The other day I was editing a post I’d written about the dichotomy between gratitude and greed when a similar post popped up from the delightful and lovely blogger, Julia Preston. It wasn’t exactly the same – she was talking about a similar tension between love and fear. But it was close enough that I felt my internal defensiveness spark off instantly. Something like a voice in my head (which is cute because Julia’s blog is called Voices In My Head), “But wait – I’ve already written this. I’m not copying here!”
I know I’m not alone here because I’ve seen other comments indicating that this happens to others. I also have a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old so I know that the roots of being charged with “copying” likely go way back to our childhoods. It hits a nerve with me so that my cheeks flush and I take a mental step back.
When I return to some equanimity, I’m able to interrogate my expectation that I might ever be writing on a unique topic. There are eight billion people on this planet, about 600 million blogs, around 3 million podcasts, plus all sorts of news and writing organizations. If I think about it that way, I start to wonder why I write anything at all.
And then when the pendulum swings back to the center and I remember my values:
- Give credit where it’s due
- Appreciate when you are in good company
- Celebrate that we are all so lucky to be humans here together in this moment
- Know that we each come to a topic with our own personal flavor
Centered in all that is the beauty of writing. It might be similarly themed to something else (I’m thinking of the number of love songs in this world) but it still is valuable as a piece of self-expression.
In this case, it took me a moment to stop being greedy over my subject choice and move instead gratitude that I’m lucky enough to be in this community with like-minded others, like dear Julia. So I linked to her post at the bottom of mine so that others could follow that same thread.
I’ve published a related post on my personal blog: Climbing Out of My Gunk
Please check out these other items of interest:
More about Wynne Leon and her story-telling journey
Workshop about creativity jump start that I delivered with Dr. Vicki Atkinson
Speaking and workshops on leadership through creativity to build resilient teams
Podcast about the how and why of creativity
Articles and corporate creativity resources
Corporate evaluate your team needs for creativity
Individual creativity survey for individuals
My book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @wynneleon
(featured photo from Pexels)
I appreciate your honesty about the initial reaction to seeing another post on a similar topic, there is room for more than one person to write about similar topics.
Thanks for sharing this post about importance of gratitude and the beauty of writing
I love how you put it – room for more than one person to write about similar topics. Yes!
Thanks
It has been my experience that similar themes arise out of the collective consciousness in the blogosphere
Ah, the collective consciousness. That’s so good, Jeff!
Everyone has a different opinion and experience, so writing about the same topic is definitely not copying! It was nice of you to give the credit though.
A great point about our opinions and experience, Candy! Yes!
Oh my goodness, Wynne, first of all thank you SO much for your generosity in mentioning and sharing Voices. Your topic hits home with me in so many ways! I remember being quite angry and possessive over an idea that I thought of as “m-i-n-e” when someone else had the nerve to share it! Once I recovered from my resentment, I realized (much to my chagrin) that we’re all swimming around the same pool of consciousness and that ideas abound to be plucked from the ionosphere. Nothing is “m-i-n-e.” Sigh. So much to learn, such gratitude for the lessons. What blessings lie in the hidden crevices of our hearts and souls! Bless you dear Wynne for your wisdom and awareness!
Oh my goodness — you hit this home with me with “M-I-N-E!” Yes, that’s the feeling. And then to turn it around to the bigger picture. Beautiful! Love being part of this pool of consciousness with you, dear Julia!
I love what Julia shared — Jeff, too – about collective consciousness and ideas and inspiration floating all around us. In the same pool — yes! And I’m happy to be swimming along with like-minded, soulful humans. 🥰
I love this comment, Vicki. Because now you’ve also reminded me of Brene swimming in the pool and wishing her neighbor well. Yes, we are lucky to be in the pool together!! So so so lucky!
I’m with you…see me in the floaty with a fruity drink? I mean…you don’t need to SWIM in a swimming pool, do you? xo! 🥰🤣🥰
Hence the name of my first blog. But also, we’re all learning, right? So, it’s no coincidence that we may be learning the same things in similar seasons.
Ahhh, what an excellent point Especially those of us around the same age. Brilliant!
Yes… there does seem to be some congruence. 😏
I feel pretty confident that many, many bloggers have had this same experience. I think, even though this is not HOTM, that large numbers of folks writing around a common theme shows just how much important topics matter to so many and need to be discussed openly from all viewpoints.
Oh Deb, you’ve worked your magic to encapsulate things so well – important topics discussed openly. Right!!
It happens to most of us. Similar thoughts but expressed differently.
Well said, Sadje! Thank you!
My pleasure
Yes, I find that often. Just think, Brian and I both posted about our hurting backs on Monday! My writing mentor Gerry Petievich said that every story has already been told. It comes down to our interpretation of the story.
Yes, the back thing was funny, wasn’t it? I love that way of putting it – our interpretation of the story. Yes! (And I hope you back is feeling better, Elizabeth!).
Thank you. I am feeling much better! I’m able to walk so that helps.
I’ve often felt the same way. Especially when I’m spending the day formulating a blog post in my head, only to see a fellow blogger post the exact same idea… prompting me to skip out on my own post.
Then I remember we all have our spin on things, our own, as you put it, flavor 🙂 So it’s not really copying, more like a shared consciousness.
Shared consciousness – yes! Thanks for adding in your take.
Very insightful about how many blogs are being written and getting “back to the center” about what you value!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. Yes – those values matter, don’t they?
I’ve wrestled with myself over this when I re-visit a topic that I’ve already written about. But the truth is that over time the angle changes and the ideas ferment. They are never exactly the same.
Caroline – I love how you’ve extended the idea. I often avoid revisiting topics but now you’ve made me rethink that. Thank you!
It has happened to me, too. I think it’s inevitable when we read blogs from like-minded individuals. I just hope I put my own authentic spin on the topic so that it’s different enough that it doesn’t look like plagiarism.
Authentic spin – I love it, Michelle!
Wynne, I love this. Total disclosure: my first thought was, oh no, does someone think I copied them?! It reminds me of my years as a dancer and how we would all show up for class or rehearsal wearing the same colors. We are in this together. What a gift to have this community of writers that inspire, encourage and challenge each other. I appreciate it more and more as the years go by and the relationships deepen. Thank you for all you contribute!
Deb
Sometimes I find myself ‘copying’ from my previous writings. Of course, it happens because I don’t remember or I didn’t strike the topic through (I have a lost of topic I want to write about). While I am writing there is something that resonates as a déjà vu. But in the end it’s a new post on the same idea. I remember when at school we were given assignments on the same topic. And we all developed the subject differently. I think you can write and re-write many many times and it will be always a different text, until you get tired of it.
I have a probably unhealthy paranoia that I repeat synonyms or descriptions, especially when it comes to expressions. And I am equally as paranoid that that amazing idea that pops into my head has been done before and I’d forgotten I’d read it, or that I’ve seen it on TV. Meaning that my Google searches are almost psychotically bizarre.