Who Wants To See...

[myselfeneye]

...a book where Q enrolls his son in Starfleet Academy?

Spoiler: story

I mean, in order to teach him something about morality, respecting lesser life-forms, and discipline? It could ask questions like--how would Starfleet react to letting one of their officers end a war by waving his hand and making the enemy fleet disappear? Would they be afraid to punish him? Would he advance through the ranks quickly since his IQ is so high and he can do pretty much anything they need, including run a starship, create a starship or explore the galaxy unaided??

If anyone writes it, I think it should be Peter David. But what are the odds, right?

 

[William Leisner]

Please do not post story ideas in this forum.

 

[myselfeneye]

Okay...sorry...I thought I saw somewhere that it was discouraged, though more specifically if people have an idea that they want to write themselves, and although I fancy myself to be an aspiring writer, this is not one I plan to write. Also, I thought it would be alright considering there's a whole thread a little ways down full of everyone's ideas. Maybe I should add to that one instead?

What's the big deal about this, anyway?

 

[Nardpuncher]

Please do not post story ideas in this forum.

How about just not that story idea.

 

[Christopher]

Also, I thought it would be alright considering there's a whole thread a little ways down full of everyone's ideas. Maybe I should add to that one instead?

But those aren't as specific as the idea you suggested. Saying "I'd like to see the return of character X" or "I'd like to see more exploration of species Y" is okay. Those aren't stories, just subjects. But proposing a specific situation or event that character X or species Y is involved in, suggesting what they would actually be doing -- that's proposing an actual story idea. Because stories are defined by events.

So the idea you proposed doesn't belong anywhere in the Trek Lit forum. The only place you can post it is in the Fan Fiction forum.

What's the big deal about this, anyway?

The big deal is that nuisance plagiarism lawsuits are everywhere in this business, and they cost publishers and writers a lot of money to defend against. So we can't risk even the appearance that we might have taken a story idea from someone without permission. And it doesn't matter if you're willing to give the idea away for free -- we still can't use it, because it would be unprofessional and set a very dangerous precedent (and because we can't know who really would be glad to give the idea away and who's a predator hoping to lure us into a lawsuit).

 

[myselfeneye]

That kinda sucks. Now I wish I could get co-author credit for it or something. I say it sucks because it actually makes a lot of sense.

 

[Therin of Andor]

That kinda sucks. Now I wish I could get co-author credit for it or something. I say it sucks because it actually makes a lot of sense.

If you want "co-author" credit, then you have to do the hard yards. Like actually writing a novel proposal and sample chapters, and getting a contract, not just floating a story idea and praying someone will write it up for you.

Authors have hundreds of their own ideas, and only some of those end up as novels.

 

[Lorraine Anderson]

Didn't Q already kinda do that anyway, in a Voyager episode, dumping him on Janeway? And I seem to remember another book regarding the herding around of Q Junior as a subplot. Seems like Paris was involved, and a casino, and a race.

I apologize ahead of time to the author for not remembering the author or the name of the book.

 

[Christopher]

If you want "co-author" credit, then you have to do the hard yards. Like actually writing a novel proposal and sample chapters, and getting a contract, not just floating a story idea and praying someone will write it up for you.

Hear, hear. An author isn't just someone who goes "wouldn't it be cool if so-and-so." An author is someone who works at writing.

 

[TGTheodore]

If you want "co-author" credit, then you have to do the hard yards. Like actually writing a novel proposal and sample chapters, and getting a contract, not just floating a story idea and praying someone will write it up for you.

Authors have hundreds of their own ideas, and only some of those end up as novels.

Yep. Fiction ain't TV. No "story by" credit and then someone else writing the script.

No short cuts.

Unless you happen to be ... um, never mind.

--Ted

 

[JD]

Didn't Q already kinda do that anyway, in a Voyager episode, dumping him on Janeway? And I seem to remember another book regarding the herding around of Q Junior as a subplot. Seems like Paris was involved, and a casino, and a race.

I apologize ahead of time to the author for not remembering the author or the name of the book.

That was String Theory Book 3: Evolution by Heather Jarman. (I admit it, I had to look it up on Memory Beta)

 

[Lorraine Anderson]

Thanks. I liked the String Theory series of books, but I have to admit sometimes all of the hundreds of books I've read -- Star Trek and otherwise -- blur together in my mind.

 

[myselfeneye]

Haha, you guys don't understand...I'd have worked with the author if I were offered co-author credit. It's not something I planned on writing because I wouldn't be starting on it for YEARS if I were going to do it. So who knows? Maybe one day. But not just anybody can send in their drafts...

 

[Therin of Andor]

But not just anybody can send in their drafts...

Anyone who writes a proposal and sample chapters, strictly following the official guidelines, can ask a professional agent to forward the work to Pocket.

 

[Christopher]

^^"You can ask..."

 

[Rush Limborg]

If anyone writes it, I think it should be Peter David. But what are the odds, right?

In Lessons From A Lifetime of Writing, David Morrell mentions this kind of situation. He warns writers not to listen to wannabes who want to give writers ideas.

A little tough love... If you truly want to see this kind of story in print, and if it's your idea, there is only one person in this universe qualified to write that story.

You.

It's not something I planned on writing because I wouldn't be starting on it for YEARS if I were going to do it. So who knows? Maybe one day. But not just anybody can send in their drafts...

If you really want to see your story in print, than make the time. You'd be suprised at how much free time the average American really has. Eight hours of work, and eight hours of sleep, leaves... eight hours to do whatever (eat, shower, shave, read, watch Star Trek... and WRITE.)

I myself am writing a Star Trek novel, which I started around last Christmas. Beforehand, I wrote a ton of short stories.

In case you're wondering, I'm about two-thirds of the way into the book.

Now, my novel violates the guidelines, specifically the "no new character backstory" rule. HOWEVER, this novel has been pulsing in my mind for quite a while, as have tons upon tons of ideas which I have written down in a sketchbook. This will NOT be my first Trek novel, as it violates the guidelines, but I feel confident that it will be among my BEST.

Once I finished my latest short story, I just knew I HAD to get this novel on paper (so to speak --I use MS Word), so I could clear my mind enough to get an idea which DOES fit the guidelines....

So...get on with it. As another famous writer (I believe Tom Clancy) said, "There are those who talk book, and there are those who write book." They say if you talk about your idea too much before you start to write, chances are you'll be creatively exhausted.

So ask yourself, does this idea really mean that much to you? If it does, than write. If it doesn't, than forget about it. If you don't have the time yet, jot it down in your notebook, and once you do have the time, write.

 

[Dayton Ward]

I want to visit this planet where one only works eight hours per day, and also gets eight hours of sleep.

 

[Rush Limborg]

I want to visit this planet where one only works eight hours per day, and also gets eight hours of sleep.

Just an average, Mr. Ward.... Y'know the Alabama song about a "Forty-Hour-Week For A Living"? That kinda thing....

 

[Dayton Ward]

I'm familiar with the theory of a 40-hour work week. Never actually seen one, though. Most people have a better chance of snapping an in-focus picture of Bigfoot standing on the deck of the Flying Dutchman in the shadow of a flying saucer.

That said, the basic notion is sound: Find some portion of your day and set it aside for writing. Make it part of your routine, and treat it with the same level of importance you place in other aspects of your day.

Now, back to regularly-scheduled programming.

 

[Lorraine Anderson]

That said, the basic notion is sound: Find some portion of your day and set it aside for writing. Make it part of your routine, and treat it with the same level of importance you place in other aspects of your day.

You mean, don't skip the shower to write?