Thread: apprehension about discussing ideas and work

This is probably a stupid question but since y'all don't know me I'll ask it anyway.


I have nothing published (except letters to publications and newsletters) but I have a few "novels" started. It's a lot easier to start one than to finish it, but I feel really good and enthusiastic about my latest idea!! I honestly think I can see it through to the end!


That's the main reason I joined this forum awhile back. I have discussed this idea with a couple of coworkers, one has been a wealth of inspiration and ideas. I . . . am . . . {this is embarrassing} . . afraid to discuss it on websites because I don't want someone to steal my idea, IT'S THAT GOOD!!!!

I also would feel I am somewhat plagerizing if I utilize too many ideas of other people.

I'm might be missing out on needed help if I don't ask. How realistic are my fears?

Simple and straight to the point: you don't need to divulge any of your novel's plot to anyone whilst you're communicating on this, or any other forums, whilst getting advice / assistance / education in terms of improving your writing. One of the ways I've found this forum helps me is to read the critiques given on other people's work and then to learn from anything which might apply to my own writing. You can learn about plotting without revealing yours, learn about good characterisation without making your characters public yet, etc. etc.

Go on then, tell us about your novel... Is the idea so good it hasn't been done before? There's nothing wrong with using plots / ideas which have been before, infact I remember reading an article a while back which suggested there were only seven types of story; they can all be told in various and original ways, obviously, but it's highly likely yours will fit into one of the seven categories. I should have it somewhere, I'll see if I can track it down and we'll see how original yours is.

Good luck with it.

Scott

There are more than seven, but in the how-many? thousand years people have been writing books, the same ideas, plots, characters, all get used over and over. It's how they are used that makes the difference.

The simple rule, mcostas, is never to publish anything on the Internet that you believe has commercial value. What you can do is publish a sample of your writing style here for everyone to see - an essay or short story that you do not plan to sell but which is representative of the way you write. As people critique the piece you can consider how their comments would apply to the work you want to guard, and how you can use them to improve material that you want, eventually, to sell.

The chances of someone stealing your idea, writing a novel about it, and getting it published are the same as the chances of me walking out the door tomorrow and getting struck by lightning. Sorry to be blunt, but it's reality.

Trust me -- there's nothing that hasn't been done. It's all about, as Garza said, how you write it.

ahhh, I see.

My idea has been done before, it has to do with time travel. My treatment is much differant than any I have read so far, I think it's origional. I'm not decieving myself into thinking I am going to get rich off of my prespective novel, but if I finish it, I would like it to be the first one along those lines. Actually my coworker should write it, he's given me a few really great ideas!

And I also know that a good story is nothing without good writing. I've read a few lately based on such good premises I couldn't believe they messed them up!

That's one thing I am concerned about, being able to do the story justice.

I wouldn't worry too much. Don't discuss details with people you don't trust, but discussing concepts and ideas on the forum shouldn't be a big problem. You've already gotten the best advice I can think of from the others, but I did want to chime in a little something.

Don't just send your book to publishers, there is some excellent advice and guidlines here on getting published but I have read too many stories of people who have had their book outright stolen because they sent the book as opposed to a pitch with a brief outline, the company has one of their previously employed writers rewrite the book with just enough differences they couldn't get sued, even if it was very obviously a rip off.

Dunno if their true, I would just be more concerned with that than forum goers. We're too wrapped up in our own work to bother with yours :p

Try this, M: Write something other than your book--short story, novella, novelette, letter to the editor, whatever. Then try your damnedest to get it published. When you discover just how difficult it is to get someones--anyone's--attention, you'll feel a lot safer with your story. There are a bout a bazillion brilliant writers out there with unparalleled stores all basking in the glow of anonymity. You're probably safe.

And don't forget to continue with your killer idea while you're doing the rest!

I have read several, including the one I am reading now, written from pretty much unknown authors that are as good or better than some of the popular published ones I have read.

My other idea, if I ever finish it and think it's any good, is to e-publish it myself. My roommate works with a guy that has 3 published books, sci fi I think. I havn't read them yet, I've been meaning to find out the titles.

Point being though, he is still working with my roommate.

Here's a funny story. When I was younger (so much younger than todayyy) I wrote a deep outline for a story about a scientist who cross-breeds humans and people in experiments, develops a "super-tiger-boy." When the boy is... not so much a boy (don't remember the age, it was probably my age at the time), his scientist "parents" are murdered by government agents and he makes his way into civilization to get revenge.

A couple years later, I saw a trailer for the Island of Dr. Moreau, a story about a mad-scientist cross-breeding humans and animals in a secret island lab. I was shocked and it put me off my story. I was convinced that I had fallen victim of seeing the idea without having known it, and I abandoned it. Then, shortly after, I learned that the story is nearly a hundred years old, written by a sci-fi genius, HG Wells (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari).

The point of all this isn't to say that my story was far from original (which it was) but that if you're too concerned with protecting your gems of ideas you will also be too quick to abandon them if you suspect unoriginality. Now, years and years later, I have a long-term pet project which I frequently put on the back burner and return to now and then. It involves genetic scientists splicing various genes and attempting to produce a person. They struck the genetic jackpot and produced what looked human but was superintelligent. She studies GE further and starts modifying her own body, hijacking and modifying interns in the institution where she is imprisoned by military personel, and eventually sending messengers out to the public to draw attention to her imprisonment. While crafting this particular story, I've come across loads of times where people use the same terms as me, use aspects of the same setting, have the same references or interesting monsters, but I ignore it now. I ignore it because nobody has my story. Nobody has my mind, and so unless somebody actually steals my physical files, nobody can reproduce my mind with the same voice, intent and execution as me.

For all these reasons, your ideas are safe too.