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Stories to Share

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 13 Comments

Time to ShareDon’t you just love a good story? So do I and I have several to share with you. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did. We all need a little recognition, especially when it comes to our stories. So, give the authors a little love and let them know what you think about their stories.

First up:

  1.  Bed Hole Syndrome by  Carla Lancken. Courtesy of Flash Fiction Magazine.
  2. An Unexpected Death by P.S. Hoffman.
  3. Short-listed by Mash Stories: Monte Carlo by Dominic Howarth.
  4. And, from WOW-Women on Writing’s 2015 Fall Flash Fiction Contest:

Interested in seeing Your Story Published? Check out the Mash Stories Competition and Wow- Women on Writing’s Summer 2016 Flash Fiction Contest.

Sit back, kick up your feet and enjoy a good read.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood,  Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram. You can follow my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

 

 

You Asked: What is Plagiarism?

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 37 Comments

Welcome to another: You Asked the Experts Answer, segment. The question this week – What is plagiarism?

If you’ve been watching television, read anything on social media, or in the news this week, you’re aware of the controversial speech Melania Trump gave on Monday night. Personally, I thought her speech was beautifully given and expressed some of the same values I’ve articulated. However, many don’t see it that way, questioning certain passages as plagiarism.

As writers we’ve repeatedly heard the saying, there is no new story under the sun.  Not wanting to plagiarize, I went on the hunt for the original source. There were many quasi-sources, but the most original came from the King James Bible – Ecclesiastes 1:9. Some might argue that the above statement is a common expression and doesn’t need sourcing, but and there in lies the rub. How do we know? You can find out more about, The exception of common knowledge, here

What is Plagiarism?

According to the reliable Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Plagiarism  -“the act of using another person’s words or ideas without giving credit to that person.” However, it’s more complicated than good old Webster implies.

Types of Plagiarism:

According to the Harvard Guide to Using Sources, there are six types of plagiarism. You can find out more by clicking on the links below.

  1. Verbatim plagiarism – word for word.
  2. Mosaic plagiarism – bits and pieces.
  3. Inadequate paraphrase – language too close to the original.
  4. United paraphrase – using your words to reflect another’s ideas or words with giving credit.
  5. United quotations – using quotations without citing the source.
  6. Using material from another’s work – collaboration is fine, but most be cited from the source.

As you can see avoiding making mistakes is like walking a tightrope at times and as writers it becomes even more important. Below are a number of resources to help you avoid those nasty pitfalls. In addition, I’ve provided a list of the top plagiarism checkers for you to evaluate.

Books Worth Reading This Summer

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

There is nothing quite like reading a good book. I especially love those that pull me in on page one and don’t let go. So, if you’re looking for something to read, check out my latest reviews on the Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson and The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza. You can read my reviews here, or Amazon and GoodReads.

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And, for all my reviews, follow me on Amazon.

What about you? Do you have a favorite book to share?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood,  Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram.

Predictable? Maybe

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

The Daily Post Prompt: Unpredictable – “behaving or occurring in a way that is not expected.”

Not likely; most who know me will tell you I’m very predictable. I keep my house clean enough one would think the Queen of England was visiting. My kids will tell you I can never keep their Christmas or birthday presents a secret, and I’m an obsessive planner and list maker.

My husband would say, besides being the most opinionated and challenging woman he’s ever met, I have no sense of direction. My sisters will tell you I’m an uncompromising conservative, among other things, but I’ll leave those adjectives to your imagination. Yet, I’m a complete fly-by-the-pants writer – go figure.

To be honest, they’re all correct – to a point. I’ll admit preferring the known to the unknown.Predictability gives me a sense of safety in a world that’s growing increasingly uncertain and unsafe by the day. Give me a map, my lists, instructions, or detailed plans any day. I’ve had my share of unpredictability, and I don’t like it.

However, I’m open to other opinions and words of wisdom, see for yourself:





What about you? Are you Predictable?  I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood,  Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram.