Writing Past Loss of Trust: The Effects of Plagiarism
By Vikki J. Carter, The Author's Librarian
I will never forget when my first manuscript was taken. I was a new mother and wife in my early twenties. My husband and I were members of a leadership team for a growing, well-known, and often controversial congregation.
Raised by religion to be a silent participant, I had a lifetime of abusive molding in the name of submission. By my teen years, I had learned staying silent was safer.
However, longing desperately to be understood, I wrote in diaries. In those accounts, I would pose questions about how I saw women being treated. I would likewise write about my confusion surrounding childhood abuse.
Finally, after being married and having two daughters, I could not remain silent. I shared my opinions with other mothers, which ultimately led to me being urged to compose a book.
One pastor took an interest in my writings. My narrative was raw, heartfelt, and filled with observations of how women could have a more significant role in the religious fabric. I asked, "Why can't women preach?" and, "Why are expectations of women different than of men?" I had hoped that my draft would launch a ministry career and give me a place in the world that I craved. I aspired to help women learn how to deal with the often oppressive, abusive nature of devout submission.
This pastor offered to edit and provide feedback. He was even willing to help get my first book published. Back in those days, I had no means of breaking into traditional publishing, and self-publishing was a little-known concept.
I was all too happy to hand over a manuscript. He promised to get back to me with suggestions. Because I wrestled with uncertainty, it took me months to find the courage to ask for his feedback.
After years of being told to remain silent, my mind was weakened with negative thoughts: "Would my stories be good enough?" "Would my words offend church readers?" "Would my questions mark me as a non-believer?"
The minister's reaction added to my dread. He became dismissive, forgetful, and aloof. Weeks later, he announced at the pulpit that he had published a book.
I became physically ill when I read his published work. Interwoven with his lessons for maintaining a Biblical lifestyle were my stories altered to fit his voice.
Hurt and feeling foolish, I retreated once again to silence. I believed I no longer had a safe place to share my writing. Worse, I ceased writing altogether.
Fast forward more than twenty years, and I have healed from that incident. It has been a lengthy and generally painful process to feel comfortable sharing my work.
However, to heal, I needed to build self-confidence and discover a new outlet to serve others through channels where I could freely share my stories. The decision to become a librarian and work within the writing community has been life-changing. I had finally found my place.
The sense of knowing my own words were once hijacked has been the foundation to every connection I make in my role with patrons, students, staff, and writers regarding plagiarism.
Most writers demonstrate integrity when it comes to the use of others' work. Those few who deliberately steal another's work cause havoc in the book community.
And the one aspect of plagiarism that is seldom examined is the struggle that the writer who has had their work stolen may experience.
It has become my mission as a librarian to share with others how to paraphrase, use signal words, and give proper credit to others to avoid stealing work.
Now, with my librarian experience and the passage of time, I have learned much about plagiarism. I have discovered most cases are unintentional. That insight helped in my healing.
Many students, authors, and even faculty members of universities do not set out to take another's work. They simply do not know how to avoid it. Or they have become lazy in their documentation. Thankfully the majority of my work is merely providing these five steps:
1. Keep notes on the sources you consult in research. Create a citation for each one. Never cut-and-paste words into your work.
2. Paraphrase the information from the source into your own words. Refer to the source by name in your work.
3. Use quotation marks to signal that you are using another's words.
4. Use in-text citations and reference lists to credit the original authors.
5. Check your work if you're unsure. Use a plagiarism checker like Grammarly. And ask a librarian for help before you submit your work for publication.
The central aspect of healing from the effects of plagiarism for me was grounding myself in one truth: integrity requires crediting others’ work. That kind of rectitude strengthens the writing community by:
allowing us to champion creativity without stealing.
uplifting without taking identity.
celebrating facts and data without passing them as our own.
When I share my story about my first manuscript, I am usually asked two questions: What transpired regarding that pastor, and how did I overcome the mistrust?
Regarding the pastor, he ultimately was forced out of the congregation due to fraudulent conduct. I cannot claim that I was strong enough at the time to expose him for stealing my stories. Sadly, there were plenty of other victims who influenced his accountability.
Regarding how I learned to trust again, one significant factor is my work within the writing community as a librarian and author. By opening myself up to others, I have developed strong bonds with authors that understand the value of crediting work. Within those friendships, I have learned there can be constructive, safe feedback given without harm. These are the types of relationships I now seek. Because of those who show integrity and care in the writing community, I have reclaimed my place to explore my voice. I no longer live with the fear that I will have reason to withdraw into silence. Most notably, I revel in a mission of encouraging writing skills that demonstrate integrity.
You may ask why should the implications of plagiarism matter to writers? Is it even a debate? For the most part, stealing another's creative work is not up for discussion. It just shouldn't happen. Writers should not steal another writer’s work.
But some do.
It is easy to overlook the repercussions of stolen work from the perspective of the original author. Many will never acknowledge the authors who have had their work taken. If those writers happen to realize their work was purposefully plagiarized, they have a lengthy road of healing past the loss of trust.
We, as a community, can contribute a safe place for that rebuilding. I know this to be true because the writing community has helped me write past my loss of trust.
As a professional librarian and author, Vikki J. Carter, The Author's Librarian, reveals the techniques that librarians use to help writers effectively find valuable sources. Vikki’s book, Research Like A Librarian is available in eBook and print.
Since the publication of her book in March 2021, Vikki has scheduled a fall appearance on The Creative Penn Podcast, and she will be presenting at The 2021 Self-Publishing Advice Conference.
You can learn more about The Author’s Librarian, future online courses, listen to her podcast, gain access to the free Author’s Librarian Checklist: Avoiding Plagiarism, or watch her YouTube channel by visiting the website at https://www.theauthorslibrarian.com.