I Have The Really Great Idea for a Book by Marina Martindale
Rated "PG" by the Author.
Last
edited: Monday, June 21, 2021
Posted: Monday, June 21, 2021
This has to be the most infuriating thing anyone could ever say to an author. While the person saying it may have thought they meant well, they’ve just told you how to do your job. Then there’s the other implication. Somehow you’re not capable of coming up with your own ideas for your books. Good grief! I never thought that I would actually hear this, but sure enough, someone said this to me. It was a real jaw dropping moment.
My response was firm, but polite. I told him I write contemporary romance novels, and that I ONLY write contemporary romance novels. Period. In other words, I set my boundaries before the conversation went any further. Had he said, “Yes, I know. I just wanted to tell you about my crazy ex girlfriend,” I would have listened. When he finished his story, I would have thanked him for his time time. I would have also let him know that I couldn’t guarantee I would ever use his story for a future book.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with people sharing their stories. Other people’s stories can be great inspiration for a novel, and oftentimes they are. However, adding the words, “I really think you should write this,” changes the dynamics of the conversation rather quickly, and not in a good way. I don’t need you to tell me how to do my job. Any decision to use anyone’s story, whether it’s yours or someone else’s, is mine and mine alone, and it’s subject to my own interpretation.
Once I firmly set my boundaries the gentleman didn’t elaborate any further. I had a funny feeling that romance novels weren’t his thing. He never got around to telling me what his great idea was, and I didn’t ask.
A good article on a problem that may be quite common for authors.
I only had that happen once. And it was with a colleague who was my vice president and hired me largely to do writing for him. Lots of writing of all kinds that I did in order to get a paycheck. But one day, he said to me, "Ron, we should write a book." And then, he told me what it was about. "Our planning and campus expansion process."
Some of which he kept secret from me on purpose.
He thought that our way of doing things was superior and could teach others. But I had written things for him that he took full credit for and didn't even give a line for my authorship. I refused. Shortly after, he was removed from his vice presidency for financial missteps, simply greed padding his salary, without giving me any raises. He was a good author in his own right. He was just doing what many professors and executives do. Take credit for work that they have others do simply for their pay while moving on up the ladder of power.
But I have had others ask me, "I want to write my story. Can you help me?" In those cases, I did offer to help. But those people couldn't give me enough information to even write a few pages, let alone a book of their lives. They didn't seem willing enough to commit the time to my busy schedule to get the job done.
With the new and exciting world of Kindles and Print-on-Demand (POD), Independent Publishing is becoming an enticing choice and a viable alternative to traditional publishing.
This book is about Poetry. Many different kinds of fables, short stories about life experiences, laughter, drama, children, humor, love, inspiration and some urban styles of poetry.
Essays dedicated to the new media, doing business on the web, digital content, its creation and distribution, e-publishing, e-books, digital reference, DRM technology, and other related issues.
I only had that happen once. And it was with a colleague who was my vice president and hired me largely to do writing for him. Lots of writing of all kinds that I did in order to get a paycheck. But one day, he said to me, "Ron, we should write a book." And then, he told me what it was about. "Our planning and campus expansion process."
Some of which he kept secret from me on purpose.
He thought that our way of doing things was superior and could teach others. But I had written things for him that he took full credit for and didn't even give a line for my authorship. I refused. Shortly after, he was removed from his vice presidency for financial missteps, simply greed padding his salary, without giving me any raises. He was a good author in his own right. He was just doing what many professors and executives do. Take credit for work that they have others do simply for their pay while moving on up the ladder of power.
But I have had others ask me, "I want to write my story. Can you help me?" In those cases, I did offer to help. But those people couldn't give me enough information to even write a few pages, let alone a book of their lives. They didn't seem willing enough to commit the time to my busy schedule to get the job done.
Ron