{"id":3909,"date":"2012-03-02T13:17:28","date_gmt":"2012-03-02T19:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christophergronlund.com\/blog\/tjw\/?p=3909"},"modified":"2012-12-31T05:06:31","modified_gmt":"2012-12-31T11:06:31","slug":"a-difference-in-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.christophergronlund.com\/blog\/tjw\/2012\/03\/02\/a-difference-in-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"A Difference in Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"In Ann Patchett’s The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life<\/a><\/em>\"\" (affiliate link) (my review<\/a>), she mentions that she’s not particularly fond of parties. It’s at parties where it inevitably happens: somebody approaches her and says something along the lines of, “I have an idea for a book — would you like to write it?” (Because every <\/em>best selling novelist can’t wait<\/em> to write the book of a person they barely know.) These people seem to think it’s all in the idea.<\/p>\n

The funny thing about writing and ideas: it’s not really the idea that’s the big thing — it’s the work!<\/p>\n

The Concept<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sure, a high concept idea can sell a screenplay or get a reader’s attention, but anybody who’s written long enough has a head full <\/em>of ideas. Hell, some days ideas practically fall from our heads to the floor. Ideas many would deem brilliant, we roll around and kick away because we know what it takes to sustain an idea for 80,000+ words — and at the risk of sounding arrogant, it’s not <\/em>the kind of idea usually presented by the party guest. (If<\/em> they even share it…sometimes they think you’ll steal <\/em>it, so even worse — they all but accuse you of being a thief. I can’t think of a better way to begin a business relationship were I actually interested in writing their book.)<\/p>\n

I’ve had people I barely know ask me to write their book for them. Obviously, I kindly pass. If they are insistent, I find an excuse to get away. As best as I can tell — even though it may be annoying — they really mean no harm.<\/p>\n

Sure, it is <\/em>insulting to have decades of hard work reduced to the belief that, “I have an idea and will make lots of money if I can get somebody to write my story.” But in ways, I can’t be too hard on these people; after all, we live in a world where having an idea is<\/em> sometimes all it takes.<\/p>\n

+ Shipping and Handling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Turn on the TV, and it’s easy to see why people think all it takes is an idea.<\/p>\n