Pushing the Limits: Plagiarism or Simply a Quote?

To quote or not to quote~

So to avoid plagiarism, you Google the current definition of copyright, so as to avoid being sued.

Surprise!  There is currently no formula to ensure that a predetermined percentage or amount of a work—or specific number of words, lines, pages, copies—may be used without permission.                       https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html

Heaven forbid that it should be as simple as it used to be!

So is it a matter of Honor vs.Legality?

Writers often struggle with the fine line difference when creating their own articles or books.

·         Is quoting a written or spoken work OK?
Generally yes, if it's just a sentence or two, is in quotation marks and doesn't include a catchy slogan if it's just ordinary words

·         If it's just one sentence?
Generally yes.

·         If it's just 49 words or less?
That very handy old rule is no longer in effect.

·         How about if the words or phrase is trademarked™  as with a slogan?
NO unless you put the trademark symbol next to it.

When you do use an acceptable quote, honor that author by stating attribution: author, book or article title, publisher and publishing date. That's also a matter of honoring a fellow author.

Case in Point:

A few years ago, one of my book coaching clients got an official Cease & Desist request from a very large corporation several states away. It seems she had used the same 3 words

in the same order as one of the trademarked slogans this company owned! 

* Shock - Panic - Worry*

I connected the author with an intellectual property rights attorney. He contacted the Corporation, who used that phrase in all kinds of expensive branding and advertising. My client's attorney said they might or might not have a case. But they undoubtedly had a sizable legal division and ample time and money to keep taking her back to court.

She changed the title~

So when in doubt -- don't.
Create your own original version of those words.

________________________________________________________________________

THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT DEFINITION OF COPYRIGHT

Copyright: A form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for "original works of authorship", including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and audiovisual creations.

 "Copyright" literally means the right to copy but has come to mean that body of exclusive rights granted by law to copyright owners for protection sole ownership of their work. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, title, principle, or discovery. Similarly, names, titles, short phrases, slogans, familiar symbols, mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, coloring, and listings of contents or ingredients are not subject to copyright. unless they are trademarked!

https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/definitions.html

Nonfiction Author's Tip #1

Let your passion move your pen!

 

Where do you start writing?

NOT AT THE BEGINNING

First go through your notes and outline or tentative Table of Contents and note which chapters make you: lean forward --  feel excited -- mentally talk to your future readers.

Write about what stirs your passion! 

Start writing now! Your eagerness will spill out
in sentence after glorious sentence of sharing. 

Let it flow -- don't tweak and polish. 

Grin - type - GET JAZZED as the words tumble out.

<> You'll be stunned at the energy of your writing <>

All First Drafts are "Rotten" -- Even Yours

Actually, Ann Lamott's richly insightful book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life says "shitty first drafts."

Most prose professionals agree on a few basic rules for writing a nonfiction book:

• Select topic
• Create Table of Contents listing the primary chapters of your book
• Write the book
• Rearrange the chapters as many times as necessary for flow of information
• Write "The End" at the end

You will have resisted the urge to stop and edit each page as you go, but have mostly kept writing in the interest of honoring your "conversation with the reader." 

But the self-edit comes after you finish that beautiful first draft.

          Next *DO NOT SHIP IT OFF TO AN EDITOR.* 

Your rough collection of words isn't quite ready for prime time.

Then too, it might cost more if the editor has to struggle through confusing pronouns and verb tenses.

Let the manuscript sit for a few days to cool off and allow your mind to rest. Then read a chapter, go back and make corrections and notes for change, and just circle (or underline) typos, misspellings and punctuation errors.

Go through the whole book, one chapter at a time, noting the flow and pace of information and evenness of voice, tone and writing style, making any changes that will improve the quality.

Type the corrections, smile, do a little happy dance and send it off to whichever professional book editor you've connected with. 

And celebrate!

 

     

Will "everybody" want to buy your book?

Identify the target audience for your book!

As a consultant and book writing coach, one of the first questions I ask is: who is your target audience? Then I go on to explain that they'll need to identify their target reading audience, the person who will benefit from your insights.

AND NOT "EVERYBODY" WILL FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY!

For nonfiction books, the future readers are usually the buyers, too. So the content, arrangement of information (Table of Contents) and additional information like glossary or resource material need to appeal to the one who's going to curl up in a chair with the book in hand. (Or settle onto a booth at lunch with their e-book version.)

Make a TARGET AUDIENCE list:

       *  Male -- female -- both
       *  Age range
       *  Book shoppers -- yes or no
       *  Primary age range

As you write and promote your book, keep those  in mind. 

If your chapters have clever titles, add matter-of-fact subtitles, like Flying Solo: budgets for the newly single in a personal finance book.

Put yourself in their place in wording some of your sentences. If it's something you learned through trial and error, say so.

That kind of information builds a bond between them and you and isn't that what you had in mind to begin with?

Happy identifying!

Lin

                Create Your Writer's Journal

Ever wish you had a bushel of ideas and spot-on observations about the world around you to dip into for article and book ideas? You can have handy books full of them. Start your own journal.

You can give it a name if you want, maybe Henry or Randomness or Jewels. Start with a hard bound "book" of blank pages wrapped in burgundy leather or a steno pad. If it has blank pages, it'll work.

When you fill it up, start a new journal, write the date begun on it and keep it and a pen handy.

DO NOT TRY TO...

·      organize your thoughts,

·      worry about a "theme,"

·      aim for straight lines or punctuation.

JUST WRITE...

   ·     nature observations,

   ·     people interacting,

   ·     personal, neighborhood and world crises,

   ·     your critique on anything,

·      notes on gratitude, annoying habits, yearnings, joys and rhyme.

·      cuss, pray, demand,

·      write a sultry haiku,

·      ...snips and bits.

Sometimes you'll start an essay or even a book. You don't need to finish it. Over time, lots of small ideas take glorious shape, blossoming silently while you were thinking about getting the oil changed .

When you're fresh out of  publishable ideas, start paging through your journals, and enjoy the wealth of ideas you created. 

Happy writing, 

Lin

Your Qualifications for Writing This Book

And why are you the right person for the job?

Whether you're planning to write an article, a report or author a book, it's important to look at your qualifications for doing so. 

Why did you pick that topic? What makes you uniquely qualified to write about some aspect of the topic? 

Consider one or more of the following or add your own reasons:

Professional experience

A lifelong passion for the topic

Scholastic studies

Varied research

A compelling curiosity

A current news story or trend

Eventually you'll need to include such information in your author's bio or article credit. But for now, focus on it as your personal validation. You don't have to have a doctorate or presidential award. Although it's OK if you do ~

Think about the what drew you to your subject to begin with, and your audience will happily follow your lead.

Lin

The Nonfiction Books I've Written, Part 2

The Nonfiction Books I've Written: Turn of the Century Tidbits

Outside Book Research

Research is no stranger to nonfiction writers. Whether you're on a quest for fresh information, want to double check old notes or find yourself following a trail of irresistible hot links, Google is at your fingertips. But 25 years ago it was the library or live experts.

The Health section of the book produced more questions than insights! Luckily, the pharmacist at the local Glaser drug store not only answered all my questions, but also mixed 8 ounces of Rose Water for me to try in the cookie recipe.

When I questioned the use of mustard plasters, he explained the principle of counter-irritants. If you put one of those on the angry bruise, the nerve endings will be too busy feeling fried to notice the pain from the wound.

That good man also translated for me: by "sweet oil" the author meant olive oil. "Limewater" is a solution of calcium hydroxide & water. Paregoric and laudanum, both opium derivatives, were freely recommended. (The Food & Drug Administration wasn't created until 1938.)

About that time, the neighborhood Book House owner received the collections from a couple of old estates, and I bought more books from that era. The research then was into the what's and how-to's of social entertaining, from an elegant, 12-course dinner to a children's Halloween party. One had directions for clever ways to fold the napkins. (They were fun!)

The research needed for each of my books has been different, sometimes involving more interviews than books or computers. But, honestly, it may be my very favorite part of the process!

I'll never outgrow being the little kid who's full of questions ~