Nora = Cow Bell
Because more is ALWAYS good.
This is a quick roundup of links (usually posts that have links to other discussions, because no way can I get them all) — there are many people out there saying things much better than I could, and several discussions that are ongoing and fascinating. I’m still at the point where I’m trying to figure out a few of my own knee-jerk reactions, still being surprised by how something I thought was fundamental to a writer apparently isn’t, having a few preconceptions turned completely upside-down, and wondering how many comments I’ve misread and misinterpreted along the way. And I feel half the time like my foot is in my mouth, other times that I shouldn’t have responded at all because I probably got something wrong to start with, I have a huge bump on my forehead from the headdesking and only a tiny bit of hair left, but I’m always glad the discussion is taking place.
Oh yeah, and I’m trying to meet a deadline.
Both Smart Bitches and Dear Author have a handy roundup of their posts on their sidebars. Recent highlights — Jane puts a face on plagiarism, and Nora Roberts pledges to match donations to the Defenders of Wildlife (and black-footed ferrets) fund. There have been responses from plagiarized writers who (aside from a bit of romance-bashing (which is unfortunate, but understandable given the circumstances)) respond with class and humor. The posts at both sites make fantastic points about the issue of plagiarism, but much of the discussion takes place in the comments.
Alison Kent has posted two responses, and Robin’s response to her second post. I nodded a lot reading through these, but don’t have much to add. Some of it, I’m still working out — and other bits relate to other posts that make me wonder if I was misreading people again. There are so many posts and discussions, and so much information going around, and so many interpretations of the same information … sigh. At times, I want to scream, but at exactly the same time, I’m glad these discussions are taking place and that people are clarifying what they said, and bringing to light details within issues. It’s very, very difficult to get your point across exactly as you want, and then you can’t control how people take it. And in some ways, it’s easier to write a book than make one comment on a blog. Love stories are much simpler. Even *cough* mine.
Shiloh Walker has a couple of different posts on the topic (Why It Matters, A writer’s take on plagiarism, and Truth and Consequences), and I think she always makes great points — and primarily because they are basic points. I nod a lot there, too; she says many things I always assumed were a given … that should be a given to a writer, as simple as not stealing red shoes.
And on the lighter side: Gennita Low has written a play about the drama. Jenn — it was short on Nora. Maybe a rewrite … with more cow bell? 😛
