The journey of self-publishing, starting from writing the book to finally getting it published, is arduous. Authors, especially first-time authors, usually struggle for years to get their work out in public. Some books don’t even see the light of day, but it is the most satisfying feeling for the author when they do. However, once the book is out and it is discovered that parts of the book have been plagiarised, albeit unintentional, it could spell disaster for the author’s image and credibility. Thankfully, there are certain measures that every author may undertake while writing their book to avoid any form of plagiarism.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism occurs when an author or an artist disguises someone else’s work as their own. They copy themes, words, or sometimes the entire content and claim it as their original work. In literature, plagiarising is deemed the most ‘unethical’ means to gaining success. Plagiarism is different from copyright infringement as it does not have any legal ramifications. One would not be stuck with a legal lawsuit if the work is deemed plagiarised. However, the reputation of the author as well as their past, present, and most likely their future work would come under heavy scrutiny.
What isn’t Plagiarism?
Commonly used phrases, sayings, or facts that may be included in their book does not come under plagiarism. Fictional novels are less likely to come under a plagiarism controversy if the plot, scenarios, and characters are original. One may be inspired by other works and their subtle references may show up in the content.
Can Plagiarism Be Unintentional?
Although there are many instances where plagiarism seems completely intentional, unintentional plagiarism is one the most common occurrences in literature. In most cases, it stems from the research that an author carries out on their intended topic, before writing their manuscript. The learning and reading of pre-written material during the research stage will continue to marinate and reverberate in the mind of the author, and although it may seem original while they are penning their book, the written material will end up being unoriginal.
How to Avoid Such a Scenario?
- Establish Parameters: Before carrying out research, establish the parameters around which your book shall revolve. This will ensure that your research is specific and the themes of your manuscript are based on your original ideas.
- Refer to Multiple Articles: Wilson Mizner said that “If you steal from one author it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many it’s research”. Establishing the base of your content on a single article will increase the chances of plagiarism as the research is narrow and the perspective may be skewed. Ensure that you carry out thorough research and refer to multiple articles that provide different perspectives.
- Avoid Copy Pasting: While carrying out your research, do ensure that you aren’t copy-pasting the entire sentence or paragraph. Instead, jot down important words or phrases and form your sentences around them instead of trying to reframe the original content. This not only eliminates the issue of plagiarism but also lets you make your content seem original.
- Incorporate Quotations: It’s common nature to use quotes by scholars, public figures, other authors, etc., in your novel. Using quotes gives your content depth and much-needed perspective. However, you need to ensure that you incorporate quotations and duly credit the individual whose quote you are using.
- Use Detection Tools: The best way to avoid plagiarism is to run your manuscript through a plagiarism detector/ checker once it’s ready. There are many tools available; although each one has a different detection rate. Using the most sophisticated tool with a higher detection rate will ensure your manuscript is free from any unintended plagiarism. However, as these tools are web-based and run their checks on web-based content, they cannot detect any content that is sourced from physical sources such as newspapers, magazines and other books. In such cases, manual referencing and cross-checking becomes important. Do remember to keep detailed notes or bibliography lists to ensure you can conduct this check.
The concept of plagiarism is much-debated and its boundaries remain hazy. However, it will always be considered a form of theft rather than inspiration, irrespective of it being intentional or otherwise. It’s always better to incorporate some measures in order to avoid the tag of theft being associated with your name.
