Plagiarism: Just Don’t Do It

On April 12, 2015 By R. PettyIn Writing for Web and Tips1 Comment

plagiarism cartoon — Photo by: guides.library.vu.edu.au

Earlier this week I was surfing the Web and came across a fellow blogger who has been accused of plagiarism because guest bloggers on his site plagiarized content. After feeling defeated he said he would no longer blog, but thankfully has since changed his mind and is active again. More than 50,000 people follow this guy…

This infuriated me. This blogger who uses it to relieve stress and express himself was put in the position to give up something he loves because someone plagiarized – the fancy word for stealing someone else’s work.

So how does one plagiarize?

It’s really not that difficult to understand. If someone else said, wrote, painted, sang, created, etc…something, and you try to claim it as your own, you have plagiarized. If you used it in any way without permission from the creator, or if they allow permission, but you do not credit them, it’s plagiarism.

No Plagiarism — Photo by: http://www.rightblogtips.com

What’s the big deal?

Those who create things – writers, photographers, illustrators, designers, programmers, musicians, anyone considered an artist – work HARD to create things and usually pour their heart into it. It’s just wrong, and why would you steal from some random stranger who’s never done anything to you?

People can also get sued or in serious trouble, hence the copyright laws and usage. There’s a reason people put the © symbol on their creations. It’s a way of saying this is mine, and in my professional world, if you violate it, you’re gone. Do not pass go. You know where the door is.

It’s a violation and insulting. My biggest problem is that most people don’t think about it or care. If it’s on the Internet, it’s fair usage. Wrong. Other people are intentionally trying to cause harm, and karma will find those people one day.

How to avoid it:

Credit everything you use. Photos, quotes, copy, everything. If you did not create it, it belongs to someone else.
Don’t try it. Those of us who know what to look for, look for it. We know if it doesn’t sound right, and a quick Google search will confirm or deny it. It takes 5 seconds.
Respect the creator(s). Most of us don’t mind you using our stuff with credit. There’s a lot of awesome stuff out there, and it should be shared. However, respect the people who put in the time and hard work.
If you can’t create something, try harder. For example, maybe you think you’re terrible writer, so you decide to “borrow” someone else’s writing. Stop. It’s lazy. If you feel that way, do what’s necessary to make it better. Take a class, send it to a trusted proofreader or friend, read books on improving your writing, practice. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but by the end of it, you’ll be a better writer and have self-respect.
If you’re unsure if it’s plagiarism, it probably is. Better to be safe than sorry, so ask for permission and reread No. 1. There are also great sites that check for plagiarism, and there’s no shame in checking! Try: Grammarly’s.

Feel free to share your thoughts about plagiarism in the comments section below!

A Celebration of Color

On April 5, 2015April 4, 2015 By R. PettyIn Art3 Comments

It was a long, cold winter here in the South. We had an ice storm, snow, sleet, and I managed to survive being snowed in for a total of two weeks – one of which was my birthday week. I hate cold weather. I hate everything about it, and even though it’s necessary for the life cycle, I despise winter.

Winter 2015, Nashville — This was my view for most of February. As pretty as it was, the brown got old lol.

When spring came around this year, I was desperate for color, and I realized how important color is to our mood, energy level, and overall well-being. A simple addition can brighten up a room and make you feel better. So here’s a quick celebration of color, which also inspired me to paint (sneak peek)!

blue pillows — I started improving my mood by redecorating a little. Throw pillow covers and pillows, new rugs, and new placements. These immediately brightened things up!

Next came the flowers! Inside and out. I keep fresh flowers on my table at all times, but these were recent bouquets, and they were perfect because they always give me something pretty to look at!

spring time flowers — Last weekend I planted these beauties. Now that the grass is getting greener, they’re the perfect outside addition.

And last, the work in progress…This started as a green and black canvas I painted out of boredom. I was so inspired by color and my flowers, I decided to paint one of my favorites: the iris. I will post about the finished product once its complete, but there will be two paintings. I don’t claim to be an artist, but it goes to show that color can bring out the artist in anyone!

Feel free to share your springtime happiness in the comments section, and Happy Warmer Weather and Happy Easter to all those who celebrate this time of year!

How the Internet Destroyed the Chain Letter

On March 29, 2015 By R. PettyIn OpinionsLeave a comment

Chain letters had a noble start in 1888 – a letter sent to a person requesting a church donation and to send the letter to three people asking them to do the same. However, over the years, the chain letter evolved into warnings of bad luck, promises of good fortune, and in the 2000s became “this Nigerian prince needs your credit card info” without the mysticism (to quote my RevPub partner).

I remember the chain letters I grew up with. They were passed around school, and I even received a few in the mail. Remember, this was a time people actually mailed things to each other; it wasn’t just junk mail and postcards.

They looked similar to this:

If you’re reading this, then you’ve already started the chain reaction and there’s no going back. The events I am about to warn you about will definitely unfold, even if you close this email now. The best thing you can do now is read on and carefully follow my instructions.

I remember at 10-12 years old believing something terrible would happen to my friends and family after reading this, so of course I made copies and mailed them out. It was scary but cool at the same time. I’d call my best friend to gossip about all the horrible things that could happen if I didn’t respond. (She was probably the one who sent it to me, although she’d never admitted it.)

So what happened to them? The Internet.

By the late ’90s, the Internet took the world by storm, and not only could you send things to people in a matter of seconds, you could email chain letters. And people did. I received hundreds, maybe thousands, of these, and they were no longer just scary. Some promised money, fame, true love. Or they served as a way to “show” people you cared about someone or something.

The problem was too many people sent too many of them. Email took off, and people were reading things they cared about: emails from friends, links to things on the Web, or they stopped checking their email all together. No one took chain letters seriously. Then the wonderful spam settings were established, and you never had to see them. Chain letters became spam, junk mail.

I feel this is a sad loss in our culture because many kids and teenagers have no idea what a chain letter is. There was a sense of urgency about them, a suspense receiving one created – especially if you were superstitious. They were fun and felt a little dangerous, and as a kid, made you feel special because you received it. Most people used to love receiving letters after all.

I don’t recommend bringing them back, but let’s not forget where we came from – even Spam has a cool back story!
And if you feel the need to bring them back, here’s a how to start a chain letter. Be careful!

Psych: One Year Later

On March 22, 2015 By R. PettyIn Random Fun2 Comments

Psych‘s final episode aired nearly a year ago (3/26/2014). The final episode ended well: Shawn and Gus moved Psych to another city, Shawn and Jules got engaged, and prior to that, Lassiter became the new chief.

I’m very open about how much I love this show. As silly as it seems, I miss it. I felt like a little piece of me went away when the show did. However, I feel like I should honor its memory by honoring the year anniversary.

Here are some ideas on how to survive Psych withdrawals as this difficult time of year approaches:

Watch an episode from each season. For the first four, I suggest: Scary Sherry, American Duos, Tuesday the 17th, Bollywood Homicide
Watch the Yin, Yang trilogy in order. James Roday says in a goodbye video, this trilogy is something he’s most proud of. Psych: The Musical completes Ally Sheedy’s story line, so make it a quadruple set for full enjoyment.
Go on a treasure hunt to find the bobbleheads. Good luck! Quick online searches show these babies cost at least $99 each. They have doubled in price, and did so well before the show ended.
Make Psych‘s Fries Quatro Queso Dos Fritos. Even I’m not brave enough to do this, and remember they don’t travel well. They are balls of heart attacks waiting to happen, but I must admit they look delicious. Find the recipe here on Mission: Food.
Eat a pineapple. And canned doesn’t count. Not only is the pineapple Psych‘s signature mascot, it’s also great for you. This may help off-set the fries, too!
Dress in Psych swag. Sure, you may feel silly, but there are shirts, pajamas, slippers, pillows, charm bracelets and tons more to show your Psych pride. People dress up to watch football and basketball games, so why not dress up for a Psychathon?
Play a game. Depending on where you live and work, this may or may not be a good idea, but I must suggest it. Spend a day telling people to suck it. Or say what? to everything everyone says. This will probably be more fun for you — although you may find others who are just as obsessed with the show.
Dance. Imagine working in an office, completing a project or solving a problem, and breaking out into a dance. This will certainly break up the day, and dancing is a great way to exercise. If you want to go all out, pick a Shawn and Gus dance!
Watch the last episode. If you haven’t seen it, watch the finale. I know lots of people who started the show and never finished it. That’s okay; there were 121 episodes. If you enjoyed the show though, check out the last one because you won’t be disappointed.

Seven Psychopaths: 10 Reasons to Love It

On March 15, 2015 By R. PettyIn MoviesLeave a comment

Seven Psychopaths, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, is a movie after my heart. It is so well done it deserves a list of the best things, so here are 10 reasons to love (and watch) Seven Psychopaths:

1. It’s not Tarantino, but it feels like it. I’m a huge Tarantino fan, and when I saw Seven Psychopaths in the theater I didn’t know who the director was. I assumed it was Tarantino until I learned otherwise. It’s as close to a Tarantino film as you can get.

2. The dialogue. This is hard to do, especially do well, and there are many jabs and one-liners. Some are funny, some are smart, some are deep. The film is conversation heavy, but it’s good conversation and keeps the story going. People talk about things real people would talk about; for example, two gangsters killing time by talking about people who had been shot in the eyeball and survived. The dialogue one of the best parts of the movie.

3. The cast. My favorites: Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Bonny the dog. Other good stars: Colin Farrell, Michael Stuhlbarg, Linda Bright Clay, Gabourey Sidibe, Tom Waits, Michael Pitt. The movie is full of familiar faces and talent, and they blend well together.

4. Humor. Seven Psychopaths is listed as comedy/crime. This isn’t slapstick humor though; it’s dark humor (my favorite) and sometimes very wrong. But it is funny if you enjoy smartA remarks, language, and smart people.

5. Violence. It’s violent but not tasteless. It’s bloody but the realistic blood that you’d expect when someone gets an arm cut off or shot in the head. In a lot of movies now, “blood” is colored so it doesn’t look real or it’s not seen at all, but the blood in this movie looks like movie blood. It’s red and thick, but the shots hold long enough to establish it, not to mash it in your face. And it’s a gangster movie, so there’s plenty of shooting.

6. The story. Ferrell is writing a screenplay about seven psychopaths, and the psychopaths exist in real life. All the mini stories intertwine, and the main people involved try to write the ending. (The ending is often the most difficult part.) I can see if McDonagh’s own intentions and motivations come through Ferrell’s character. He’s tired of the stereotypical psychopaths and wants something you wouldn’t expect.

7. Music. The soundtrack is one of the best aligned with a film I’ve ever heard. It’s not one I’d want to own, but it pairs perfectly with the scenes, action and story. I’ve worked to this movie multiple times and perk up when a song comes on. Artists include: Hank Williams, P.P. Arnold, The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt, and The Walkmen. You may not know them by seeing their names, but you will know the songs when you hear them.

8. It’s refreshing. A lot of crap has come out in the last few years. However, this was a good movie that premiered in 2012, and not enough people knew about it. If all the Tarantino-style fans in the world saw this movie, it would have blown up. As a movie-buff, it’s nice to know there are still people in Hollywood who can make a good movie without it being based off an adolescent novel.

9. Creativity. The story, characters, dialogue, everything is creative and theatrical. It’s what a movie should be: entertaining and a world you want to live in for two hours. The story has not been overdone, and you don’t feel you’ve seen it before. Unpredictability is a good thing.

10. Love. Believe it or not, there’s real love in Seven Psychopaths. Walken and his wife, Bright Clay; Bonny and Rockwell; Waits and his runaway woman. The movie shows love is tough, but it stays with you into eternity. It’s not something you’d expect from a gangster movie, but Ferrell pretty much lays out the movie in the first 20 minutes. If you pay attention, you get it.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about the movie in the comments, so feel free to share!

King’s On Writing: Writing Is Work

On February 22, 2015 By R. PettyIn BooksLeave a comment

Stephen King knows how hard it is to be a professional writer. I’m sure some of you also relate because you are published or at least have stayed up until 3 a.m. to write a good paper that was due next morning. And it wasn’t easy either.

In sections 19-24, King discusses his earliest work – think editor of The Village Vomit, not Carrie. As he talks about his first jobs, stories, and articles, there’s an important message here: Writing is hard work. It takes dedication, persistence, and passion. In order to succeed, you need these things and support from those around you.

Here are some other highlights:

After The Village Vomit debacle, King’s school guidance counselor hooked him up with a paying writing job as a sports writer. While reading, I remembered guidance counselors. What happened to them? I had one in high school who I spoke to once when I was in trouble, and she didn’t guide me to do anything. Do they actually do anything now? King’s counselor did exactly what he was supposed to do; he kept him from causing more trouble and fueled his creativity. He got him a job, encouraged King’s passion, and provided guidance. Other than family, this may have been King’s earliest support system.

Do you have an editor? If so, you’ve had your writing ripped to shreds. It’s what we do when we have to. Every professional writer has an editor who makes them a better writer. Journalism and English majors can tell who the exact professor was. And as a writer, you take it. I’ve been in both places, and they’re both hard. The best thing to do is learn from it and not take it personally. It’s not personal, it’s the process. If you don’t want an editor, then start a blog, but if you write professionally, remember to handle criticism well and hone your skills.

You may have to work a day job or crap job. King’s first real-paying job was dyeing cloth at a mill. His schedule was long and tedious, and anyone who has had to work while going to school gets it. It’s hard work, but it makes you strong and you appreciate the good jobs that come your way. I could relate most to this because I worked full time, went to college full time, and had a family to support. Looking back, I have no idea how I did it, and I hope I never have to be that exhausted again. However, it was worth every minute. I’ve learned so much, and a good work ethic isn’t something you can buy – it’s a natural ability.

And it’s that natural work ethic the drew King to his long-time wife Tabitha (aside from her gorgeous legs and “raucous laugh”). This is where the support system comes in. Every artist, whether a writer, painter, musician, designer, needs support. They need to be loved and have someone to love. Sometimes you need a push, and only that person can provide it. For example, many King fans know Tabitha rescued pages from Carrie from the trash and pushed him to finish it. Every artist needs someone to believe in their work.

We’d love to hear about your writing experiences, including those naggy editors and good guidance counselors, in the comments below!

Revenant Publications

Author: R. Petty