Mar 20, 2012

An Ethical Dilemma ~ I Don’t Have One

As Caleb told Triona in Shades of Atlantis, “My hand’s been forced.” I actually had to look that quote up to check it. I also had to look up another passage tonight when I was alerted to a post on the possible ethical dilemma of re-working fanfiction. The post specifically questioned the origins of Shades of Atlantis and the possibility it may be plagiarised from Eclipse(The Twilight Saga).  

I’m not going to link the post to my site. The person took the time to read and seemed to enjoy the book, so I’d like to believe made an honest mistaken assumption. I’m not ‘calling anyone out’. I simply want to address this point to assure readers it is not the case.

The passages in question:

Shades of Atlantis

The circumstances: For those who’ve read Shades of Atlantis, you may or may not have noticed the water theme carried throughout. Caleb’s eyes, Triona’s references to feeling as if she’s drowning, among others. Here, Triona has been confused about her feelings for Caleb and housebound due to injury, talking to Caleb only via internet chats. They are meeting in secret to spend New Year together. This passage is from their reunion.

I couldn't breathe, my heart couldn't beat. In that moment, I knew with perfect clarity I belonged to him. The world was spinning around us, but Caleb was my anchor, the only thing holding me still. All doubt evaporated. I knew, however crazy it was, that I loved him.

Eclipse

Bella is visiting with Jacob, her best friend. On seeing one of his friends is imprinted on a young child, Bella describes it as creepy. Jacob, defending his friend, explains how imprinting is not romantic.

It's so hard to describe. It's not like love at first sight, really, it's more like...gravity moves. When you see her, suddenly it's not the earth holding you here anymore. She does. And nothing matters more than her. And you would do anything for her... You become whatever she needs you to be, whether that's a protector, or a lover, or a friend, or a brother.

SoA has been compared to The Twilight Saga a few times and I have no problem with that at all. I’ve spoken about it in this video interview done for the Shades of Atlantis blog tour.

It is purely coincidental. I saw those similarities when I read Twilight and it was part of what spiked my interest in the Saga, later that interest led me into fanfiction.  I'm not the only writer ever caught in a situation where I was writing something I thought was completely unique and individual, only to find out someone has done it or is doing it. However, I think the differences and the complex mythology behind Shades of Atlantis speak for it’s originality.

In the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg? My fanfiction moniker was taken from the manuscript for Shades of Atlantis.

If Shades of Atlantis was at any point a piece of Fanfiction I would happily admit to it. I have nothing to hide here. I have written fanfiction in the past and spoken briefly about being in the community here. I still dabble in fanfiction. However, Shades of Atlantis was never fanfiction, nor was it copied from any other work. I have the original hand written notes on the mythology and the characters, and notebooks with the original names, So I can’t honestly say Caleb wasn’t always Caleb. Caleb was Ben, Ben was Kevin(changed during early revision) and Amanda was Kayla(changed during editing). But, as for changing names that’s as far as it goes.

Basically, to sum up, none of my books or future books have been posted as fanfiction.

I have not self-published, other than a short called Unfinished.

Shades of Atlantis is in no part Plagiarised. It is my own work from start to finish with the help of my crit partners, pre-readers and editors.

Thank you for reading.

9 comments :

  1. I think it's incredibly sad that you had to make a post to defend your work. I'm so disappointed in the current trend of people searching for ways to try and disparage authors names. I've read Shades and I thought it was a wonderful, well written, original tale. Keep doing what you're doing, chica. You're an amazing talent, and the world is a better place for having you and your work in it. Mwah!

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    1. Thanks for reading, Lisa. I'm sad I had to say anything too, but I'll get over it. Minor setback.

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  2. Carol,I'm so sorry that your book unfairly got pulled into this debate.

    Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this debate, but facts should not be overlooked. I hope the writer of that article realizes their mistake concerning your book.

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    1. Exactly, I publicly held my tongue when comparisons were made and when it was labelled as fanfiction because, you know, whatever, as long as people gave it a chance, I didn't care. I don't presume either equals bad for anyone. I really felt I couldn't overlook plagiarism being mentioned.

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  3. Carol, I'm glad you have your blog to speak the truth! I agree with Lisa that your writing is wonderfully unique. It's very hurtful to have a reader accuse you of something you never did.

    I quote one of my favorites from Pinterest: "Turn your face towards the sun, and the shadows fall behind you." Keep fighting the good fight.

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    1. I'm gonna start blushing. :)

      That quote is beautiful, thank you. I will do that.

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  4. I'm so glad you were professional about this, Carol, not that I would expect anything less. I can only imagine that sinking feeling in your stomach.

    Plagiarism scares the hell out of me, or should I say being accused of it does. I read a great article about author echoing a few weeks ago, I wish I could find it...

    Anyway, big hugs to you.

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  5. Wonderful post, Carol! It's so completely wrong that you had to post this in the first place, but you did so with class. I did not see Twilight in the above passage, nor did I think Twilight when I read SoA myself. It's an amazing, beautiful love story, and I hope others will get to enjoy it as much as I did. Hugs! <3

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  6. That's crazy. DidTwilight invent love triangles too? How ridiculous. There is no comparison. Especially since you write strong heroines.

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