Most writers don’t fear plagiarism because they intend to copy. They fear it because they care about integrity. That’s a good instinct. But without a clear process, that instinct can quietly turn into anxiety.
Most writers don’t fear plagiarism because they intend to copy. They fear it because they care about integrity.
That’s a good instinct. But without a clear process, that instinct can quietly turn into anxiety. So let’s replace worry with method.
Here is a simple, professional way to check your manuscript for accidental similarities — the same approach many Australian editors and writing mentors recommend.
Step 1: Identify the Exact Concern
Vague fear is paralysing. Specific inspection is productive. Ask yourself the following questions. Tackle one item at a time and write down your answers.
- Which sentence feels familiar?
- Which name triggered the worry?
- Which scene feels reminiscent of another book?
Step 2: Compare the Texts Directly
Next, place your passage beside the text you’re worried about and check:
- Are the sentences structurally similar?
- Is the phrasing distinctive or common?
- Is it the idea that’s similar, or the expression?
If only the idea overlaps — you’re safe. If the wording overlaps — rewrite.
This is exactly how professional editors assess similarity.
Step 3: Search Key Terms Online
Search for key terms by putting them in quotation marks in a search engine (ie “Golden Orb”). Key terms may be:
- Place names
- Character names
- Fictional organisations
- Magical objects
If the term appears across many books — it’s genre language. If it’s strongly tied to one famous work — consider renaming.
Renaming is not admission of failure. It’s standard industry practice.
Step 4: Ask Beta Readers Specific Questions
When using Beta Readers, general feedback won’t always reveal similarity concerns. So ask directly:
- “Did anything feel strongly familiar?”
- “Did any name or scene remind you of another book?”
Fresh eyes catch echoes you cannot.
Step 5: Use Plagiarism-Detection Tools Carefully
Tools such as Grammarly or Turnitin can highlight sentence-level matches, but remember:
- Fiction triggers false positives
- Common phrasing is often flagged unnecessarily
Use these tools as a screening aid, not a verdict.
Step 6: Do a “Similarity Sweep” in Final Edits
During your last editing pass:
- Flag anything that makes you hesitate
- Adjust wording or names
- Move forward confidently
Professional writers do this routinely. It’s part of polishing, not panic.
Step 7: When in Doubt, Adjust and Continue
If something keeps tugging at your attention:
- Rewrite the sentence
- Rename the place
- Alter the scene framing
Then continue writing. Momentum matters more than microscopic perfection.
You don’t need to fear accidental similarity. You only need a repeatable process. Integrity plus method equals confidence.
References & Further Reading
Australian Society of Authors — Professional Practice for Writers
https://asauthors.org
Arts Law Australia — Copyright and Creative Practice
https://www.artslaw.com.au
Writers’ Centres Australia — Manuscript Development Guidance
https://writerscentres.org.au
Queensland Writers Centre — Editing and Submission Support
https://queenslandwriters.org.au