Fashion

R is for Robin’s Egg Blue

R is for Robin’s Egg Blue. I love this shirt. It has birds on it.

This headband cost me $2.50. I looove it. And lookit! You can sorta see my freckles! I love freckles…

By wearing these shoes I am urging the weather to turn into summer.

So far so good! It’s sunny right now.

17 Comments

  • aarongraham

    It’s always discouraging to read the there are still people out there who will steal your work like that. But I’m so glad you not only stood up for yourself, the 999 other writers out there, and the thousands more who might have been otherwise effected.

    THANK YOU!

    • Mara

      It is discouraging, but it’s also shown me that for this one plagiarist alone, there are at least 100 people who will stand by and defend the rights of the original author, and at least 100 people loyal enough to me to take a stand.

      And how could I not stand up for myself and others? It’s the only way to go. 😉 Thank you for the comment and support!

  • Rene

    I understand your frustration. I have had a similar experience. I find fan arts I have created on different sites with no credit give to me after I have taken the time to create them. Luckily this particular community of whom I speak is rather small and I have been able to contact the people about their transgressions at least at this point. I was in a way flattered about the arts situation but it was odd to see something like that and wonder if they even considered that I might want credit for it.

    There was a site, which will remain nameless, where I find links to my stories and comments about them with unflattering remarks. It was at that time I was able to say, “Hey looks it is me here and those are my writings. If you don’t like them can we chat about why?” LOL I do wish you success in getting your matter resolved successfully.

    • Mara

      That’s so frustrating! I’m glad you’ve been able to contact people about their transgressions and get it taken care of. People just don’t seem to think these days.

      lol. Good for you, facing the critics head on like that! I hope it’s resolved, too. 🙂

  • someonetookmyusername

    I sent a message. I actually found that not only does she steal from people like you and me, who post stories on sites like FictionPress, but well-known authors. She posted Edgar Allen Poe’s story ‘The Black Cat’ and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Offshore Pirate’, both without giving mention of the true authors. I also clicked the little exclamation mark-thingy to notify the moderator or something of the plagiarism, which I’m sure that you’ve already done. I just want to see if I’ll get a response.

    On a much scarier note, I was browsing the site, trying to figure out if there was anyone else I could contact about the matter, and I found a post from the admin saying that they needed people to apply for the position of moderators. I just started laughing until I realized that one of the girls who responded to the post about being a moderator is the same girl who told you to calm down because it was just sharing.

    Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I did send a message. I also did the screen print thing and now I have an image proving that I sent the message that I did. 🙂 I hope it all works out.

    • Mara

      Holy wow. That’s ridiculous! I wonder if all of the site users are like that? I really, really, really hope that their website just collapses. I’m also hoping that enough people find the plagiarized works and report them all, and send messages to the Admin so that she get so swamped with messages she just gets tired of it and takes everything down.

      I saw that note! I was like… oh… no. Sigh. Yeah.

      Thank you! It’s a good idea to do the screenshot to have proof of all the actions taken on the matter. I hope it works out, too!

  • P.J.

    My wonder is what the extension .pk is on the website. It might be hard to sue someone who is out of the country and to be able to get anywhere. Still, I don’t disagree with how you are approaching this. I hope it ends with your story being pulled off that website. Very scary to think how this all happens.

    • Mara

      Well, my hope is that they get intimidated enough they don’t think about it. Because they don’t seem to think much as it is. And at the very least, I’m pretty sure there’s a way to report the entire website and have it destroyed.

  • Catherine

    Thank you so much for taking the initiative in dealing with this. I probably would have pursued my case more (this is Aurette from FP and my story “The End of You and Me” was plagiarized). I think I gave up because I was dealing with a lot in my life when I discovered it (and I still am) and it didn’t seem likely that action would be taken.

    I also got plagiarized recently on someone who completely lied about stealing my stuff and even had people tell her she should look into a publisher for mine (and other people’s) works. Ouch.

    • Mara

      Of course! You’re welcome. I couldn’t just leave it, and since I have no life right now (jobless), I figured I might as well try to get it taken care of. 🙂 I’ve got the time on my hands, and there are a lot of authors out there who deserve to be fought for!

      Oh, wow. That’s really irritating! Did she get taken down?

  • Georgia

    Hey Mara, wrote you an email on this anyway, but I got plagiarised too.
    And I know you probably don’t approve of cursing, but I just had one word in my head: fuck. She plagiarised this story of mine;
    http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2810212/1/My_Sorrow_When_Shes_Here
    Which is admittedly not my best, but actually one of my favourites, so I was… very upset. Reported it to the administrator, whether or not anything happens is yet to be seen. Also, she plagiarised it A DAY after I posted it. ONE WHOLE DAY. Oh my goodness.
    On a happier note, you look beautiful and I want you to do a post on styling tips for hair as short as yours (mine is the same length and I really love some of the style you do :D)

    • Mara

      Haha! Well, yeah. I dislike cursing but I understand how you feel.
      Hopefully the Admins get enough messages that they get tired of it and ban her. I’ve linked you on my writing website page, so any readers that see the front page will hopefully go report the story and message the Admin!

      It seems like every single thing she plagiarized was plagiarized on May 25th, 2010. I mean… every single one has the same date. I don’t get it.

      I did a video just for you, and I’ll be posting it at the end of today’s blog… whenever I get around to blogging. 😀 I am currently having too much fun updating my writing website. Thank you!

  • Sonia

    I found someone to do a translation… the closest that they could come up with was: Keep your chicken safe, somebody may steal it.

    So is she seriously blaming you for being plaigarized then? I honestly don’t know how some people come up with these things.

    • Mara

      Yeah, someone else told me the same thing– keep your chickens protected (in a farm), no need to call anyone a thief.

      I think they just like excuses to steal things. 🙂