Candy from strangers

I feel so loved in that I receive so many emails! Unfortunately it's impossible for me to answer them. But I do read them all (eventually!) and try to answer those questions I get most often on my blog. Here's a repeater (paraphrased):

    "Dear Shannon,

    I think you are the most wonderful writer in the entire world and I envy your mad skills with words."

(I did say I was paraphrasing...so why not? Ahem...)

    "I have a wonderful idea for a book, and I've tried to write it for the past couple of years. Unfortunately I just can't seem to do it justice. I'd like to offer you the opportunity to collaborate with me. I'll outline the idea for you, you write the book, and we'll split the royalties. Please have your agent get in touch with me to work out the financial arrangements.

    "Sincerely, etc..."

The answer to this question, I'm sorry to say, will always be "Thank you so much, but I must decline." Every writer I know would answer the same way (though some would use harsher diction). Why is that? Well, I'd be happy to explain.

What these wonderful people want to sell to me is an idea. The truth is, ideas are not hard to come by. I get an idea for a book every day. I jot them down and tremble with impatience for the opportunity to write that book. I have way too many ideas for my own good. Ah, for the time to write every book in my brain! Ideas are like viruses. I remember a time when I didn't think I would write a book because I just didn't have enough ideas. But once I started writing books, the ideas multiplied and multiplied. The more I write, the more ideas I have.

But what if their idea is so marvelous, so perfect, so amazing! It doesn't really matter. The real work, the real time, comes in writing the story, not coming up with the idea. Writing a novel is really, really hard work for me. It usually takes years. The idea is the easy part--the hard part is finding the story in the idea, the characters and their arcs, the questions the story asks, the reason the story matters, and the right words to tell it. Compensation for writing a book is so low, it would be crazy for a writer to split their meager share with someone who isn't doing the work. It would be impossible. 

So keep that idea, nurture yourself as a writer, and get to the point where you can tell the story. You're the best person for the job.

P.S. Sorry I haven't revealed the super secret project yet! I never would have mentioned it if I'd known how long it would take. It could be next week or in two months. But you'll be the first to know!

Comments

[Libbi]

I see your point- the hardest part truly is shaping an idea into a remotely likable story. So maybe there are no bad ideas- maybe there are only bad uses of ideas.

[Amanda]

Oh please tell us soon!!!!!!! :)

[Je Reve]

Concurrence with the colaboration thing, although it would be nice...

And thanks for clarifying about the project. I'll be looking forward to it!

Happy leftover pumpkin pie day!!!

[Katie-wa]

I totally get the whole "we can't write together" thing. That's why it's so hard for me to do group projects in school. No one has the same ideas or goals. It's never how I wanted it. Writers are very independent people. Solitary in their work until it's time to perfect it. Then the smart people come in. ;) But it's so hard to write a book with someone else. I will never try, at least not seriously, because it will never get finished. That's just how it is. It's hard enough to write one by yourself!

I wonder if I'll have to let down people for this same thing someday... that would be funny. (First I have to get published, LOL ^_^)

SECRET PROJECT!!! Why? Why torture us so? Gah.

[Lisa Hunsaker]

You gave me hope in this post!!! I've wanted to write a book for a long time now, but I'm lousy in the idea department. But, thanks to blogging, I'm writing more and ideas are starting...

If I put in the time, it'll happen?!!! That's such a hopeful, fer-duh! thought!.

[Chelsea]

:]

[Kylie]

Okay. I'm dying to know what this super secret project is!!!! and I totally get that thing, I'm a fifteen year old writer, and its hard enough writing a book on my own. a couple of my friends have wanted to collaborate on a book, but i always say no because it just would take so much time and patience, and i lack both. Especially the latter. I have to be alone when i am writing my book. Not like, really alone, but alone with my story. But thank you so much for your books! i absolutely love them!!

[Stacey]

As a novice writer, I'd have to say ideas come and go...I need someplacce to write them down and abrain like yours!

Eeek. Secret projects!

[Lauren]

Please tell us the secret project!
PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE! Thank you if you have read this far! And remember
PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!PLEASE!
ok fine I won't tourcher you any more!

[Lauren]

PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE, tell us what The Secret Project is! PLEASE!

[Annie]

thanks a bunch shannon!

I'm sure I'll love whatever it is that you are working on, but I'll try not to torture myself with it

And you've reassured me. I want to write a story and I have ideas, but when I look closer at them, I don't really know where to strat or how to have a plot, etcetera. But I'm just getting started, so I have time.

Thanks!

: )

[Brooke]

Editorial Anonymous once had a similar posting on this topic, saying the "idea" for a story isn't even a blueprint -- it's more like a drawing of a house on a cocktail napkin. Writing the novel is like designing, drafting, building, painting and furnishing the house.

As for the secret project: I'm guessing you've been commissioned to write a screen adaptation for one of your books?

[Christen]

Secret Project time is hopefully soon... I need something to look forward to with all these finals swooping in out of nowhere!

[Heather Z.]

I'm surprised you really get questions like that. Is that really a multiple question you get asked? Well here is just a general salutation/shout out. Keep it up home girl!

[Hannah(your #1 fan!)]

I have started books with a cousin and a BF. They are great. but writing it is harder than I thought. I bet it can be fun to do a book together, but It is more effort and time than a single author. I am SO excited for the Secret Project announcement! I hope it is soon! But no pressure. HURRY PLEEEEEEAAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury]

Because I work with writers so much, I get queries like that every so often (I'm looking for a professional writer who can write up my idea, because I really can't do it justice, and we'll split the money, etc).

What I tell them, every time, is that if they just can't bring themselves to tackle a blank piece of paper themselves, they should get an audio recording device (some mp3 players qualify) and TELL the story into the recorder.

Then, get the recording transcribed, and they will have something on paper (or screen) to work on. And they won't have to share money with anyone, except, of course, an agent.

Who knows? It might work for someone, someday.

[Elaine Devlin]

For Shannon Hale:

THE REFRIGERATOR THAT RUNS FOREVER

In 1989 we made a big investment. A new refrigerator. It was not only a new refrigerator but a big refrigerator freezer with double doors and an ice and water dispenser on the door of the freezer. The popular color for kitchen appliances in 1989 was beige, and so our fancy, big new refrigerator was beige. We loved it. There was crushed ice for drinks, cubed ice for drinks and the cooler and lots of room for the food and drinks that my 7 children could consume. I didn’t think I’d ever want another refrigerator as long as I lived. It ran well and we were happy.

After two years we moved once and the refrigerator was specially protected under my guidance so it didn’t get scratch or bumped. It continued to run well. Another two years later we moved again and the refrigerator got bumped and dented on the corner, but that was minor and it continued to run well.

It was 9 years later and our family had shrunk to 4 children home when we moved again. The refrigerator ran well but was beginning to look used and taken for granted. I began to think about a new refrigerator even though it continued to run well.

We moved into a brand new house with new white appliances, except for a refrigerator. Since we spent a bundle on our new home we decided the old beige refrigerator would do for a while longer because it ran well.

I went to work full time and forgot to clean the refrigerator for about a year and it ran well. I cleaned the refrigerator and it ran well. Two years later we sold our new house and moved from California to Utah. We decided to take the old refrigerator because is still ran well.

Four years later we are still using our beige refrigerator in Utah and now in the process of buying a new house. It has pretty new black appliances but does not have a refrigerator. We’ll take our ancient beige refrigerator because it still runs well.

Maybe in the move it will fall off the truck and get all banged up and I can get a new one, but I’m afraid we will pick it up, clean it off and it will still run well.

Can I give you our refrigerator? It’s a little worse for wear but it runs well!