Camouflaging Stories

A few months ago I learned that a mentor of mine, a fellow writer had stolen my family story. Insert gasp here please....

I realize now that I've been allowing this heart breaking reality to hold me back from writing further. So, today I thought I'd write down what happened. I'm going to touch on the things that have been really bugging me and once and for all-- simply be done with it. Perhaps it will help you forgive and forget something your going through as well. You never know...

It happened several years ago, when I was starting to write again. I had stars in my eyes as I met one of my favorite authors. I first told her my conversion story and then I told her a story idea that I had--using a family story. I was stumped on how to change the story line so that anyone who was familiar with it wouldn't recognize it. She stated that she was very good at camouflaging stories and that the idea was so good that if I didn't use it, she would. My heart leaped out of my chest as I realized I'd done something so stupid!

I begged her immediately, not to use it and she relented, or so I thought. This year, several years later I was sitting in my chair, innocently reading what I had been told was this writers best series ever. About a chapter into the book I recognized the story. Then thinking that It was coincidental, I purchase another book in the three book series. I was sick to my stomach. Just sick! It was my story and she had done a TERRIBLE job of camouflaging it. The story line fell flat knowing what I knew. I never purchased the third book. The lead in to it was an all familiar story line, so recognizable, so in my face! I knew sadly that I didn't have a legal foot to stand on and she had oh so much more money than I. I would loose a legal battle for sure. I've always been a strong woman, stood up for what was right. I knew though, that I would lose this one if I tried.

Well, after that I went through all the emotions from anger to anguish. I felt stupid and naive for having trusted my story to someone who wasn't honest. It was heartbreaking. She had even spotlighted me on her writers website several times. Was the last one out of guilt?

I confided my feelings in a dear friend overseas. Her son wanted to hit every blog and website and tell people what kind of person my past mentor was. He wanted to hurt her as much as she had hurt me--and right this terrible wrong...What a friend. (Thanks!) That's what snapped me back out of my self imposed pity party.

I realized in those moments, it would be all too easy to have a hay-day on the Internet and tell the world how crooked she was. But, it would only sink me down to her level. I decided that she hadn't got the best stories from my mind and that I would survive this and come back from it somehow. The only problem being, that I really haven't written a single page except to friends and family. My writing has suffered up until today. Of course getting well was part of it too! I'm not giving her any more power than need be.

Today I'm taking it all back though! I'm going to be praying for guidance and for the ability to truly forgive my mentor. Then, I intend to get writing and surpass all she thought I could do. Yes, today is the day I overcome this stumbling block and make it into a stepping stone in my life. I have lived and I have learned from this. I am the one who remained true to herself and to a loving God who watches over us all. I'm leaving the job of sifting through my mentors misdeeds to the one who will judge us all. After all, it's His job, not mine. I'm sure I'm not the first person she has stolen from.

I feel it important to carry the next quote over from my previous post at this point. It seems appropriate. I hope my readers don't mind. I can see how the following helps my thought process and my choices. I hope it helps you when you find that the trials in your life are too difficult to overcome alone. Keep the faith, hang onto hope. This situation will improve. I know mine will because..... Tonight I write!


Survival Tips for Faith

• Call on your Heavenly Father for help.
• Avoid anything addictive.
• Let faith and reason work together.
• Leave the dark side alone.
• Wash away sin with repentance.
• Prepare for a long and happy life.