How to handle a public lynching: 4 lessons from a Twitter creator feud | RP 98

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How to handle a public lynching: 4 tips from a Twitter creator feud

Neil Gaiman said that publishing your writing is like “walking down the street naked”.

He’s right.

And the outside world doesn’t make it any easier.

Putting ourselves out there is hard enough. But the risk of getting called out or cancelled makes it even harder.

But what if it happens?

On writing Twitter a couple of weeks ago, Nicholas Cole called Kieran Drew out for plagiarism.

Cole is a co-creator of a writing course called Ship30. Drew is an up-and-coming creator and influencer who plays in the same digital writing sandbox.

In a Twitter thread to his 140k followers, Cole tore down Drew’s email sequence promoting his new course. He accused Drew of ripping off copy, concepts, and ideas from Ship30.

As I scrolled through the thread, I could feel Cole’s frustration and resentment rising off the screen.

I also felt the dread and anxiety I would feel if I was in Drew’s shoes.

What do you do when someone you look up to, publicly accuses you of ripping off their work?

First…

Acknowledge the possibility

There are no truly original ideas.

Every innovation is a remix (this line’s from Austin Kleon).

There is nothing new under the sun (this one’s from the Bible).

Copywriting and digital writing, in particular, are all about repackaging and repositioning ideas. They are also the skills that both Cole and Drew teach.

In his case, Drew could very well have written his copy with Cole’s concepts in mind. On his rebuttal of Cole’s claims, the principles of great digital writing are universal.

As multiple people have pointed out, even people who did not take Ship30 use the same language to describe good writing.

A harsh truth: Whatever you publish — a newsletter, a blog post, or a tweet — most likely contains other people’s ideas.

So if the other person wants the credit, just give it to them.

Give credit (more than you think you should)

There’s no downside to letting your readers know your sources.

I love linking out to the original books, articles, and research that inspired or informed my thinking.

Here’s my logic: if academics and researchers — a.k.a. the smartest people in the world — have extensive “Works Cited” sections in their research as proof of their intellectual rigour… Why should I shy away from it?

Make originality inevitable

It’s better to be the one being stolen from, instead of the one stealing.

But to produce steal-able content, you need to create an environment that fosters truly, unique ideas. Here are 3 suggestions to start:

1. Stop reading New York Times bestsellers. Read old books.

2. Study your hero’s heroes. Learn the history of your craft or topic. Take courses on foundational topics, not just the latest tech trends.

3. Carve out time to do nothing. Bake a lot of slack into your schedule to give ideas space to simmer.

If you want more, Adam Grant’s book Originals is all about what it takes to produce creative work.

Conclusion: Don’t let fear stop you

So what happened between Cole and Drew?

1. Drew admitted that he might have plagiarized without realizing it (Ignorance, after all, is not an excuse.)

2. Cole eventually took down his thread quietly.

What does this mean for us?

At a certain level of mastery, the probability of using the same tools and concepts as your peers goes up… And so does the risk of plagiarising.

With a larger audience, the risk of being accused of plagiarism goes up.

But with humility, an abundance mentality, and a commitment to originality, then you don’t need to fear a public lynching.

Even if they file a lawsuit.

Just ask Ed Sheeran:

😉 You're welcome

A selection of interesting links & fun recommendations.

• ✉️ Uncharted Territories is one of the best newsletters about history’s effects on the present and the future. Here’s how its writer Thomas Pueyo, describes his work: “My articles will be about understanding the current trends that determine the future, so we can predict what happens next.” Dip your toes with this essay on how the Internet and blockchain will kill nation-states.

• 🛠️ Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000. I’ve used this power bank + retractable wall charger for over five years now, and it’s still the only one I use. I love plugging in my phone overnight and waking up to a fully charged phone and power bank.

• 🐦 Here’s a reminder that there is no secret formula to success. For the most part, reading about how other people succeed then learning from their mistakes is great. But if you’re on an unconventional path, then following someone else’s path is fruitless. This tweet is a reminder that innovators always write their own playbooks.