Last weekend, I was at an all-day event sponsored by our local Writers and Editors Network. We (several authors) had displays of our books as people went through. As well, we each did a reading. After mine, I was approached by a woman who asked what the organization running the event was about. I explained what they do and when I talked about writing circles, including the fiction writer's circle I belong to, she expressed interest So I asked if she wrote and she said she had been working on a book for ten years. When I asked what it was about, she became rather defensive, showing considerable concern that her great idea would be stolen, and as she talked, it became apparent that she was reluctant to share the idea with anyone, including potential agents or publishers. I let her know she would be welcome to join our group, but we could not give her feedback on her writing, structure, etc. unless she was willing to share with us, and she would have to decide how much of that she would be willing to do.
When I disucssed this at the next meeting of our circle (she won't be able to join for another month, if she decides to risk it), one man expressed having once had similar concerns. He no longer feels that way, but said many years ago and with another group, he felt similarly.
This is quite foreign to me. I have so many ideas about possiblities, that I know I will never be able to pursue them all. If someone were to take one and develop it, I wouldn't feel it as a loss. To me, genuine ownership comes from the actual writing, not the basic idea in the first place. Though I suppose I might feel differently if I felt an idea was so unique and earth-shattering the actual writing was secondary. However, I don't think that is realistic. It is very rare a Dan Brown comes along with The DaVinci Code, and even then, if it is not well structured and written, it isn't going anywhere. Great ideas only take you so far, and that isn't all that far.
Anyway, every time I start to think I've seen it all, someone comes along with a differnt perspective to let me know I haven't.
Ignore this. I'm just making sure this will work - being able to edit an old post to include a link to a newer one.
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About Me
- IngoldsbyAuthor
- When asked about my writing, I say, "The stories are all quite different, but the common feature involves the words ‘hope’ and ‘change’. All the characters face challenges - sometimes issues they were born with such as a disability, sometimes baggage they carry from childhood such as a feeling of insignificance, sometimes something external such as being suspected in a murder. In all cases, they find they can bring about change, so hope is there. They develop inner resources and learn to rely on others, but in all cases, there is the underlying message that they can make life better. The stories are not ‘preachy’, no how-to book here; however the characters have or develop qualities we all admire and aspire to as we deal with our own real-life trials.”
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