Steal Like A Substack Writer (Part Two)
The Certified Writer’s Files #13
Hi. I have updates, I fear.
God, it’s been a while.
Since I wrote my last post about this subject, I’ve been onto a new journey. So much has happened, you all have no idea.
Ever since that post, I’ve been copied again by a really misogynistic guy who called me QUOTE a radical man hating lezzie QUOTE, and then copied again by someone who called me “The most hypersensitive writer ever since Caroline Calloway”.
That one went straight to the heart. Ouch. Also, fuck you.
I also decided to stop submitting my work to magazines because they, apparently, are just as bad as the Substack copycats. Never forgetting what they did to me, or to my friend Valerie (At this point, please read Part One. Please?). If you know me, you know that I always try to see things in a positive light, but honestly, there’s not ONE good thing about being a freelance writer in 2024. Work just… isn’t getting picked up. And now they’re ripping us off without paying (what wouldn’t be a large amount of money anyways)? Hell, no.
And that’s why I’ve been making Substack my full time job for now. Certified is now a bi-weekly newsletter, and I’ve been reserving what I consider to be my best work to my lovely paid subscribers, who have been nothing but supportive of the new formats I’ve been offering.
I schedule my whole week around my Substack newsletter, emailing the whole population of New York City/Los Angeles to make sure I get coverage of the coolest bakeries and the quirkiest people. I’m doing alright, you know. Can’t complain. We’ll be alright.
But when I’m not busy finishing my 300 drafts, or emailing people for the second time in four days, I lurk here. And I find things that I wish I never saw.
From the very fucking moment that I’ve started to take this seriously, I decided that no one will do me dirty anymore.
Besides my very obvious efforts to remain a character from the internet, a sparkle from your imagination, I’M STILL A PERSON WITH FEELINGS.
Just because I run a Newsletter, doesn’t mean that you can steal from the Newsletter that I (a human being) created and not have me and my friend Delise wanting to put a hex on you to make you have eternal dandruff or something.
I’m not a corporation, I’m not a millionaire designer brand that fast fashion companies keep ripping off, this isn’t CERTIFIED INC. I’m just a college student with a computer and a dream to, one day, be something more than “The most hypersensitive writer ever since Caroline Calloway”.
And I honestly can’t believe that people are STILL doing this shit to me. You’re not letting me go and do my thing by stealing my pieces and my identity, that I so carefully came up with. And that leads me to my main point: IMPERSONATION.
COPYRIGHT 101 WITH TEACHER AMES (Because some of you guys fucking FAILED)
Today, I’ll be teaching you about something that happened to me (Everything happens to me, at this point).
Someone tried to impersonate me!
“Teacher, what is impersonation?”
My beautiful babies, impersonation is when someone copies the overall concept or premise of your Substack publication, but hasn’t directly copied your written content.
“When someone impersonates you, is it plagiarism or copyright infringement?”
Impersonation might not fall under traditional definitions of plagiarism or copyright infringement, but, it is something punishable if someone is impersonating you or your publication's style in a way that could confuse your audience.
So no, I have nothing to do with publications called Qualified., Specified., or whatever. Even though it is confusing to some of my readers, because some of you HAVE been asking me that. I understand that everything comes from inspiration, but when something is a literal, direct copy of your work, made by someone who blocked you for no apparent reason before doing it (SUS), you gotta be alert.
So, as much as it hurts for some of you to say this, you have to agree with me now:
was right, y’all.The decline of original content made by writers on Substack is very apparent. And that’s because some people have been copying other publications like it’s nobody’s business.
Hey, I’m not even saying that your content has to be good in order to be a writer on Substack, because that’s relative. What might be good for me, may not be good for you.
Just don’t copy people, dude.
If you feel the need to copy someone else’s content multiple times, getting to the point where you’re literally impersonating them, why are you even doing it? You’re literally making yourself look like a parody, which is the last thing you want to do if you’re trying to become a writer.
And I get it, some of you do this for fun, and it’s no big deal. But hey, have you ever thought about the fact that I don’t? Have you ever thought about the fact that I literally work all day? Publications ‘just for fun, no big deal’ can and will grow audiences, a public that will think that I was the one who copied, or that I had anything to do with content that I would never make in a million years.
I just started writing on Substack, and I’m already thinking about a million ways to not get completely obsolete. If an army of copycats gets in front of me, I’ll have no force against it, and my biggest fear of going down the drain, surrendering myself to obsolescence will happen. Original, thoughtful content will get lost in between the soulless copies.
That’s why we need to take action.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION: ANOTHER CHAT WITH THE SUBSTACK ALGORITHM.
And let’s hear from him again!!! Make some noise for THE SUBSTACK ALGORITHM!!
AMANDA: Hi, Sub. It’s been a while.
SUBSTACK: Hello! It's great to hear from you. How can I assist you today?
AMANDA: Someone has been impersonating me, can you believe that?
SUB: Hm, got it. You can report suspected impersonation directly to our Trust and Safety team by filling out the form here, and make sure to select "Impersonation" as the category. This will allow our team to review the case and take appropriate action.
AMANDA: Thank you! The form is available to everyone, right?
SUB: Yes, the Trust and Safety form is accessible to everyone.
So, if you feel threatened, or if you feel like someone has been copying or impersonating you, you can fill the Trust and Safety formulary here.
I love you all and be safe.
DON’T MAKE ME DO A PART THREE.
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You're good enough that people want to steal from you! Means you're doing something right! Keep up the good work.
Dearest Amanda, I know how upsetting this is, but darling, there really is only one YOU. You are fabulous and people want to be you. Nobody is going to believe these thieves are you, the original. As you so skillfully wrote, it's fucking hard to make it as a freelancer and on Substack. No one is going to make it bigger than you by stealing your content. No one is going to get "the big deal" by calling you names.
They just bring more attention to the original, which is YOU.
No one is copying me, and that's because I am not and up and coming star like you (yes, I am fabulous in my 57 year-old way, but as my 12 yr old son keeps reminding me, I am old). Fuck the haters and the stealers. I think it's awesome that you are getting some great stories out of this experience, keep alchemizing it!! XO 🥰❤️