McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Does JB accept any ideas from his fans?

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trboturtle:

--- Quote from: Murphy's Stunt Double on May 09, 2008, 08:19:11 PM ---I don't disagree with you, Craig, but consider that none of us live in a vaccuum. In a You Tube videos from the recent Small Favor signings called Originality (or something similiar to that) JB talks about how he *thought* he had this fabulous 'original' idea for Bob as a skull with glowing lights for eyes and he was so excited he'd come up with something so awesome that had never been done before... and then he sat down with his son and watched the opening sequence of Scooby Doo. Obviously, his unconscious nabbed the image and ran with it.

In the case with Bob, I think Jim saw a post Bob made here that likened (click to show/hide)Marcone to a Robber Baron of feudal times, and used it as only JB can, expertly weaving the train of thought into the plot of Small Favor. While the idea itself pretty much is public domain, Jim had the class to mention to Bob after the fact that he'd swiped his idea cause he thought was a good one, and useful, and man, it made Bob's day!

Mind you, I think this is pretty much a unique scenario, (using a fan's idea) but I gotta give the man kudos for giving credit where it's due and never being arrogant or aloof about his talent.



--- End quote ---

True, but He shouldn't be in the position of accepting ideas as a matter of course -- the "What if?" question.....

Minor things are one thing -- Marcone easily slides into the role of robber baron, and it gives the character a little more death, and Jim acknowledged where the idea came from. But "what if?" questions should come from him and him alone, because "What if?" are plot related.

For example, say I EMailed Jim with "What if Harry Dresden won the lottery for $300 million, moves to California, and becomes Tom Cruise's personal soothsayer?" (It's the most off the wall idea I could think of, and I'm sure Jim is not going to be desperate enough to come close to using that -- I hope! ;D) First, the idea is so off the wall, Jim will quietly dig a hole and bury it in the garden. So, say for the sake of the argument, he sends back a little note, saying "thanks, but no thanks." So, I have wasted my time and his, maybe set myself up for a disappointment.

But, suppose he's working on a plotline that very closely resembles that? That opens up a whole can of worms, maybe leading to legal action down the road if I was prissy enough. I know of at least one fantsy novelist (whse name escapes me at the moment) who had to defend herself in court because some person had written a fanfiction that greatly resembled her recently published novel. It was so bad that she actively goes after fanfic authors who use her series for their stories. I know that JMS, the creator/guiding light behind Babaylon 5 had to scrap a storyline because somebody mentioned the idea on the main B5 forum whilew the storyline was being developed (I also heard that the fan sent a notizied letter to WB, declaiming all rights to the idea, and they dusted off the storyline and use it in a later season.)

So taking ideas is a very risky thing to do. If Jim came on and said, "I need a name for this character," That's one thing. But he shouldn't, IMHO, come on and say, "I need help with this plot point." Jim is a better writer then that, plus it's less hassle for him that the main ideas come from him instead of us.

Craig

Murphy's Stunt Double:
Agreed. And Jim doesn't do that.

Shecky:
It's been stated clearly for quite some time that he doesn't use others' story ideas. His use of Bob's phrase is something that's definitely in public domain (I mean that the phrase itself is common-usage), so it's clear of any legal trouble (not to mention that Bob's a good guy who wouldn't be a litigious twit over that LOL); other than that, he's always said that the answer is "no". It's purely preventative maintenance here; he has a really good connection with his fans and supporters and is very communicative with us, and he wants to KEEP that good connection by not opening the gates to some yet-unseen whackjob, even when it means keeping that gate closed to the vast majority who ARE on the up-and-up. He's insulating himself so he doesn't have to defend or distance himself.

AverageGuy:

--- Quote from: trboturtle on May 13, 2008, 12:24:49 AM ---But, suppose he's working on a plotline that very closely resembles that? That opens up a whole can of worms, maybe leading to legal action down the road if I was prissy enough. I know of at least one fantsy novelist (whse name escapes me at the moment) who had to defend herself in court because some person had written a fanfiction that greatly resembled her recently published novel. It was so bad that she actively goes after fanfic authors who use her series for their stories. I know that JMS, the creator/guiding light behind Babaylon 5 had to scrap a storyline because somebody mentioned the idea on the main B5 forum whilew the storyline was being developed (I also heard that the fan sent a notizied letter to WB, declaiming all rights to the idea, and they dusted off the storyline and use it in a later season.)

So taking ideas is a very risky thing to do.

--- End quote ---
It's not, really.  It could lead to time in court, which would cost the author time and money they might not have, but copyright law's kind of sketchy when it comes to ideas, so odds are the author would win.  The problem is when specifics come in, but even there I'd take it on a case by case basis. 

But authors already tend to know where they want to go; plus, I imagine that they, and their publishers, don't want the appearance of impropriety.

Noey:
I think the litigation reason is why the mods even watch ideas around here, too. There's a thread on the forum somewhere, I think in the Dresden Files Book Club, where someone had an idea about Elaine a long time ago. Mickey had to go all through the thread and delete the idea because it cuts too close to something Jim might actually want to do one day. So, instead of the idea, it all reads, "So, what if Elaine was edited by Mickey." All to make sure to protect JB, and it makes sense to do so.

In other news, I think Elaine should get a job at a newspaper and be edited by Mickey.  :D

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