Rejectionist, I love this. I can't help but expound. It's interesting how many writers of my acquaintance (who are mostly screenwriters) are anxious about having an idea stolen. It's always seemed to me that if you are worried about some other writer stealing your idea, then you don't have enough confidence in your skill as a writer to turn the idea into a story. If some other schmuck in the coffee shop could take it and do it better, can you even call yourself a writer? Ideas aren't worth anything, that's why you can't copyright an idea. You can only copyright an artistic expression, which only exists after the artist has exerted measureless effort. To put it another way, anyone can get an idea, but a writer puts her ass in the chair and goes to work on it.
We should probably confess we stole this off someone's Tumblr and now can't remember who, and thus cannot credit them. But it wasn't THEIR idea either, right?
@The Careerist: I second that. I know a few similarly skittish writers. It get's painful trying to remind them that their vampire epic has themes that have been done to death, it's only the execution that can make them stand out.
Have you noticed that they all know someone's brother's sister's cousin that had their novel idea stolen(!) right out from under them?
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Plus, if you keep them, they'll likely somehow become taxable.
Pinko. :P
e-hugs
Rejectionist, I love this. I can't help but expound.
It's interesting how many writers of my acquaintance (who are mostly screenwriters) are anxious about having an idea stolen. It's always seemed to me that if you are worried about some other writer stealing your idea, then you don't have enough confidence in your skill as a writer to turn the idea into a story. If some other schmuck in the coffee shop could take it and do it better, can you even call yourself a writer?
Ideas aren't worth anything, that's why you can't copyright an idea. You can only copyright an artistic expression, which only exists after the artist has exerted measureless effort. To put it another way, anyone can get an idea, but a writer puts her ass in the chair and goes to work on it.
Will tomorrow's post be about how you stole my book idea?
Yes. So True.
Yeah. Something good always comes of it.
......dhole
We should probably confess we stole this off someone's Tumblr and now can't remember who, and thus cannot credit them. But it wasn't THEIR idea either, right?
Love this.
I sometimes have writers contact me for a quote for editing, but then refuse to send me the MS so I can quote on it.
Anyway, I think most writers are so enamored with their own ideas (which they did pluck from the ether, yes!), few need or have the desire to steal.
@The Careerist: I second that. I know a few similarly skittish writers. It get's painful trying to remind them that their vampire epic has themes that have been done to death, it's only the execution that can make them stand out.
Have you noticed that they all know someone's brother's sister's cousin that had their novel idea stolen(!) right out from under them?
But I already give away my poems for free. How much more do I have to give? My Jobseeker's Allowance check? My cat??
talking with my grandmother over thxgiving ::
me: "so I finally finished my manuscript and now I am in the process of pitching to agents"
gma: (whose greatest fear is bedbugs): "BUT WHAT IF THEY STEAL IT AND SELL IT AS THEIR OWN??"
Love this very much.
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