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Writers conferences

Started by karatewriter at 01-24-2009 3:20 PM. Topic has 3 replies.
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   01-24-2009, 3:20 PM
karatewriter

Joined on 01-25-2009
Posts 2
Does anyone ever steal your ideas at a writer's workshop?
I would like to attend a writer's workshop, but I don't know how secure these events are.  How do you pevent someone from stealing your ideas after having read your manuscript?
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   01-25-2009, 9:30 AM
MonicaW

Joined on 07-11-2008
Minnesota
Posts 16
Re: Does anyone ever steal your ideas at a writer's workshop?
I've done a few workshops at a local writing hot spot designed for workshops and classes (I recommend the Loft to anyone in the Minneapolis/St Paul MN area).  Everyone else had different genres and aims in their works.  We were there to better ourselve and our writing not to steal from each other.  I recommend that you find a good organization or established group for your workshops and ask around if you know someone who's taken workshops there.  Bring a piece that you're really working on or struggling with and not one of your more polished and treasured works so you focus more on the comments and not on if they're going to steal anything.  Workshops are about collaborating for the betterment of all in my experience.  I've been inspired to take a scrap of an idea from workmates and remake it all my own with my own genre and flavor of writing.  That's inspiration, not plagerism.
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   01-27-2009, 9:06 AM
Craven

Joined on 03-26-2008
Posts 88
Re: Does anyone ever steal your ideas at a writer's workshop?
Hi Karate (just had to say that),

Don't worry about it. First, because your idea will be miles ahead of anyone who hears it, there's no point in trying to steal it. You'll finish far before anyone else could. Second, you have thirty or so witnesses that heard you pitch the idea. If someone were to try, you'd have a good case against them.

What is more likely is that someone might hear your work, and think, I would have gone an entirely different way with that concept. They may write a totally different story based on your initial premise. In that way, you would have been their muse, but the works, yours and hers, would be separate stories.

Fear not, Board-breaker, attend your workshop, make friends and connections, hone your craft, and have a good time.

Craven

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   02-10-2009, 7:51 PM
toycar16

Joined on 02-06-2009
Posts 11
Re: Does anyone ever steal your ideas at a writer's workshop?
So far I haven't encountered that scenario but just in case, that's the worst thing that miht happen.

Looking for someone who will do my essay.
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