Writing. Ur doin' it rong.

[lagilman]

I just... I... what?


"Businessman with little extra time is seeking a Personal Assistant / Ghostwriter / Research Assistant to help develop novel idea. I have a general plot outline and character profiles but no time to develop."

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wri/2959627941.html

Comments

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

That's one of those very tempting jobs because the guy has a lot of money to throw around. And yet it's way more trouble than its worth.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

::headdesk::

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I wonder how much cash Mr Busy Businessman has. :)

[lagilman]

Not. Enough.

I did this once, when I was first starting out. They have ideas, yeah and absolutely impossible opinions and expectations about how a book gets written (and how much work you're actually putting in, because, after alll, if they were less busy, they'd be doing it for themselves...)

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I'm quite sure you're right. But it does make me want to ask him. :)

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

"Compensation commensurate with skill."

And who's going to make that value judgment? Or estimate the value of my time and investment? I . . . think not.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Funny this sort of thing popped up on the Steampunk LJ community the other day about a totally different project. They had an idea but wanted to find someone to work with in developing it. I rained on their parade pretty hard since I know of an author who has a book under contract with a publishing house.

A lot of people come to Peter and say "I have a great idea for a novel" to which he puts up his hand to stop them and says"Great, write it and good luck with it." It happens at least once a convention or signing probably more at the larger venues.

[mtlawson.livejournal.com]

What are the odds that said businessman has a Mary Sue as the protag?

[threeoutside.livejournal.com]

Years ago, a retired small-businessman came to our local writer's workshop and offered a similar proposal. When he finished speaking (uttering every cliche you can imagine from the sort of unknowing non-writer who would come up with such a notion), there was a long, horrified, silence. Fortunately, our group leader was practiced at diplomacy, and she politely told him there would be no takers at that table. The "guest" however was HIGHLY offended that we didn't have a knock-down drag-out right there on the spot, fighting over who would get the honor of writing his book (he actually said that). He went away and we never heard from him again, thank goodness. Oh, and he wasn't offering any upfront money; I think the deal was the ghost would get 10% of the profits.

Simply. Amazing.

[elsceetaria.livejournal.com]

Wow. Obviously, he has more money than he needs.

Personally, I love the "Good luck" at the end.