Buy my Plot (Social Experiment)

[loopy777]

So, today I came up with an idea for a novel. The idea itself isn't important or relevant; I come up with an idea everyday for a book, including one notable departure from fiction for a tabletop picture-heavy hardcover about potato chip culture in America. However, what I did with the idea (the one from today, not the potato chip book) is what's

Comments

[ljlee]

(1/2)

Interesting idea, let me try to parse my thoughts on this by writing it out.

One real-life situation where you regularly see one person's plot being used by another is ghostwriting for franchises, as in this confession of a Sweet Valley High ghostwriter who is now a professor of literature. (I think I read some of the books by her back in high school. I always suspected something like this was going on, given how the credit was "created by" Francine Pascal.) She describes how Pascal, the creator, gave the writers outlines and style guides which the writers wrote into final products, kind of like frames and parts being assembled into cars. In this context the plot is a factor of production, a means of creating products and not a final product in itself

[ljlee]

(2/2

[loopy777]

See, that's where my expensive full-service plan comes in. XD

[ljlee]

This experiment would be worth it if only to see whether the writing process is more akin to your blueprint metaphor or my quantum-engine-that-turns-car-door-purple metaphor. XD I guess a lot would depend on the context, how detailed and technical the story frame is, and more.

A few questions: What kinds of buyers are you envisioning? Aspiring professionals who don't know where to get started on their big break, hobbyists looking to save some time, washed-out pros who want to break out of their ruts, writing educators? Is full confidentiality guaranteed, since in an ownership-obsessed culture there could be repercussions for using pre-made plot in professional work? Also, would you disclaim all possible intellectual property claims and make each product a one-sale deal, or do you hold onto some legal rights on the work such as resale rights?

[chordatesrock]

Personally, I would not buy an idea for an original story. You came up with the idea because it interested you. Perhaps someone else is interested enough that it would speak to xem and xe would want to pour xyr heart and soul into it. How could anyone know before reading the idea?

I believe there is a difference between a good story and a story I should write. All stories that I should write are good, or else I shouldn't write them, but there are stories that I should just leave to others who will write them better and put more of themselves in. This is because there is more to a story than the things you describe offering to sell. There are often deep themes exploring important aspects of the world or the human condition. I don't want to buy your themes; I know my own, or will discover them. I don't know whether it's possible to make my themes work with your plot. I don't know whether I would like to write the themes you would put in. I do know that I could come up with as much of an idea as you describe on my own, and that coming

[loopy777]

I get what you're saying, but I think you're generalizing your own feelings and experiences. By the same logic, anything that takes creative power away from an artist would never fly, so things like Paint-by-Number kits, Coloring Books, LEGO sets, instructions in Craft Kits, Sewing Templates and the like wouldn't sell, and yet lots of people buy such things. While I'm sure than an artist looking to express themself wouldn't be interested in buying my plots, I think it's more than possible that someone who just wants to write but has a hard time coming up with themes, character dynamics, and the like would be interested in outsourcing that work

[chordatesrock]

That makes sense, although I do think that LEGO sets allow a lot of creative freedom, especially if you mix and match. I feel like taking an idea that's suggested for your writing is different from paying for one before you hear it. Some ideas fit perfectly with the creative visions of artists who didn't come up with them, but I'm not sure I could tell whether an idea would work for me before hearing it.

Here's a thought that might or might not be analogous: I sometimes draw, and I sometimes play Paint-by-Numbers puzzles (nonograms), and my reasons are completely different. It might be fun to challenge myself to write within the constraints of a premade plot, but I've never tried that.

The thing that I'm thinking about now, though, is that there's already a situation where one person comes up with the plot, themes and character dynamics and another does the writing, and in that situation, money changes hands the other way, from the Idea Person to the writer.

I'd be interested to see how it goes if you try this.

[loopy777]

Oh, I don't seriously expect to actually try to sell my plot. As I was discussing with lalunatique, the whole thing with keeping the actual product a secret pretty much mandates that the seller has a really well-regarded brand name. People might be skeptical of my selling a plot, rightfully, while Stephen King could probably sell one easily, since he's a pro with a huge record of success, and people familiar with his works can get an idea of his "product style" from having read his works.

I'd love to come up with a way to market the idea without such secrecy, but I just don't trust people enough. It could be that I'm overly paranoid, though.