Help from writers
By mssnow
@mssnow (9484)
United States
March 26, 2007 7:18pm CST
I know I can write. But there is something big holding me back. When it comes to research. I'm having a hard time understand how not to plagiarize. I know the obvious. Don't copy word for word. But I am having a hard time figuring out how to put something in my own words. I was told to read the whole paragraph and then explain it in my own words, but my own words usually sounds like the paragraph. Any tips or suggestions on this issue will be of great help. I want to move on with my writings but can't with this big block in my way.
2 people like this
3 responses
@SilentRose19 (1733)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Try just changing the words up, look for some synonyms. Its very easy to say the same thing with different words, and just sum it up you know.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
27 Mar 07
LOL - I have a lot of experience with this and nearly got busted for plagerisim last year. I figured out my problem, when researching I tend to have great short term memory and when I would right as you I tended to write almost the same as what I had read. I found a way around this and have tested it. I do my research one day taking notes on dates or specifics I don't want to get wrong. Then, I write the next day and have done much better. Something about giving some time between reading and writing that clears my head of exact words. You might try that, I've done this several times and then refered back to the pages I had read to check and my wording is different after waiting to write. It slows me down some as I can't do it all in one day but would rather produce less and take longer than to be rejected or have someone think I plagerized something.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
27 Mar 07
Thank you Faith, That does help a lot. I have been so scared of plagiarizing someones work accidentally it has kept me from making money with my writing. I think any tips I get will help me get over this big block 1 have. I will try your suggestion it might just be what i need.
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I have been very blessed. Last year when I happen to come across the man who hired me to work I had no confidence at all even though I've been told for nearly 40 years I would be a good writer. Chris, my boss is very kind and gives people a real chance at the same time he is very encouraging and helpful with 'writing tips'. It was actually a client that found my 'mess up' but Chris went to bat and simply said be more careful in the future. I've never had a problem since I've been doing my system. We did have another writer who did plagerize almost 300 articles - copied and pasted large portions of other peoples work. When it was found out Chris hired, guess who, me to go through and check every one of this other writers articles. Chris said he wanted me to do it (I got paid nicely for the job) because he knew I had learned the lesson and knew what to look for.
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
27 Mar 07
You have been blessed. I hope some day My talent will pay off as well. I just need a bit more discipline. I know i can do it. I have been told i have potential.Now its time to buckle down and do it. Maybe I'll send you something I have written so you can tell me what it needs.
2 people like this
@Elusive (285)
• United States
30 May 07
my suggestion to you, and its the one i use, is read the paragraph twice, make yshure you know it all, then do something else for about 30m then wright about it, once you are done go back and check to make shure you didnt put something wrong and unless your memory is better than mine you should put it word for word but in your own trying to remember the facts, usualy resulting in an unplagarized and decent peice of work
1 person likes this
