Meyers fanfic writer's conditional apology

RachelPlotkin · Jun 14, 2009

My Apology

Hello AW members. First off I want to apologize to all of you. This 'princess' (who is not 15 or 16 but my apparent youth may come in handy in my later years) did NOT and was not aware of the copyright rules at the time and making of my book. My single mother...is not a good influence and I was left alone to try and publish my book so I did not reaserch is properly...I would like to apologize to Stephenie Meyer (and I have written a formal letter to her publishers) asking for forgivness. I am truly sorry for making you...how shall I put this? Upset? Angry? Mad at my stupidity? Anyway, I am now completley focused on my own works and am working on querying (is that correct?) for agents.
Again I am sorry. Thank you to those of you who do realize that it was a mistake and a large one at that but I retracted it AS SOON as I realized, so...I know that is a bad excuse, but it is all I have.

Best Always,
Rachel

Gillhoughly said:
I've never heard of anyone going to jail for copyright infringement.

It is a crime for the civil courts, not the criminal courts.

But it hits the perps where it hurts: the bank account.

Once again, I am PROUD of Rachel Plotkin! She figured it out and did the right thing. Go, you!

Rachel, you are welcome to join AW any time you like.

MacAllister · Jun 14, 2009

Hiya, Rachel, and welcome to the boards.

Everyone has a steep learning curve from time to time, and it's downright gutsy to be able to say "I was wrong, and I'm doing my best to make amends" -- I admire you for your grace.

Meanwhile, we're all writers of varying levels and backgrounds here, and a pretty terrific community. Hope you'll stick around.

RachelPlotkin · Jun 14, 2009

I think I will stick around and learn a thing or two to keep me away from future trouble and problems from publishing later on.

Thanks

Gillhoughly · Jun 14, 2009

Welcome, Rachel!! :welcome:

Not to worry, you did the right thing, and we are delighted to have you here!

And if no one has mentioned it yet, by doing the right thing, YOU are light years smarter than the Spud can ever hope to be.

I hope you'll hang out on AW often and explore. This is the best place for writers to learn what they need to know about all aspects of the publishing industry.

I apologize for my harsh words. I forget that a lot of people honestly don't know about copyright. After months of reading about the Syb's *unique* take on the subject, it's too easy to think that another writer might also share her views. I'm so glad I was wrong!

Again--be welcome here and make yourself at home. This really is a good board.

RachelPlotkin · Jun 15, 2009

The harsh words were well deserved considering the situation, and it is all good now!
I will go off to explore the site.
Thanks again for the welcoming!

emilycross · Jun 15, 2009

Rachel welcome to the boards, and i apologise too!

Everyone makes mistakes, but you learnt from them and like MacAllistor and Gill said it takes guts to say you were wrong, especially with all that has been said.

I hope you enjoy the boards, its a great place to learn about writing.

Christine N. · Jun 15, 2009

Welcome Rachel! And good for you! Please stay and hang out- we don't bite...well, except maybe Peaches, but she's had all her shots :tongue

.

There's a wealth of information here about writing, as well as support in all forms!

RachelPlotkin · Jun 15, 2009

Thank you both for your welcomes!

Calla Lily · Jun 15, 2009

Welcome, Rachel!

Just avoid the Horror forum. We have a weekly noob BBQ. But we do it with love.

ETA: What am I thinking? Come visit the Horror forum.... you know you want to... We have tigers and sheep and Chihuahuas and lots of pretty things to look at...

TabithaTodd · Jun 15, 2009

Rachel,

I sincerely apologize for my snide comments towards you. You did do the right thing and that makes you smart and savvy. You are more than welcome here. I wish you luck in your writing and aspirations of being published.

You impressed a lot of people by doing the right thing!

NeuroFizz · Jun 15, 2009

Hi, Rachel. We are all trying to become better writers here. And we are all trying to achieve our writing goals. This is the positive thing about AW. I'm sure you will find an incredible amount of useful information here, and you have talents and experience that can be of benefit to all of us--your viewpoint is valuable here, just like everyone else's. Please do snoop around, find places that interest you, and get involved. This community is dedicated to mutual help and support (even though we get a little crockety and/or snide at times).

Richard White · Jun 15, 2009

Hey, Neuro!

Get off muh lawn, ya durn kid.

*grin*

Seriously, welcome, Rachel. There is a wealth of knowledge on this site and I'll also plug my bosses site too Writer Beware. It's a good place to learn about the "less-desireable" side of publishing (read - seedy, scammy). Ann and Victoria have done a great job of putting together things that are out there to trip up a new author. I'd highly recommend any new author (or not-so-new author) to read it.

RachelPlotkin · Jun 15, 2009

For some reason the word Horror seems to spark my curiousity. Being picked on for being a noob (spelling???) is always fun, one of the best parts about joining a new site actually!

Thanks again for all the welcomes! I have no harsh feelings for your comments as long as you forgive me for my mistake.

Calla Lily · Jun 15, 2009

Rachel, someday I'll tell you the story of my first query letter that had Every. Single. Mistake. I could've posssibly made in it. I hope never to meet the agents I sent it to--very few, fortunately. I'm sure they have it on their walls for when they need a good laugh.

Then I found AW.

Gillhoughly · Jun 15, 2009

You're one of us, kiddo. We forgive and forget the past, 'cause it's part of being professional.

Check out the Newbies Forum for the basic rules, then...

Hang out, relax, learn new schtuff, and have FUN!

Hey, Callalilly61, I can recount the sending of a fantasy story to a mystery house that only ever did reprints from books written in the 1930s.

Worst-query-ever! (Hand written with a calligraphy pen, pictures of the characters included. I suppose the Syb-Spud would declare I was only protecting my copyright!)

The mystery editor was kind to a 16 y.o. and rejected it so I wasn't left hanging.

.

Matera the Mad · Jun 15, 2009

joins the welcome party for a moment

Cyia · Jun 15, 2009

Rachel. Add me to list of "sorry for the harsh words".

Welcome to a (relatively) sane place full of helpful people who are generally happy to help out the n00bs. (Even when some of us pester them with questions by PM

)

Check out the forums, there's a lot of useful information.

Once you get your own story written, there's an area where you can put up a part of it for critique and feedback (sometimes harsh, but honest). There's a great section on agents and agencies so you can check out which ones are legit and worth the price of a stamp.

I think you'll like it here.

(And don't sweat the bumps in the road. We all make mistakes, but it takes a better grade of human to own them. You did good, girlie. :Sun:

)

Calla Lily · Jun 15, 2009

I tie you, at least, Gill. IIRC, the opening line of that query went something like: "Just in time for Halloween--a horror story that will make both of us money."

:e2paperba

My brain has obviously allowed me to remember it so I never get too full of myself. I blame my 10 years in direct marketing--for which a letter like this would have been okay. And my newbieness.

Nivarion · Jun 15, 2009

Hello Rachel! :welcome:

Good to see you caught your mistake and pulled it before it did harm. Proud of you for coming clean.

Welcome to the AW Cooler, Come in, put up your feet and enjoy a drink and cookie, this is a pretty great place. Learn what you need and feel free to ask any questions you have, every one here is pretty patient and willing to help.

:Hug2:

Don't feel bad about your mistake, Because you learned. Darn, what is that saying again... Is it! ah no... darn...

calley · Jun 16, 2009

Rolling Thunder said:
I need to make a clarification here regarding my earlier post. Technically, as a wise sage has pointed out to me, ladysybilla hasn't committed plagiarism; so this post is my retraction of that term.

However, the work in question is considered an Unauthorized derivative work. And my feelings are that an AW member who sees nothing wrong with using another writer's characters and backstory to continue a plot line without prior consent and attempting to market said work places other members here at risk.

That being said, I'm not lifting the ban either.

Thank you.

This is exactly the kind of person we don't want wandering through out password protected forums, sample pages, and ideas.

wordmonkey · Jun 16, 2009

Have we not done this to death by now? One sinner redeemed, the other cast from Eden. Time to hit our own prose now?

Nivarion · Jun 16, 2009

I agree monkey! to the books! they aren't going to write themselves (as much as we wish they could.)

spike · Jun 17, 2009

ladysybilla said:
Instead of wasting so much of your valuable time and energy trying to condemn my novel and my interpretation of copyright laws, maybe go for a walk out in nature and dwell in thoughts that make you happy.

Let SMeyer and Little, Brown handle this matter, and focus your energy on writing the next bestseller. I promise I won't be writing any fanfics about your novels.

I always love this argument, frequently seen in the PA boards, and coming out of the mouth of my 18-year-old daughter.

Translated: Since I can't win the argument, I'll state that you are simply over reacting. In one phrase, I'll attempt to minimize what I did wrong and blame you for making a big deal about nothing and neglecting what you should be doing.

It never works when my daughter says it, nor does it work on the internet.

Gillhoughly · Jun 17, 2009

Spike said: "Translated: Since I can't win the argument, I'll state that you are simply over reacting. In one phrase, I'll attempt to minimize what I did wrong and blame you for making a big deal about nothing and neglecting what you should be doing."

Quoted for TRUTH.

Ladysybilla said: "my interpretation of copyright law,"

Interpretation. Interpretation???

Good freakin' grief.

Like Popeye the Sailor, copyright law is what it is and so wonderfully simple that grade schoolers are well able to grasp it.

I've mentioned that before, but I know how fond the Spud is of redundancy.

How did Glroianna Arias get that dumb in just 35 (thereabouts) years?

Don't answer, it's a trick question.

Salis · Jun 17, 2009

I do think its pretty hilarious that "interpreting" laws has become all the rage with people these days. I guess it's because people read about the Supreme Judges doing it, so that must mean they can too?

"Your Honor, while I realize I may have intentionally cut off the plaintiff's arm, it is my interpretation of the relevant law that this is a friendly greeting in the context of my culture."

Meyers fanfic writer's *conditional* apology

Tired and worried.

Grumpy writer and editor

is away with the fairies

haz a shiny new book cover

On hiatus

The grad students did it

Stealthy Plot Bunny Peddler

On hiatus

Grumpy writer and editor

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Rewriting My Destiny

On hiatus

Brony level >9000

ook

Brony level >9000

Mostly Ignored

Grumpy writer and editor

You Lie!

Meyers fanfic writer's conditional apology