tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163829887162955058.post6422204280025715246..comments2024-01-01T11:51:53.860-08:00Comments on Babbles from Scott Eagan: Should I Write a Three-Book Series?Scott Eaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209357682070126879noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163829887162955058.post-25197647328745525722010-01-07T12:20:21.423-08:002010-01-07T12:20:21.423-08:00Hoo boy, down the slippery slope we go indeed. I a...Hoo boy, down the slippery slope we go indeed. I appreciate your answer Scott, as I know SP is not one of your pressing concerns, and I won't bog you down with this one, but I have been concerned for several years with the very issue you just mentioned.<br /> Unlike the actual writing, there is no copyright on ideas, NOR should there be, as anyone can dive into the cultural soup if willing to put in the effort, and read a great deal of history & come up with some excellent and (apparently) unused plotlines.<br /> But, very large "but" here,by posting these one immediately puts them out there for an established writer with an existing platform, large audience that will buy most of the books penned by said author, and most importantly, a publisher that will give one the go ahead of the strength of a phone call, and the likelihood that they (author) are already in a position to write full time every day of the week, if desired.<br /> So, WHO will finish the book first, and then not be forced to waste years trying to find an agent, and ergo, a publisher ? And likely get an advance to boot?<br /> Guess who? Already successful author or full time employee and mom with fifteen minutes of free time at the end of the day? Maybe.<br /> I used to think this common concern was a tad paranoid, until I bought a book about screenwriting, and yo ho, right there on the page is the advice of a top screenwriter, telling authors NEVER to send a requested outline of an unfinished script to an agent, because, he claims, "nothing is more common for the agent to forward the promising concept amateur outline to me, to be worked up and completed by a professional with a proven track record."<br /> Makes perfect sense to me. Why should anyone count on a professional piece of writing from No one from Nowhere? Anyone can come up with a "good idea." Swell. Now what? Why give up your best (unfinished) plot? What will you do when you see it coming out under the name of an established author? Now what the H... will you do?<br /> Nuff said. Thanks as always for your honesty in these matters, Scott. Better pain now than pain a lot later, and only the same tired old ideas left in your briefcase, 'cause somebody just took the best one, and ran with it. Times are tough, and the canny will be the survivors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163829887162955058.post-31923273579849933602010-01-06T14:17:58.821-08:002010-01-06T14:17:58.821-08:00Sorry if I'm dense, but how would it be that a...Sorry if I'm dense, but how would it be that a self-published book's rights would not be the author's to assign elsewhere? I have a couple of friends whose self-pubb'd books were later bought and repackaged by other publishers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163829887162955058.post-25653779735536462412010-01-06T13:01:26.269-08:002010-01-06T13:01:26.269-08:00Anon,
Interesting question. No, I don't think ...Anon,<br />Interesting question. No, I don't think you have an issue with Authonomy. This is simply a discussion board/blog site. In no way are you considered published by going to this site. <br /><br />I honestly have to say that my bigger concern would be posting this information and other people taking it and claiming it as their own. You are putting material of yours out there on the internet with nothing stopping people. <br /><br />ScottScott Eaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17209357682070126879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163829887162955058.post-25822108063325654282010-01-06T12:31:31.244-08:002010-01-06T12:31:31.244-08:00Now that is interesting. Have you any opinion (yet...Now that is interesting. Have you any opinion (yet) on the Authonomy site which requires authors to post a minimum of 10,000 words of their book on the site.? Their Q & A says there is not a copyright problem, but the site is owned by Harcourt & Brace.<br /> I really appreciate you bringing up this topic, and particularly the unintended trap of self-publishing and future copyright problems. Brave new world indeed. Take care, everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163829887162955058.post-22054669347973755912010-01-06T08:47:02.165-08:002010-01-06T08:47:02.165-08:00It's extremely difficult not to write a series...It's extremely difficult <i>not</i> to write a series, but your advice is right on the mark. My first book was book 1 of a trilogy. I'd really love to write the second, but what's the point? So I just jotted some ideas down and moved on to a new story. That one also turned out to be the first in a series. *shakes head* <br /><br />So, with my most recently completed novel, I set out determined to write a stand alone. I think I succeeded. *stubbornly ignores characters demanding their own books*Sandyhttp://brimfire.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.com