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Things that tend to make writers cranky
By Gina Spadafori
August 23, 2009
E-mail:
My husband and I are making scratching posts to sell and would like permission to use the wording of some of the information on your article TEACH YOUR CAT TO SCRATCH APPROPRIATELY by Gina Spadafori published 4/19/2008. I could totally reword it but would like to use Gina’s wording since it is so easy to understand.
Translation: If you don’t give us your work for free, we’ll take it anyway and move some things around so it’s not yours anymore.
Funny thing is, we give most all our content away after it’s published, in our free searchable database. But of course, we prefer that since Pfizer picked up the tab for the programming, you look at the article on our site and at least glance at the banner.
In fact, I’ve never gotten much worked up about having my work stolen, and it happens all the time. I have written a million billion words, and I’ll write a million billion more before I die. Coming from the newspaper industry, I’ve always pretty much thought that what I write today goes in the bottom of the birdcage tomorrow.
What I write tomorrow is what’s important to me, not what I wrote yesterday.
But now and then someone’s attitude just sets me off. Hey, I’m glad that they found the piece so easy to understand. Maybe that’s because I write for a living, ya think?
I mean, thanks for the compliment, I guess, but isn’t the way they put it kind of like someone saying you have good taste in watches just before they take your watch away from you?
Usually if someone is kind enough to ask, I give them permission to use an article, as long as they mention a book title, link to the Web site … something. But in this case, I wished them luck with their business, told them the material was copyrighted and suggested they either write their own or go find an article from a writer who isn’t as awful a selfish bitch as I am.
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I’ve gotten a couple of emails in the past asking if the writer can copy a painting or a part of one that I’ve posted on my blog. Similar kind of thing.
If all they want is to do a traditional study copy for their own use, I could care less. And that’s all one artist wanted. I said sure, but pointed out that it would be a violation of copyright if they tried to sell the result. I have the exclusive right to any financial benefit resulting from the creation of my work.
But another one wanted to re-work “elements” from one of my paintings for their own assemblage-style work, otherwise known as “appropriation”, a fancy euphemism for plagarism. Uh, no, honey, you can come up with your own stuff for your own work and keep your sticky fingers off of mine, thank you very much.
Of course, I’m creating deathless works of fine art that will be treasured forever. And anyway, the canvas panels wouldn’t work too well for bird cage liner ;0)
Comment by Susan Fox — August 23, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
Phhhttt. Will you lowly “providers” of “content” stop whinging about wanting “money” for “work?”
Comment by H. Houlahan — August 23, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Writing is tough work.
Writing well is even tougher work.
I don’t know why people assume that writers don’t have to work hard. Maybe they think everyone who writes lives like Ernest Hemingway or Lord Byron.
I don’t know.
Comment by retrieverman — August 24, 2009 @ 8:52 am
” … and suggested they either write their own or go find an article from a writer … “
Or they could hire a freelancer to write it for them. I hear there are some of those around somewheres.
——
And H. Houlahan, HA! You forgot “It practically writes itself.” Former boss, who (literally) never turned on his computer, liked to say that.
Comment by Mary Mary — August 24, 2009 @ 9:23 am
Musicians are the same. I had the phone call the other day. Can you come and play for ?????
When I told them what the fee was the immediate response was, “you mean you don’t do it for free?”
Comment by Verde — August 24, 2009 @ 10:30 am
That’s because creativity is terribly undervalued in this society. We would rather laud and consequently pay __________ (select football, baseball, tennis, untalented tv actors or whatever popular pasttime trips your trigger)players exorbitant salaries for their short lived physical abilities than we would recognize the truly talented with words, music or a paint brush. Not being a wordsmith, I am not altogether sure I phrased this well, but I think you grasp my point, yes?
Comment by Anne T — August 24, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
People these days have zero concept of writing as intellectual property. (Or maybe no one ever did?). I get that a lot too, like I should be flattered that someone thought my work good enough to copy. No, just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s public domain. And, no, “rewording” my work doesn’t make your plagiarism any more kosher, thankyouverymuchkthxbai. *sigh*
Comment by Melanie Phung — August 25, 2009 @ 8:24 am