Really?
Quick way to get me to never support your writing again: steal mine. My specific plot points I know you’ve read. My ideas we’ve talked about.
I try to be kind and polite and understanding, and I know accusations of plagiarism are nasty. But nice doesn’t mean dummy. Don’t steal from me. Don’t steal from anyone. If something inspires you, reach out and ask if it’s okay to use it as a launching board for your own work, or to publish something if you recognize the inspiration after it is written— or write something for your eyes only. Don’t put up someone else’s idea as though it was your own and take credit for that. It’s gross. This makes fanfic writers stop sharing things or leave fandoms altogether, start having to blast their own work more than they would otherwise, or start coming after you, and all of those are unpleasant and unnecessary unless you make them so. And there are back channels where this stuff gets talked about, so don’t fool yourself into thinking it’ll be okay, no one will realize.
I have handled rare matters I believe to be plagiarism quietly and privately (or silently) in the past, without publicly outing anyone. But it’s become a problem, and going forward, I’m resolving not to be shy or give that grace. I’m not going to care about your feelings or good name if you don’t respect mine.
(All that said, if you ask me I’ll almost certainly say yes! And give you enthusiastic blessing and promise to reblog when you publish. But that ask/permission are NECESSARY to maintain clear air and good feelings.)
