An Open Letter to Writers

Over the years that FAST has been online, I have noticed people either publically or privately using it and/or its members as a resource for publications such as magazine articles and books without giving it any sort of acknowledgement. I even had one person go so far as to say she could publish any or all of the recipes on my site without asking me for permission, because recipes are not copyrightable (this is not true).

As a fellow published writer, the way people have used FAST has been disheartening to me for a few reasons:

1) Most people do not tell me they are using Food Allergy Survivors Together as a resource for a project they are doing. If FAST is used as a resource for an article, book, etc., I do request that I am consulted. (If you are using it as a resource for a school report or school project, there is no need to contact me, although you must include it in your bibliography.)

2) Many people who utilize it do not credit FAST as being used as a source for their work. In the case of interviews, they may act as though they somehow "ran across" the people interviewed, rather than admitting that they solicited them off the FAST mailing list. FAST must be credited, or you are not being fair to me and the members of FAST who participate(d). Whether or not you are breaking copyright law, you certainly are not being fair when you act as though the work someone else went to for you was your own work. If you use the FAST mailing list to find people to interview, mention the FAST mailing list. If you use the FAST forum to find people to interview, mention the FAST forum. That was your source. Remember what you learned in English class and college courses about crediting sources.

3) I offer FAST as a free service, and those using it as a resource for publications are getting paid for my volunteer work. How would you feel if someone took a book or story you had written, slapped their name on the cover, and said it was their own and got paid for it? The site, mailing list, etc. cannot be used as a source for your work without permission, especially if this project is for profit! Ask first, before soliciting on the interactive sections of this site. If I believe in your project I will even help by forwarding notes to people on the mailing list. When writing, please let me know (a) what publication you are writing for, (b) whether this is freelance and thus far not accepted for publication or contracted by a magazine/publisher/other (and, specifically, which one), and (c) what type of input you would like. Explain in as much detail as you can who you would like to hear from and what types of information you want to receive. Remember to include a valid e-mail address at which you would like to receive information. [Please note that anyone who is writing under contract may receive more input from FAST visitors because they know for sure that the article/book will be published. A lot of people write articles and books, but very few are picked up for publication.]

I appreciate the people who participate in FAST, and I know I speak for all of them when I say that the whole goal of FAST is to gather people with allergies "together." When you neglect to mention this group in the articles and books it is used as a resource for, you are neglecting to network together people who most likely greatly desire to be in communication with other food allergics! We all will appreciate it if you remember to mention FAST...and always remember to ask if you ever have a question about how to credit or use FAST as a resource.

Thank you for your understanding, and best of luck with your project! Also, thank you for spreading the word about food allergies and the impact they have on the lives of families and individuals.

Melissa Taylor

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