FeathersOfDust

Here is the story of the story so far. I read an article on Wikipedia about someone, and something they did struck me as a great idea for a short piece of fiction.

They're not hugely famous, certainly not outside Britain, and the story is not a huge part of their lives. When I wrote it, it turned out as a comment on the purpose of fiction rather than being focused on the events of the story itself. But the similarities are all very obvious and striking to anyone who knows the story, so much so that there's no way it could be mistaken for anyone else.

Thing is, I'm now really happy with it, and it was written for a competition that closes on Saturday.

Do I enter? Do I link to the website I read the story on and ask them to take that into consideration? Am I just a pathetic little plagiarista?

Help required. Thanks...

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geminye

I am by no means an expert on plagiarism, but if you were to read an article about Dr. So and So that discovers a new method of cloning or something, you wouldn't be plagiarizing the story as long as you changed names, patented methods ect., right? I mean, anything in the news is fair game as long as names are changed. I don't think that you can get into trouble for citing actual events.

Does anyone here know for sure?

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FeathersOfDust

Thanks, geminye. It's just that I worry that if I theoretically win the competition and it's published, people might think it's some kind of comment on the actual celebrity - or worse, that I have some insider knowledge - whereas it's very much nothing to do with him.

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smilinghelps

Television and movies are often inspired by actual events but with a bit of drama for ratings purposes.

If you wrote a fictional story inspired by actual events, you are not a plagiarist.

Look at Jackie Collins, she did it all the time.

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Mike C

Using details from somebody's life isn't plagiarism. You can't copyright events. Write and be damned, to paraphrase the old saying. There are scores of stories, novels and movies using thinly-veiled biographical details.

You have no control over how people will interpret your work, and it's not your job to second-guess the reader. Enter. Win. Rejoice.

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FeathersOfDust

I took your advice, Mike. The first part, that is. The winning and rejoicing are yet to come.

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Mike C

I have crossed fingers, toes and eyes. Good luck.

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Cran

FeathersOfDust, as Mike C, smilinghelps, and geminye have indicated,
it's not uncommon to find works which include little notes:

Inspired by [insert events here].

Based on a true story ... or Based on actual events ...

without even being specific about the links referred to ...

There would be very few (if any) instances in established history
or current affairs which could not be considered public domain
for the purpose of developing a story or report.

Plagiarism would only be considered if you've quoted or mimicked a previously published work, and presented it as your own -
simply basing a story on a real event is not plagiarism.

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