[From the Archive] Just Say No
This is from 2009 – so the information is a little dated. For something newer – check out my review of Transformers: Dark of the Moon on SF Signal.
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I’m running on empty for the next couple of weeks. This week is the lead in to FenCon, and next week I’ll be recovering from FenCon. FenCon is an amazing fan-run Science Fiction convention in Dallas this weekend. We have an incredible line up of guests. If you’re in the area, please come. It’s an exhausting convention for me because not only do I “do time” as a panelist/regional author, I’m also on staff. I am the Guest of Honor Guest Liaison. It’s a fun gig, but can also be hectic and stressful, but someone’s got to pick up people like Lois McMaster Bujold from the airport. Right?
Anyway, so this week’s column is a rehash of what’s going on around the internet. It started out with Josh Olson’s widely spread and F-Word Rich Rant about why he wouldn’t read someone’s script. It start off with him looking like a complete jerk, but the point is valid. Which is what John Scalzi says in his post on Tuesday, but in less… evocative… terms. And it’s a lesson I need to learn – the art of saying, “NO.”
You see, most writers are glad to help out new writers – within reason. Most writers are grateful to have fans – within reason. It’s when the new writers and fans start feeling entitled to the writer and his/her life where things go horribly askew. And guess what, it’s really okay to say, “No.” And I’m saying this to myself as much as anyone. I’ve let myself get backed into corners and guilted into reading stuff I didn’t have time for.
Guess what? The points are all correct. Most who ask the Bigger Fish to read something? Have that reality check first. You ask someone to read something, you’re going to get an honest opinion. Most of the time it’s not going to be, “You’re brilliant. I’m going to kill myself now because I will never be as good as you are at this moment.”
If you’re lucky enough to know/meet someone in television? Don’t ask them to submit your idea/script/whatever to their producers. It’ll just get them fired. Most production companies can’t look at stuff like that for legal reasons. Because they don’t want to get sued by the stereotypical nut job who sees elements of some idea he had in someone else’s script and sues the production company.
So, bottom line… it’s convention time. Go. Talk to your favorite author or artist. Just don’t be jerk. Respect the professional’s time and talents. Learn the industry. And who knows, maybe they’ll ask you to read something of yours. And if you’re someone’s who’s approached? Just say NO!