Who Would Win
Yesterday I sent Sean Twist the proposal for my latest book idea called Who Would Win. I had put the proposal together quickly over the weekend after an editor picked up on something I said when machine-gunning ideas around. Today Twist sent an email pointing out that not only am I ‘certifiably insane’, but that the pitch is: ‘a brilliant idea’.
Today, 10 minutes after being sent the four-age proposal and two sample spreads, my potential new editor sent me the following email: ‘Looks great, reads really well. I'm going to push to get this into work soon. How much you want to write it?’
All this unexpected praise for a book I do not particularly want to write.
Now I know that sounds like the usual bout of author whining, but there are many books I do want to write. I want to write books combining travel and the exploration of secret history, travel and the exploration of folklore. I want to write a biography of the indole alkaloid ibogaine, a biography of Luke Haines. From Sherlock Holmes XIII to The Far Lands, there are a couple of novels gestating in me that I would love the chance to deliver to a publisher.
However, at the moment the only book a publisher seems to want from me is a ‘funny book’. I know I have said in the past that the only ‘funny book’ I wanted to write was ‘Who would win a fight between Mahatma Ghandi vs. Mother Teresa?’ It is just that now there is a real possibility someone will pay me to write that exact tome, I am doubtful about bashing it out. I am just not convinced I can do 200 or more pages of droll.
I will readily admit I get a mild buzz out of the proposed book’s central concept and with the right co-author it could actually be quite enjoyable to write. There is also the fact I could do with some funding right now. Of course, when the potential editor says: ‘How much do you want to write it?’ what he really means is: ‘Ask whatever you want, at most we will only offer you enough to pay the rent for three months.’ There is possibility of agent involvement in the negotiation to make things more equitable, but at the end of the day the size of any fee will not decide the issue. The real question is whether I want to do something that merely entertains or should hold out for a deal to publish a book I actually feel is a good use of trees.
Today, 10 minutes after being sent the four-age proposal and two sample spreads, my potential new editor sent me the following email: ‘Looks great, reads really well. I'm going to push to get this into work soon. How much you want to write it?’
All this unexpected praise for a book I do not particularly want to write.
Now I know that sounds like the usual bout of author whining, but there are many books I do want to write. I want to write books combining travel and the exploration of secret history, travel and the exploration of folklore. I want to write a biography of the indole alkaloid ibogaine, a biography of Luke Haines. From Sherlock Holmes XIII to The Far Lands, there are a couple of novels gestating in me that I would love the chance to deliver to a publisher.
However, at the moment the only book a publisher seems to want from me is a ‘funny book’. I know I have said in the past that the only ‘funny book’ I wanted to write was ‘Who would win a fight between Mahatma Ghandi vs. Mother Teresa?’ It is just that now there is a real possibility someone will pay me to write that exact tome, I am doubtful about bashing it out. I am just not convinced I can do 200 or more pages of droll.
I will readily admit I get a mild buzz out of the proposed book’s central concept and with the right co-author it could actually be quite enjoyable to write. There is also the fact I could do with some funding right now. Of course, when the potential editor says: ‘How much do you want to write it?’ what he really means is: ‘Ask whatever you want, at most we will only offer you enough to pay the rent for three months.’ There is possibility of agent involvement in the negotiation to make things more equitable, but at the end of the day the size of any fee will not decide the issue. The real question is whether I want to do something that merely entertains or should hold out for a deal to publish a book I actually feel is a good use of trees.
Labels: Author whining, Luke Haines, Who Would Win
posted by David at 9:05 PM
10 Comments:
Why did you send him the proposal then if you don't really want to write it?
Just wondering.
David, it's a wonderful idea *grin*. And frankly, if you can eat and entertain at the same time, that's better than 99.99% of the population get to do. You can always aim for a more tree-friendly project while this is in the works...
The only question is whether Carlton is its best home or not... :)
I don't understand the concept. Is this supposed to be "Celebrity Death Match"?
I'd pass. Those are weeks of your life you'll never get back again.
GC – Sometimes my mouth gets me into trouble. When I was talking about it, Who Would Win sounded like fun. When I came to actually write a couple of pages of it, I just could not put my heart in it.
Marilyn – CDM gets a namecheck in the proposal, but it is a bit of broader concept and significantly different enough that I cannot see Eric Fogel’s lawyers being particularly bothered.
From Coke vs. Pepsi to the Bond of Sean Connery vs. the Bond of Daniel Craig; Godzilla vs. King Kong to The Godfather vs. Scarface; the A-Team vs. Knight Rider to Paris Hilton vs. Nicole Ritchie, the limitless “Who would win …” question gets asked endlessly every day. “Who would win…” is the question that has inspired everything from Hollywood movies such as Alien vs. Predator and Rocky Balboa to TV shows such as Celebrity Death Match.
Paper-trees are grown on farms. They're cheap and easily replaced so any genre is fairly well worth their chopping.
I love the story idea. Good intro, too. Reminds of something Tom Robbins might hallucinate into print.
I'd have to put my money on Mahatma though. Ma T was a relentless bitch, but she had a not-quite decrepit Empire on her side. Dude "fought" one off AND he took pride in pounding the "weaker sex" t' boot!
Is there no turning back, then? Is this a work that would go quickly, so you could find a way to write your heart's desire? Oh, and do you have any co-authors in mind?
I like the ideas you have for the books you really want to write. They are quite intriguing.
I often have the same problem with my glass. The ones I want to do and the ones I actually get paid for are two completely different things. I always have at least one that I want to do going anyway on the side and work on those after I do the ones I actually get paid for. Sometimes I work on them while waiting to be inspired enough to do the paying jobs.
As if getting paid weren't inspiring enough....
How about doubling the effect, and writing an imagined commentary on Gandhi vs M Teresa, from the imaginary pov (or in the style of) other celebs? Like, what would Paris Hilton say about the match? Or Martin Luther King? Hitler? Henry VIII? I dunno, just a thought from my overwrought Aquarian brain this afternoon..
I like the 'how much would you want?' part..
Or P K Dick, if you wanted really weird?? ;-)
So write the books you want!
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