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To be fair, I have gotten ideas from other writers. When I've done so, I've been direct about it. "Double Chain," the premise for "Roslove," and the "Three" two-second boot shove, for example, came directly from Spike and Te, Annie, and Audra, respectively. It says so before my story even starts. I give credit where credit is due.
However, the work on my site comes from my brain. Believe it or not, I have creativity, originality, and imagination. People ask me where I've gotten the idea for a scene, a concept, etc. I tell them that I got it from the inside of my head. Usually they don't believe me. I'm not sure why. But that's how it works. My ideas come from my brain.
I've stopped reading slash for the most part. Therefore, I had no idea that something was happening out there in the slash community. Oh, I've seen sites where the webmistress has a notice against plagiarism, but I assumed that that was just politics. I didn't know that there was a serious problem.
You don't take it seriously until it happens to you.
Some of my readers are dedicated. Aimee is the world's authority on "Torn Pages." Diamond knows "Living" as well as anyone who doesn't live in my brain can. My readers know my slash.
They certainly know it well enough to recognize ill-fated rip-offs of it.
If you like my slash, I'm happy. I'm flattered. I'm aglow with pride. I thank you greatly for giving me your time and attention.
I'd also thank you for showing me respect.
Respect my brain. Respect my imagination. Respect my writing process. Respect my work. Please.
I can't stop you from taking my ideas. I can't stop you from taking my story. If you want to steal my work and call it your own, there's not much that I can do about it.
But people will notice. Readers know. If you've read my story, so have other people. They'll recognize my work in yours. They'll know which came first. Believe me.
If you like my story, thank you. If it inspires creativity in you, that's great. It really is.
At least be honest about it.
-Matthew
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