths I write - these are things I'm proud of. I'm intensely pleased with Gasp lately. Over the past few months, two Fox affiliates in different cities have chosen to link to me. I haven't talked about it here because if you're reading this right now, I'm writing this to communicate to you and not to impress you. In reality, you really shouldn't give a rat's ass who else reads this blog.

As well, I'm proud of my work. I don't spin myself as an intellectual, but I live an intellectual life. I read constantly. I think about ideas and sometimes I even float a few here on Gasp. I don't announce myself as being an intellectual because it should be apparent. I write in a way that most people will understand. I want to be understood. Part of being an intellectual is having your own ideas. Part of being a writer is being understood.

But I do get tired of the bluster. I get tired of those who announce their brilliance to others. I don't know why those in power, those who can make a writer's life easier don't see these people for what they are. It seems that in order to get taken seriously, you have to present yourself as the "authority." Even when others around you know the truth.

I don't want to be part of a scene where people are so phony. I don't want my writing, my ideas, my life or my emotional truths appropriated. For those who want to talk about my stuff, at least have the decency to acknowledge where you got it from.

And for those who choose to use my writing in college classrooms or for lectures, acknowledge me. Send me an email to tell me that you are doing it.

And if you profit off my stuff, I will sue your ass.

And to the latest hack son-of-a-bitch writer who appropriated my stuff, I know who you are. And you know who you are. You know that you're less of a writer for doing it. So no matter where you go or whatever success comes your way, you'll know that you're a fraud. You see, as a real writer, I have countless things to say, countless truths to uncover. And you, apparently, have nothing original except for what you steal.

Have a nice life, you fucking piece of shit. Karma's a bitch.

Comments

[Joshua James]

I've been in the same fucking position . . . sue their ass, Laura . . .

[Laura]

It's under consideration. BTW, this was not a part of the film industry - believe it or not. Which somehow, makes it worse. In film, one kinda expects shit like this to happen. Grrr!

[Joshua James]

As I've said, I've met a lot of nice folks in film . . . and a lot of "alleged" geniuses in theatre and other things, in particular in academy, which is supposed to be better, which is why I have so much trouble with you-know-who, methinks . . .

NOt that there aren't people who take advantage in film, you bet, they're everywhere . . . I have found it's as bad or worse in academy, in my experience. Ah, the stories!

This didn't happen to me, but I know of one professor, nicest person in the world, who shared something with another professor, a specific type of grant application . . . the second professor "appropriated" the same idea, etc, EVERYTHING and got in it, ahead of the first prof and got the grant instead.

I can't go into specifics, but it was a severe case of stealing and more terrible the more you know about it.

Karma is a bitch, though, since the second professor crashed and burned later on, accusing yet another coworker of sexual harrassment, but the incident she allegeded was in a room full of witnesses who refuted it . . . and she was fired, even though she had tenure.

Anyway, I've digressed.

I'm sure you know this, but just in case . . . you cannot copyright an idea, right, but you can copyright the expression of an idea.

That's the hook . . . if someone took your specific expression of an idea, they're in the wrong and you should take 'em to the butcher stalls and gut 'em.

[Laura]

The question is whether this person wrote an adaptation of my work. That's what I mean when I say this person appropriated it.

It's not a general thing. It was a very specific thing. When I showed someone the exact examples, it was one of those "Holy Shit" moments.

"Oh yeah. I see exactly what you mean," as the exact quote.

BTW, this is also a theater thing. Which means that it's one more bad experience I've had with theater and one more betrayal I feel towards "the community."

[Megan]

Damn!

So if you want some "free" attorney advice shoot me an email. My family is full of 'em and they're quite good at what they do or who they 'gut.'

"This entry will sound egotistical. It will make it sound like I think I'm brilliant. Maybe I am, since someone is profiting off my stuff." I laughed out loud at this...

[Joshua James]

Adaptation law is pretty clear, again I've been in this boat, much depends on the subject matter, but . . . if they're clearly adapting your work w/out your permission, they're fucked . . .

Go get 'em, girl . . .

[malachy walsh]

Jesus.

In advertising, there is plenty of this kind of thing. Only you can't do anything about it.

Except to call the offending parties "hacks" behind closed doors and know that you've been "theived".

In playwrighting I've only experienced it once - a Columbia. It was clear to everyone what had happened and the guilty party was so clearly muddled and untalented that it wasn't worth pursuing.

But when someone profits, well... Do what you can to take their money away and they will stop.

[Dan]

Wow. That really sucks. I hope you get some restitution.

And if it's any consolation, I think many people think you're brilliant.

[Scott Walters]

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, plagiarism must be...well, shit, a crime! I don't know anything about the law, so I can't say whether a suit will be worth it. But at least THREATEN a suit!