What's the penalty for stealing ya'll's ideas?

still alive · Nov 3, 2009

Or has your posting them giving me the right to "borrow" some of them?

zpeteman--I like the placement of your chapter headings. And I'm sorry but I forget the name of the other guy I borrowed from but you used the exactly 17 point and I like that. I'm using a different font, and several other "details" of my own, but...

I told my dtr, who with her husband, is always improving their house by doing master carpentry--he's a lawyer for heaven's sake--but she said she copies all the time. If she finds a picture she likes, they copy it.

So don't blame me--blame my kid, but watch it carefully, her husband can sue you.

One other kinda off-subject question: with POD how do you get books in bookstores? A lot of people don't have the Internet access, believe it or not!

So how would they order your book??

Thanks.

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

Good Lord.

*bails*

still alive · Nov 3, 2009

mscelinaI take it you don't approve of my post? There's a phrase in French that I like because it sounds so much worse than it is: tant pis!

I didn't address it to you in the first place.

Perks · Nov 3, 2009

Are you talking about using layout structure for your work that you saw here on AW, or are you saying you took plot ideas, or worse,that you plagiarized material?

Rolling Thunder · Nov 3, 2009

Well, ideas are a dime a dozen --it all depends on how each writer interprets the plot and interaction of the characters that makes each work unique.

My interpertation of this thread, however, is you're trolling. That's not wise.

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

I neither approve nor disapprove of your post. I think it's a fairly ridiculous post, but that's on you. *shrug*

Then again, I have lots of phrases in French I could whip out here, but why bother? If you wish to have a private conversation with someone about stealing their ideas, the appropriate place to do so is in PM and not in the public forum.

Tout suite. Comprendrez vous? Bon. Au revoir.

Perks · Nov 3, 2009

I got no French to whip out. Can I still play?

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

Mais oui, mon ami.

You can toss in some Latin or German if you prefer.

still alive · Nov 3, 2009

mscelina, if you're leaving right now, why are you still around?

tongue in cheek got by you, did it?

Rolling Thunder, I'm not trolling. I've been discussing self-publishing and POD on other threads. And I'm not plagarizing, I can write my own novel, thank you.

But copying style might be a form of plagarizing I'm not familiar with, so I asked before I did it! Especially since book designers get a lot of money for what they do. And I'm doing it myself and am a novice but learning.

James D. Macdonald · Nov 3, 2009

WTF?

Ideas can't be copyrighted. And that's okay, because they're worthless.

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

still alive said:
mscelina, if you're leaving right now, why are you still around? tongue in cheek got by you, did it?

Rolling Thunder, I'm not trolling. I've been discussing self-publishing and POD on other threads. And I'm not plagarizing, I can write my own novel, thank you.

But copying style might be a form of plagarizing I'm not familiar with, so I asked before I did it! Especially since book designers get a lot of money for what they do. And I'm doing it myself and am a novice but learning.

Dude, if you don't have more sense that to tout your facility for stealing other people's ideas in a writer's thread then I'd find another hobby.

And with that, I leave the itty bitty troll committee to the mods.

still alive · Nov 3, 2009

They are more than "ideas," they are concrete expressions of creativity just like any design artist puts into his/her work.

still alive · Nov 3, 2009

mscilina, I'm not a dude! I'm a dude-ess

Deleted member 42 · Nov 3, 2009

still alive said:
One other kinda off-subject question: with POD how do you get books in bookstores? A lot of people don't have the Internet access, believe it or not! So how would they order your book??

Mostly, they don't. POD books don't have returns; bookstores depend on being able to return books.

POD books are excessively high priced, and not mass market sized.

You might get a local bookstore to stock a few, maybe.

Or you could sell them to the billy goats who pass above you on the bridge . . .

MacAllister · Nov 3, 2009

The penalty? For talking about theft of intellectual property?

Pretty much you get to go do it somewhere else, but not here.

I suggest you take the next seven days to do some reading, figure out why it gets up people's noses when you're talking so glibly about swiping from them, and try again.

James D. Macdonald · Nov 3, 2009

What kind of ideas? Like, putting page numbers on the bottoms of the pages? Using running heads? Justifying the text? Centering the chapter titles? Using chapter titles at all?

Or do you mean trying to write in the style of Stephen King? Sure you can try. Lots of folks do. Few succeed.

Art Edwards · Nov 3, 2009

The penalty is $1000, payable to me, now.

valeriec80 · Nov 3, 2009

Okay, dumb question.

What does this "troll" word mean on the interwebs exactly?

I keep reading it, and I can't figure it out.

Perks · Nov 3, 2009

valeriec80 said:
Okay, dumb question.

What does this "troll" word mean on the interwebs exactly?

I keep reading it, and I can't figure it out.

Trolling is really just being contrary or inflammatory to annoy and provoke other participants.

poetinahat · Nov 3, 2009

still alive said:
mscelinaI take it you don't approve of my post? There's a phrase in French that I like because it sounds so much worse than it is: tant pis!

I didn't address it to you in the first place.

Here's a tip: If you don't want people to answer you, don't ask the question in a thread.

You started it; people get to reply.

Tant mieux.

Barbarique · Nov 3, 2009

Perks said:
Trolling is really just being contrary or inflammatory to annoy and provoke other participants.

Huh! And here I thought it meant like in fishing, when you're "trolling" a lure behind the boat, trying to goad the fish into biting.

Learn something new every day.

Deleted member 42 · Nov 3, 2009

Barbarique said:
Huh! And here I thought it meant like in fishing, when you're "trolling" a lure behind the boat, trying to goad the fish into biting.

Learn something new every day.

It's both. There are two words in English; a noun Troll, and a verb to troll.

The two words are not related, but the Internet use of the terms, noun and verb, draws on both.

The Noun

From Old Norse; a mythological creature associated with bridges, magic, and luring people to their doom. The root of the word in Old Norse has to do with magic and charms/spells.

It was borrowed into English twice; first, directly from Old Norse into Old English as Troll; second from the dialect of English spoken on the Shetland Islands, which was inhabited by Norse speakers. Troll became Trow.

The Verb

~~Stolen~~ Borrowed from Old French, but ultimately of Germanic origin; has to do with repetitive motion, walking back and forth, or in a circle, or the sort of repetitive motion associated with trolling in fishing.

Hence the Internet use of troll, which combines the verb and the noun--a person who repeatedly misbehaves in order to elicit reactions, often, in hopes of angering/hurting/upsetting the unwary or naive user. Typically trolls are PITA with no life, and little genuine wit.

The Troll engages in online trolling in hopes of damaging the community.

LovetoWrite · Nov 3, 2009

still alive - When you were asking for help in the font spacing it was Captain Jack that gave you this advice, with a picture of what it looked like from his book. In doing so, I don't think he minded you using his advice. I would PM him if you want to be sure.

I used Garamond 12.5 and I think it is still a bit small! Must be my old man eyes! I also used "exactly" 17 point line spacing. That was for Grinzelville, for That's Ancient History I went to 13 font ..... here is a picture of the Grinzleville layout:

zpeteman gave you a pdf link to show you what he did as his advice. Also in another thread.

I've spent a large chunk of time lately typesetting my book as I get it ready for the printer. Just about everyday someone asks me what exactly typesetting means. So I put a post up on my website describing in some detail what I've been working on and included some examples in screenshots as well as a .pdf of a finalized passage.

Since poor typesetting is an incredibly common thing in self-publishing, I thought I'd mention it here in hopes that this little slice of information might save someone else's book from becoming just another self-pub stereotype.
If you're interested, here's the link.

I think you are safe and in no way stealing anyone's art or hard work. I would also like to say that their typesetting is rather beautiful and I for one appreciate the advice they have given.

Good luck with your book.

Rolling Thunder · Nov 3, 2009

The OP is in time-out and can't respond, so I'll close this and let it sink.

What's the penalty for stealing ya'll's ideas?

practical experience, FTW

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

practical experience, FTW

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

practical experience, FTW

Your Genial Uncle

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

practical experience, FTW

practical experience, FTW

Deleted member 42

Tired and worried.

Your Genial Uncle

Got the hang of it, here

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Numbers are beautiful

Elle est arrivée!

Deleted member 42