I'VE BEEN PLAGIARIZED

What a sad way to end the day. My story has been plagiarized.

It was stolen, copied and submitted here, right before my eyes.

IMRAN BADSHAH is the name of the thief.

This person is now causing me grief.

I can't help but wonder if she's done this before.

I hope Vocal stops her so she'll do it no more!!

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Writing at Vocal was a highlight of my week. After work, I'd come home, make a cup of tea, and sit at my computer, putting my thoughts together. Or at least trying to find them, gather them, harness them, then post those results and see where all those words take me.

I can't even describe what a thrill when I'd receive a positive comment from other on this site, especially when they subscribe to my page.

It didn't matter if I wrote a poem, a silly story or a serious one. I enjoy writing all sorts of, well, items, I guess you could call them.

My biggest problem was when my brain would latch onto a topic and once my fingers started typing, they'd forget to stop. (Ha ha) But then, doesn't that often to happen to most of us who write?

And now, here we are! Yes, as my poem said: I have been plagiarized.

I've been writing my little MIA series: She Followed Me Home, You're All Mine, Midnight Magic, and so far, Tus Nua.

IMRAN BADSHAH has stolen Tus Nua ch 5, pasted it on her page claiming to be the author!

There are many emotions running through my body. I'm angry, hurt, sad, disillusioned (that someone here on Vocal) would do that.

I'm so grateful that someone caught this and reported it. As soon as she notified me, I went online and sure enough! There was MY story on a page that belongs to BADSHAH!

How dare she!

I also reported it but other than that, I don't know what else to do?

Where do I go from here?

How do I protect myself? My writing? My integrity?

Since this has, as far as I know, only been discovered, I'm now left wondering what Vocal plans to do.

Will this person be banned from Vocal?

Since my authorship has now been compromised, will those right now be restored to me?

Will Vocal demand that I remove the story all together? I certainly hope not since I worked hard and am still working hard at my MIA series.

I understand I'm not the first to be plagiarized and I won't be the last; but this IS a first for me.

I fell as though my brain has been trampled on and kicked to the curb.

So, I'm going to ask any of my subscribers for a kind word to help me get through this emotionally - since I have all those emotions running through me, I'm not sure which is stronger: anger, hurt, sadness. And worst of all, here at home, I'm keeping it all inside. My husband would never understand. His comment would be for me to quit Vocal and remove all my work but since I've written so much and worked hard at it all, that's something I really don't want to do.

Thank you for reading this - because as I said:

What a sad way to end the day. My story has been plagiarized.

It was stolen, copied and submitted here, right before my eyes.

IMRAN BADSHAH is the name of the thief.

This person is now causing me grief.

I can't help but wonder if she's done this before.

I hope Vocal stops her so she'll do it no more!!

YES, THIS IS DEFINITELY TRUE!!