The Slippery Slope of Article Rewriting
William writes:
When is an article rewritten enough to make it your own?
Never! Next question.
But he goes on further to say:
When I write original copy, the information comes from several sources. But on some occasions I run across an article that is exactly what I had in mind for my own article. Even better! This is when I will rewrite the original copy by removing contractions, adding or changing power words, edit out passive voice, switch the order of paragraphs, break information down to a list of points, etc. But is that enough when it only changes every other sentence or so? Or maybe I am just to close to the original and the rewritten copy to be objective.
First, you’re asking the wrong question William.
It’s a slippery slope to begin an article with an objective to take someone elses works and rewrite it. It’s lazy. You can do better than this.
The solution is to write your article first by yourself WITHOUT any help from outside sources. After you’ve got 85-95% of the article written, ONLY THEN is it ok to do research to make sure your message and article is comprehensive enough.
Let’s look at the last rhetorical question you posed… Imagine if Pablo Picasso said to himself, let me take someone elses artwork and I’ll put it behind my canvas and trace it and then change the colors and brush stroke to make it my own. He would never have achieved the creative force that he’s been recognized for long after his death.
With your current article writing orientation you are shutting down your mind’s creative centers. It’s ok to model others, but never ok to take their article and rewrite it.
The solution?
Don’t even consider article rewriting. Demand more of yourself and produce the majority of your article content from your own expertise before you even consider researching what others have written so you won’t be tempted. You can do it and it is possible.
Another strategy is to use the visual template or format of someone else’s along with your content for the guts. Example: You’ve seen the 7 tip template before where you have an intro paragraph, 7 tips, and a single conclusion paragraph…and you’re done.
Bottom line = Article rewriting is the fastest way to ruin trust and destroy your own credibility so don’t even consider it. Take the option off the table and start writing articles from your own personal creative genius inside. You are creative and you can write your own articles without having to use other peoples works as the basis for your content.
Great post, Chris.
It’s about time the PLR business was exposed for what it really is. High priced garbage.
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