Plagiarized...Three Days Later

Whew…can you believe the response? That guy sure picked the wrong writing community.

As we all know, a writer by vocation pens alone. Some have called it a lonely life. I don’t know if I agree with that. What I do know is if I excluded the online community of writers I scribe beside, I wouldn’t have another writer’s voice cheering me on each and every day.

Three days ago, all I wanted was my daily dose of flash fiction. Who knew what opening that e-mail would do? And how far the echo of outrage would travel?

If this experience has taught us anything, it’s that the internet world of writers (and especially, small-press horror writers) is very, very small. For the most part, we’re all familiar with each other’s names and writing-styles. We know the editors and they know our work. But most of all, we know what line not to cross, and we’re willing to lay it all down and defend it.

It's brought us all closer.

We’ll never completely stop plagiarism from happening again to one of us, but neither will we be silent about it. Something has changed within us. Where once we may have remained a passive observer, we now stand vigilant, ready to strike back, and ready to identify the predator lurking in our midst.

My deepest thanks to all of the writers and editors who banded together with me in this time of crisis, and proved the value of our craft. The bevy of e-mails, tweets, and support I received on my blog from every walk of life has been like manna from heaven.

I never thought anyone would bother to steal any of my words. Thank you all for helping me take them back.

-Angel Zapata
10/1/09




The following is a collection of links created by each of you on your blogs, websites, and forums about that plagiarist scoundrel, Richard Ridyard. Sorry if I missed any:

http://www.sfwa.org/2009/10/editors-check-your-slushpiles-theres-a-plagiarist-afoot/

http://ringkeeper.blogspot.com/2009/10/beware-word-thieves.html

http://venusvulturenews.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/plagiarism-explosion/

http://jameslecky.blogspot.com/2009/10/three-times-is-enemy-action-mr-bond.html

http://inkinmysweettea.blogspot.com/2009/10/wrangling-words-on-web.html

http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=2166.0

http://editorunleashed.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2657

http://skullvines.com/?p=835

http://flashesinthedark.com/the-flashes-in-the-dark-news-page/

http://mumbling-sage.livejournal.com/35643.html

http://jodimacarthur.blogspot.com/2009/09/commitment-to-integrity.html

http://erincolelive.blogspot.com/2009/09/stealing-babies.html

http://jimsteel.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/calling-all-editors/

http://abrokenlaptop.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/plagiarism-ticks-us-right-off-obviously/

http://abrokenlaptop.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/we-interrupt-this-blog-post/

http://house-madam.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-couldnt-believe-my-eyes-when-i-opened.html

http://deborahb.livejournal.com/316037.html

http://surgebin.blogspot.com/

http://surgebin.blogspot.com/2009/09/plagiarism.html

http://scriitor.livejournal.com/tag/shock+totem

http://www.ruzkin.com/

http://www.infinitewindows.co.cc/

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/richard-ridyard/

http://www.damonlord.info/2009/09/plagiarism-is-wrong.html

http://www.eyesoretimes.com/2009/09/grand-theft-boogeyman.html

http://writtenwyrdd.typepad.com/writtenwyrdd/2009/09/an-apparent-case-of-plagiarism.html

http://surchur.com/all/plagiarism

http://www.dailytourniquet.com/?p=548

http://tweetmeme.com/story/195207747/we-interrupt-this-blog-post%E2%80%A6-%C2%AB-a-broken-laptop

http://aaronpolson.blogspot.com/2009/09/ive-been-violated-and-so-have-many.html

http://aaronpolson.blogspot.com/2009/09/wip-wednesday-this-is-me.html

http://leehughes.net/?p=283

http://jiraiyanews.blogspot.com/2009/09/copycat-alert.html

http://theycallmepotato.blogspot.com/2009/09/scumbag-steals-stories.html

http://writtenbysin.blogspot.com/

http://colburysnewcrimefiction.blogspot.com/

http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/2009/09/plagiarism-no-thank-you.html

http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/2009/09/angel-zapata-plagiarized.html#comments

http://ionplayer.blogspot.com/2009/09/stolen-words.html

http://tensecondsaday.blogspot.com/2009/09/leap-of-faith.html

http://blog.verulamwriterscircle.org.uk/?p=607

http://conversationsfromlandsedge.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-pretender.html

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/01/fiction-writer-plagiarist-tip-dont-steal-from-stephen-king/

http://kjmackey.blogspot.com/

http://twapedo.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/fictional-character/