Have you ever read a book and it is as if the author culled the information from another source and pasted it in their draft? It happens! There is this surge to be an author such that people now write anything, publish and call themselves AUTHOR!
Too bad.
My job as a book project consultant has given me access to having firsthand experience with drafts that seem as though the writer copied and pasted part or all of it from somewhere. Trust me, I detect such so easily and that is why I insist on reviewing manuscripts before accepting to edit them.
You see, I hate to read a book and affirm that I have read a book similar to that book somewhere. Regardless of them being books written by two people in the same industry, there should be a taste of differentiation.
The fact that two authors are writing about the same thing does not mean that what they wrote should be the same. I have read good books on Marriage, Business, Book Publishing, etc, from different authors and trust me, their experiences and illustrations are different.
So, if as an author, you copy the writing style or illustrations of another author and claim them to be yours, you are kicking yourself in the foot. Your readers will always know that they have read that same thing somewhere and gradually, you’ll begin to lose your relevance.
I have grown in the writing industry to know that no two persons think alike to the extent of penning down the same words. So, when you write the exact thing another author wrote without acknowledging the source, you are wrong!
This is why Plagiarism should be avoided at all costs.
If you are writing a book, seek to write in a personalised and unique way. Write from your point of view and where need be, quote any information you get -- author and book in most cases.
So you see, it is not just about writing a book but about writing one that stands out and positions you as a creative, smart and intelligent author. Don’t go to Google to copy and paste. Don’t photocopy other people’s books into your draft. Don’t try to steal other people’s experiences and claim them as yours.
Your readers are not daft. They will find out someday and such isn’t good for your brand.
The same thing applies to copying the content of people’s books to create content online. As long as you lack originality in your work, you are sending a message to your audience that you lack the capacity to serve them.
There can be a thousand and one books in your niche similar to your book idea; there may be hundreds of social media content same as the idea you want to create content on, but you can stand out by writing from a place of innate creativity.
If need be, brainstorm for your draft and content. Drop those books and content drafts from other people that you are trying to emulate. Get your brain working.
Note down what comes to your mind concerning that idea. They can be your personal experience too. Get them on that piece of paper and start to develop them. This is what gives your work that personal feel each time people read from you. This will make them know that you are not just writing what you read somewhere but what you truly know and have experienced.
This way, you will write books and posts that people will read and yearn to read more from you. You won’t write a mere translation of other people’s work.
Be unique! Stand out!
Special Mention:
Thank You For Reading