by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Sometime ago, I sent a detailed outline to a manuscript editor who I think is probably in Maryland. Ever since then, I’ve been feeling pretty paranoid that she really liked what she read and either decided to write the novel herself or handed it off to someone else.
So, when I saw someone in my Webstats from Maryland looking at post of mine where I mull the possibility of someone stealing a march on me creatively, I, of course, automatically thought the absolute worst. And, yet, I have no idea why anyone would look at that particular blog post.
Here’s what I wrote.
The interesting thing about showbiz content producers is one hand so much of what is churned out is unoriginal dreck and, yet, when you’re working on your own project you always worry about that one asymmetrical attack that forces you to re-think or shelve what you’re working on.
Some of this, I know, is nothing more than “first time mom jitters,” in the sense that you work on something so much that you think, “Well, if this concept is so obvious to ME, then obviously, it will be obvious to SOMEONE ELSE.” (That’s a lot of obvious.)
This is where my personal belief that you have to make decisions on what you know, not on what you don’t know comes into play. If you worry about what might happen all the time, then you never take the risks necessary to even have a chance at being successful.
So, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m just moving forward for the time being. If something is released or announced for release that steals a march on me, then I’ll address it at that time.
But, for the time being, things are full speed ahead. Wish me luck.
There are plenty of reasons OTHER than someone being on the cusp of stealing my novel idea for someone to be interested in that post. But I have to admit that it’s going to take a bit or two for me to process this information because I’m so fucking paranoid about someone stealing a creative march on me.
What I’ve come up with is really good and it would be just my luck for someone to steal a march on me for a really dumb reason. And, yet, after the shock wore off, I probably would both be shocked that I came up with a good enough idea that someone else was able to run with it.
But I know why I’m this way — Annie Shapiro brought ROKon Magazine back to life behind my back and so I’m paranoid about something similar happening. Once bitten, twice shy and all that.
I refuse to live my life in some sort of abstract fear, however. I’m prepared to ride this particular pony to the bottom, if necessary.
