Comments on: I’ve got an idea…! http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:36:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Stephen Leigh http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-546 Stephen Leigh Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:41:03 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-546 The Easter Island heads are long gone -- I saw them once several years back, then they vanished. (There's probably a story there, too!) The Easter Island heads are long gone — I saw them once several years back, then they vanished. (There’s probably a story there, too!)

]]> By: Lisa http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-536 Lisa Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:55:18 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-536 At any given time I have 100 ideas on post-it notes, the back of grocery bags, scraps of paper, and of course, journals. Ideas are definitely not the hold-up here. I get most of my ideas from the people around me. I'm the Observer. Where are the Easter Island heads? At any given time I have 100 ideas on post-it notes, the back of grocery bags, scraps of paper, and of course, journals. Ideas are definitely not the hold-up here.

I get most of my ideas from the people around me. I’m the Observer.

Where are the Easter Island heads?

]]> By: Kerryn http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-533 Kerryn Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:48:02 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-533 This question always baffles me. Like you I have at least a dozen ideas sitting around waiting to be worked on. Part of the reason I write is because I get these ideas. I don't think I'd want to write if I didn't have ideas. Like you say, ideas are all around us just waiting for us to ask the question that will spark our imagination and fly us off down a path yet to be travelled. This question always baffles me. Like you I have at least a dozen ideas sitting around waiting to be worked on. Part of the reason I write is because I get these ideas. I don’t think I’d want to write if I didn’t have ideas.

Like you say, ideas are all around us just waiting for us to ask the question that will spark our imagination and fly us off down a path yet to be travelled.

]]> By: Steve Leigh http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-532 Steve Leigh Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:54:07 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-532 My answer is generally a variation on "I'm sorry, but I can't listen to your idea since I really don't have time to write anything other than what I'm writing right now." If that doesn't stop them and they still want to tell me the idea, I'll stop them and say something along the lines of "I really can't listen. There's the legal liability if one day down the road I would write something vaguely similar. I'm sure it's a fantastic idea -- but you should sit down and try to write it up yourself. That's the best thing you can do." If they STILL don't stop, well, then I'll have to risk insulting the person and walk away. My answer is generally a variation on “I’m sorry, but I can’t listen to your idea since I really don’t have time to write anything other than what I’m writing right now.” If that doesn’t stop them and they still want to tell me the idea, I’ll stop them and say something along the lines of “I really can’t listen. There’s the legal liability if one day down the road I would write something vaguely similar. I’m sure it’s a fantastic idea — but you should sit down and try to write it up yourself. That’s the best thing you can do.”

If they STILL don’t stop, well, then I’ll have to risk insulting the person and walk away.

]]> By: Bran fan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-531 Bran fan Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:41:41 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-531 Even agents think that ideas are the hard part, which just boggles my mind. Agents actually brag on their own blogs about "helping" their authors by brainstorming ideas with them. My agent tries to do that to me too. I just smile and nod and then go write my own stuff. What is wrong with these people? Question: When you're at a con, and some nice fan says "I've got an idea for you," how do you handle it? You don't want to make fanboy angry but you want him to understand that you've got plenty of ideas of your own, thanks. Even agents think that ideas are the hard part, which just boggles my mind. Agents actually brag on their own blogs about “helping” their authors by brainstorming ideas with them. My agent tries to do that to me too. I just smile and nod and then go write my own stuff.

What is wrong with these people?

Question: When you’re at a con, and some nice fan says “I’ve got an idea for you,” how do you handle it? You don’t want to make fanboy angry but you want him to understand that you’ve got plenty of ideas of your own, thanks.

]]> By: Steve Leigh http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-530 Steve Leigh Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:34:46 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-530 I'll tell him -- in fact, I'll do better than that and point him here! Steve I’ll tell him — in fact, I’ll do better than that and point him here!

Steve

]]> By: Diana Pharaoh Francis http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-529 Diana Pharaoh Francis Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:37:52 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/27/ive-got-an-idea/#comment-529 Heh. Just at the moment plot organization is the hard part. But I'm with you. And when you see Andy, tell him hi for me. It's been forever and tell him I want my Xmas Feghoot. Please. Pretty please. Di Heh. Just at the moment plot organization is the hard part. But I’m with you. And when you see Andy, tell him hi for me. It’s been forever and tell him I want my Xmas Feghoot. Please. Pretty please.

Di

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