Do you have to worry about someone stealing your ideas if you are in a critique group?

Answer 1

I've never experienced that problem, but I have experienced some snippiness. Sometimes if you have a really good idea, or if your work is really good that can spark some professional jealousy and it's typically with the most experienced person. I started writing with a partner and it's perfect. I know what she wants and she knows what I want and we help each other. I help her with her project and she helps me with mine. I'm her editor and she's mine., that sort of thing.

Answer 2

No. Simply. Your ideas may be out in the open, but you have power in numbers. The others in your group would see such a thing occur. Also, you are the only one that can do exactly what you are going to do, be it paint or write. That is a kind of security, and though it may seem small now, understand that you are very unique. Lastly, the open communication of crits is invaluable. Just remember that you can only communicate so much of an idea in crit. The rest is in your noggin until the work is done. No one can steal that. Still, if you feel you have a single idea that is worth protecting, you should protect it from all, not just crits, until you can protect it legally.

Answer 3

I, for one, don't feel compelled to validate my stories by seeking the random opinions of strangers. I'm really just that confident in my writing. Honestly, I would not even take the chance of posting my ideas online. I think if you just want opinions on your story ideas and feel like you absolutely need guidance, you should just post general questions. You don't have to divulge your entire plot. You can ask, "would you be interested in reading a book about a war on Mars and the fated romance between the Martian girl found there and the soldier who is tasked with murdering her," instead of posting an excerpt from the story that shows in detail exactly what you intend on writing about. If you want someone to critique your writing, instead of posting your story you can write up a couple of paragraphs. People can determine if you are a good writer without you posting your life's work on the internet... .

Answer 4

Oh course not! I've been in many critque groups and writing workshops. I went to school for a BFA in writing and publishing. People can't steal your ideas because they are copyrighted. If someone stole a plot you created, you can sue them. But more importantly, ask yourself this: why would you steal someone's ideas? A real writer wants to write their own story. Many famous authors are in writing groups (Laurell K Hamilton thanks her writing group at the front of her books...she's a bestseller btw)

I'm part of SCBWI and we do manuscript shares all the time. How else can you be sure something is clear? How else can you know that so-ans-so slows down the pace. I have never been able to publish any of my pieces that were not workshopped. (In my teens, I did't let anyone read my stuff and I was repeatedly rejected. College and post-college, I have been repeatedly published because I workshop.)

So the question is: is the risk of someone stealing your idea worth the risk of never being able to see it in print?

Answer 5

Worry is a strong word. Sharing ideas is what you are doing as a writer. In my published work in books, magazines, and trade manuals I find writing to work like any other industry; grouping with competitors can be great for you or awful depending upon how you "work."

This is why gas stations, car lots, super markets, and even book stores put themselves together. I like talking with other writers. I also realize that many say the same things. We all do, this is great to know your market and your style of artistic expression. If you didn't have similar writings you wouldn't have genre to have your readership FIND you.

Plagiarists are a pain and I know they will not last while I will. For I know my art and all they know is...well...my art. It is also a great means for me to gain advertising, and has, when others see my work under another name. I find paranoia makes you too fearful to do your own writing, for worrying about others taking your work. Simultaneously you can not get better at your writing unless you allow other brains to help you improve.

Answer 6

Someone could always "take" your idea and make it their own. Ideas cannot be copyrighted; original written works can be. If you are worried about a story or chapter of a novel being "stolen," don't post all of it. Just post a part of it.

Generally, people on groups do not copy each other's works.

Answer 7

Anytime you are in a public group you must be concerned about someone stealing your ideas.

The ONLY way to protect yourself from that is to NEVER talk about your ideas when you are in a group setting.

Answer 8

First of all, they shouldn't know what your doing at all! Even if they are "big bucks" and you want to tell everyone. But the you shouldn't worry that much at all. Because let me you this, you made up the idea not them, so you have a better perspective on it than them. Unless you told them everything that you were going to do which is probably recklessness.

Answer 9

Yes, very much so. Thieves are everywhere and that is the main reason most people join critique groups.

Answer 10

Happens to me all the time. I just console myself ith the knowledge that I came up ith the idea originally, and continue to have brilliant ideas. Sometimes you can let your intelligence shine a little too brightly, when that happens, it doesn't hurt anything to let someone else get some of your credit.
Good Luck