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This blog is run by Ashleigh Neame, with guest posts from other authors. If you have any suggestions on what you want to see on this blog, vote on the poll on the right hand side of the page. Want to write for the blog? Email Ashleigh at author.ashleighneame@hotmail.co.nz or see the right hand side of the blog.

Thursday, 11 April 2013

11/04/2013 - Theft Of A Novel Idea

So, I think for a while my posts will be fewer than usual. I am really busy with university right now, and I'm finding it hard to keep up with all the work required, and unfortunately uni comes before this blog. That really stinks, because I love this blog.

But anyway, moving on. For those of you who still live under a rock, Wattpad is the largest online, free eBook hub. Anyone can sign up, write a story, 'publish' each chapter as they write it and get feedback on their works. It's great for writer's just testing the waters to see if people like their work.

But there are drawbacks. For one, it's hard to break out and become the next Wattpad star. Often you have to promote your works yourself, and that's just as time consuming as writing the story itself. Another drawback is the opportunity for theft.

Now Wattpad claims to allow writers to contain all rights to their work, but recently something has been brought to my attention.

I once came across a short story called 'Murder Day', by Adam Sigrist. (You can check out his Fable Press Author Profile here). I loved the story so much, and so did many others, because it has a unique and original storyline. Once a year, everyone aged 18 and over is allowed to go and murder anyone they like. Sigrist had such rave reviews, he turned it into a novel (read it here).

Then someone found this video online.



The idea is so similar to Adam Sigrist's novel, many suspect someone read his novel online, and then ripped off his idea and sold it to movie companies as their own. Indeed, when I saw it, I was so angry because it was so similar, and it wasn't even my own story!

Because of this, I am no longer posting my stories on Wattpad. Sure, I'll post a few chapters, but no longer a whole novel. I'm not happy about risking my ideas to be ripped off.

I hope many others will take my advice - don't post full stories online.

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