Everything I draw ends up wearing a bow-tie

replied to your

…but why tho? why can you not write about something suggested to you?

sorry if I didn’t explain that well enough but there’s a few reasons-

1) if a writer uses something that someone can later claim was their idea, it raises all sorts of legal problems, and ain’t nobody want to deal with that. Professional story writers have a hell of a time AVOIDING this and it really is a hazard of the occupation

2) if someone suggests an idea, some writers (myself guiltily included) feel stubborn and don’t want to make it when the joy of coming up with stories is half of the reward of making them in the first place. it also just feels like the story isn’t yours- being commissioned is different, and likewise if you do that sort of writing for a living, it erases point one altogether.

3) if someone suggests an idea that is very like one you had in mind, but haven’t been able to get around to making yet, it makes you feel unoriginal and slow, and the ‘new’ version suggested can interfere with the vision you had, which makes things feel muddy and conflicted

basically, writing is complicated, it’s very personal and legally it can be a nightmare to deal with who came up with what without carefully signed and documented evidence. That said, not everyone is the same- so!

Basically, the best thing you can do is ASK if you can send an idea to the writer: if the person you want to send your idea to says yes, then go for it! If they say no, please respect their decision! Don’t be sad or stubborn, and please keep in mind that if they respond in the negative it is very likely not because they aren’t interested in your cool idea or hate you, it’s because of all the above complications (and probably more besides!)

04/18/19