"Story idea up for grabs" threads · 4:55pm Oct 10th, 2014
If you'll permit me to be an asshole for a few minutes of your time, I'd like to complain about a behavioural trend I've noticed.
Being a writer requires creativity. It's not the only skill you need, but anyone here who actually writes will agree with me that it's pretty much essential. Right? You come up with an idea, and you write it, because you like the idea and want to see it realised. Like, that's most people's motivation to write, isn't it? I'm not crazy, am I? I'm not the only one who writes a story because I want to realise my visions?
Okay, so, with that in mind, I need to ask about this, because this keeps me up at night: What's the deal with this trend I've seen of people making group threads where they detail an idea they've had, and then "release" that idea to the group for anyone to pick up?
This galls me because these threads are so often written or phrased as if the OP is doing the writers a favour. Like "if there are any writers out there who have the skill to write, but are having trouble coming up with an idea, here's a free one for you". Creativity doesn't work like that. Anybody can come up with ideas, even if the ease with which they do it is variable. It's the ability to write well which is the rare skill in demand. If writers do indeed write because they want to realise their visions, then any writer with the skill to realise these "free ideas" will probably be using their creative brain to write the ideas that they came up and that they are interested in. Even a writer who does have trouble coming up with ideas will probably rather look for vague prompts from group contests that can give them the inspiration they need, rather than copy someone else's idea verbatim.
As a writer, I come up with a new story idea maybe every two or three days. I abandon many of them when I think on them more and realise they won't work, and if I don't, then I write up a planning document and set it aside in case if by some miracle I ever find the time to actually give it some attention and get to work on it. That's how I end up with a folder with 60+ documents filled with nothing but in-progress story projects. Never in a million years would I see a thread like that and see someone else's idea and think, "Oh, what a wonderful idea! And you're giving me the privilege to write it? Well sign me up!"
Granted, I'm not representative of all writers everywhere, and I'm sure there are some creative writers out there who do take these threads up on their offers. But I don't think it's common. I think that if you come up with an idea, you should really be writing it yourself if you care that much about it.
And I know, not everyone is a writer. Not everyone can do that. But if that's you, don't make threads like this. Because the truth is that if another writer with their own creative story ideas and their own ambitions are writing your idea for you, then they're the ones doing you a favour. There's a reason that most artists do commissions instead of requests, is all I'm saying. I don't resent people who have ideas but can't or won't write their idea themselves for whatever reason, and I don't resent such people trying to find someone else to help realise their idea for them. I just resent the attitude and tactics on display in threads like these. It's manipulative, it's demeaning, and it's ungrateful. If this is you, please just stop.
[/ranting]
Don't know about you, but when I threw my ideas up for grabs, it was because I loved the premise but lacked the time and motivation to actually write them. I still wanted to see them be born and grow, but I just couldn't care for them myself (think putting a baby you just had up for adoption, rather than leaving it in a trashcan). Of course, my case mightbe a little bit different because I threw those ideas up when I was getting ready to leave the site, but the point still remains.
Yeah, I have to agree with you there, something about those kind of threads just rubs me the wrong way. That being said, I'm not completely opposed to the idea of getting someone else to write your ideas. I just recently learned that apparently, people doing writing commissions is a thing. While I'm not sure how effectively I would be able to realize someone else's vision, some writers have, and to me that's pretty cool. Definitely speaks a lot for a writer's skills if they're able to take someone else's idea and make something that works with it.
I pretty much have the same thoughts on this. Ideas come sporadically but fast. Actually generating the thousands of words of text takes time and dedication that someone lazy like me doesn't have.
I haven't checked out any of these threads, but I can see why it would make you mad if the OP acted like he was the one giving when he was going to receive a full-blown recreation of the ideas that he wants to see in a story format. I can especially see this because every time I talk to you, you've easily come up with like two dozen interesting story ideas that I'm sure you would love to see in story format.
I never understood those threads. I spend enough time plotting out my own tales and rejecting them. I don't see why I would need any more half baked ideas, I'm swimming in them.
I suppose, if it helps someone with writers block then its good. What ever gets people motivated to write something. Who knows, maybe someones prompt will get them to think of a idea they want to write about.
2523548
Like I said, the issue isn't the threads, but the disrespectful attitude shown in many of them. I've never had a problem with passing on ideas you don't want to write in case someone else is interested. Where I take umbrage is when someone clearly wants someone else to write their story for them, but then acts as if they're doing a favour for writers by coming up with ideas for them. That last part is where I object.
I mean, you don't see this with artists.
Eugh. It just feels so slimy to me, y'know?
2523577
Oh, I agree completely. I've always been of the belief that writing is an equal art-form to drawing, and I very much encourage the idea of people commissioning writers to realise a vision if for any reason they are unable to do so themselves. Like I said above, getting other people to write your ideas isn't an inherently bad thing. In principle, it's no different to me hiring an artist to do my cover art for me.
And yes, it certainly does take some skill to do, as well as a special degree of willpower, I would argue. I don't think I could ever do writing commissions, because I get bored enough writing my own ideas if I'm at them long enough. I can't even imagine the kind of self-discipline it'd take to write a story that I have zero investment in.
2523593
I think that's my major weakness, actually. I have too many ideas and not enough time to write them all, though Lord knows I try. Occasionally I get something done, though. Just Dodge! for example. I'm publishing it any day now, I swear.
2523606
Prompts are very useful tools for overcoming writer's block. I just wish that more threads like these were prompts rather than fully-formed ideas that the OP expects to be written. The best writing prompts are based around a strong central idea, but are vague enough that an author can take as many creative liberties as they want.
A good example of this is the recent Outside Insight contest that Equestria Daily held. "Write a story about ponies from the perspective of a non-pony." The top ten winners and runners-up had stories written from the perspectives of windigoes, changelings, donkeys, minotaurs, breezies, griffons, unintelligent house pets, and a few original creations made specifically for the contest, including a mythological creature called a Sylph and Lovecraft-inspired abomination from beyond time and space.
That contest turned out so many good stories.
2523653 Ah, my mistake. I see where you're coming from, now, and I have to agree that it does sound 'slimey'.
I try to never tell others my ideas cause if anyone's gonna write them it's gonna be me, dammit!
Wow. Way to make me feel like poop for looking for ghostwriters.
(I kid. I know that's different. Mostly.
)
Many non-artists are of the impression that ideas have value. It's like the pop-culture idea of an "inventor" who invents a machine that can, say, turn gravy into diamonds. Heck, that's a great idea! That could be really valuable! We should patent that! Why has nobody done this yet? It's so brilliant! But in reality, what an inventor actually does is create all the little bits and pieces that make the big idea work. I don't like to single out non-creators, but I've never had an artist tell me "Why don't you write a story about X?" and then get confused when I don't just pick up a pen and print out exactly what they were imagining. Unless you've actually tried to put something together yourself, you're in no position to be telling others what to do. This is, I think, one of humanity's most basic conflicts.
2524433
Part of the conflict there, of course, being that different people find merit in different ideas. I have had friends come to me with suggestions for story ideas before, and I've had to tell them in the politest way possible that I wouldn't write those ideas because I didn't find them interesting. That's why anyone who has an idea has to be responsible for it and nurture it themselves; you can't always gaurantee that anyone but you will care about it.
Everyone has an idea in them, and fully-realised, some of those ideas might well turn out to be great, but the great tragedy is that not everyone can realise their vision. I always encourage people who have story ideas to take up writing and see if they can learn the skill, but I think you need a certain kind of passion to really be a creative of any kind. In theory, I could learn to draw and colour and become an artist, but that's just not my passion, and in practice I don't think I could do it.
But hey, that's why commissions exist.