Writers: Why should writers get their own ideas?

I agree with you but I think there's a difference between asking for ideas and asking for plot lines. Many of the people on here are just having trouble focusing (maybe due to writers block, for instance), and ask for ideas, writing exercises, or various things that could inspire ideas. I happily assist these individuals. Then you have those who demand plot lines or "the next best seller" or "a better idea than Harry Potter." The difference to me is that one is genuinely interested in overcoming their temporary writers block whereas the other is just plain ol' lazy.

I approach these lazy people the same way I do those posting homework questions on Y!A...I either ignore the question or I'll respond with a very vague answer such as "ask 'what if' questions," which is meant to tell them to at least -try- to think for themselves instead of soliciting others for ideas. Ideas, after all, are everywhere and should be fairly easy to identify...at least if you know how to look.

Initially, I have no issues with offering ideas because for me, ideas come a dime a dozen and when I have writers block, I just pull out my binder full of ideas that I've collected over the years and go from there. Besides, one idea will never result in the same, exact story from two writers. Each writer will do something different with it.

No, I've never wanted or wished someone would give me an idea. I won't even let a man pay for our date. I can't even accept gifts on Christmas or birthdays. I don't accept charity or handouts for personal reasons. Besides, why ask for the idea when I can just steal idea concepts and put my own twist on it or when I can just refer to my idea arsenal?

I don't share ideas with the lazy individuals out of principle alone. It's just the sheer lack of will that they have to even try. So, I suppose I do try to instill integrity into some of these self-entitled individuals. I realize how self-righteous that may sound but the truth hurts.

I see the younger generations as the "instant gratification generations." They, as a collective group, seem to expect things to be handed to them without learning the principle of earning something for themselves. They are self entitled, and they are shameless in their "mooching." It's no different from a bum living off their buddy's couch for 9 months because he's too lazy to find a job and support himself. It's inconsiderate, rude, and not productive at all. On the flip-side, though, it's not my place to lecture or preach so I make a subtle inference to this through my "ask what if questions" answer and if they don't pick up on the meaning then it's no skin off my back. If they do, then maybe my interference was a blessing in disguise. Besides, I believe that if you have the ability/opportunity to try to correct a wrong, then it's your responsibility to at least try.

And most of the people who respond to those questions with unhelpful replies are trying to express their disapproval with that person's actions. Many people on here have a certain level of integrity and it probably chafes them a bit to see people so callously demand a free ride. Others, granted, just respond to bully but there are only a handful of those left on Y!A.

So the reason for the dislike of others asking for ideas has to do with an impatience with laziness, self-entitlement, and even a lack of respect for others. Others, like you, couldn't care any less than they already do and just ignore the questions or offer help or have a laugh about it. P.S. It's not a violation of community guidelines to answer a question with "get your own ideas." It's a violation to insult people or inflame them or spam or rant, etc.

I don't support asking other people for ideas just because it's lazy (although that is part of it).

I think the process of creating your own ideas - finding them, analyzing other books or the world or whatever - teaches you and makes you a better writer so much more than taking other people's plots will. Writing a story isn't all, it's also having a deeper understanding of it next time you do it. And I don't really feel that getting plots from other people with teach you that.

Because it's clear that *most* of the people who ask these questions haven't made an effort. Some have, and I'm not against writers needing help because every writer needs help at some point.

What pisses me off is that the person goes on the internet and instead of using it to look for ideas, they log onto Y!A and expect other people to come up with one. Plus, some of the people who ask don't even say "Please" and then they specify what they want their plot to be like. It's rude and lazy.

I don't believe in writers block. But I have gotten stuck - who hasn't? There's a different for asking someone for help and asking someone to do it all for you.

I agree that someone who writes is a writer. I've always thought that.

We answer like that because it gets annoying when you see, "Ideassss plz!!!!!!!!!! HELP!" on every page.

Half the fun of a writer is coming up with your ideas. The people who can't be bothered with coming up with their own... I would find it hard to connect with my work if someone else had come up with all the details, is all I'm saying. (Please notice how I said the "people who can't be bothered," meaning the ones who put no effort it before turning to someone else to do the hard work for them).

There are LOADS of ideas out there. All you have to do is look. (Alright, maybe that one great idea isn't going to come instantly, but it's there).

I am not generally hostile to people who ask for ideas, but I think there are a lot of lazy people out there who forget that the point of writing is to create something, not just to execute. Me giving someone else a detailed plot is a bit like an "artist" who traces or copies other paintings. It isn't really art that way. I'm willing to offer suggestions if the author has a direction he/she is thinking of going in (more than just, "i wanna write a love story...ideas?), but those who just say "give me a plot" are just not even trying.

Yes, I have a pretty horrific case of writer's block this very moment, and I sometimes wish ideas would come my way...but part of the process is working through the doubts. Anyway, if writers here want random ideas, I don't understand why they don't just google "writing prompts." Google will absolutely bombard you with ideas for your stories that are provided for free by people who actually wanted to provide them.

As for you manga example, the two scenarios are really not comparable. The artist and the writer of the manga BOTH get credit and money when the story is published. The person asking for a plot on y!a is asking for a handout, not a coauthorship. The problem with it is that it's a one-sided agreement that results in absolutely no credit for the person who gives the plot idea. The two people are not involved in a creative relationship beyond "give me a plot" and "OK, here's a plot."

Additionally, some of the plot-askers are asking for a plot for their SCHOOL assignment...which would make it plagiarism. No one should answer those questions.

Finally, I usually don't reply that way myself. I usually just skip questions asking me for plots. I think ignoring the question is probably preferable to putting down the questioner, but sometimes it needs to be said. There are some unbelievably rude people on this site who seem to think they are "entitled" to answers. Those people deserve whatever answers they get.

There is a difference between people who truly want help and those who want ideas. Those who want help do it in a way that they don't necessary want an idea because they have one but they just want something to go off on- which yeah is bad but it's different. The people who "ask" for ideas do it because they are to lazy to think up their own ideas and they don't even have an "idea" to go off on. Which by the way is most users on here. That being said I don't think asking for ideas is bad but people do need to realize that writing is an art you CAN't copy. There are many ideas out there and many users on here that answers those questions I guess are afraid they will steal their ideas. I don't like giving out ideas because they are mine and in order to become a writer you really do have to creativity. :D

~Sterling

Honestly, I've never thought people who asked for ideas were doomed as writers. Nor would I ever tell them they weren't real writers.

I do personally think the best ideas are the ones you think of yourself. Though that doesn't make me think less of people that ask for ideas. I'd be hypocritical and a liar if I said I'd never asked any sort of idea advice from a friend. People that are asking for plot ideas, are usually asking for something to get them going. I'm an avid member of a site where people put up their ideas for adoption. So many writers adopt these ideas, make them their own, and no one there thinks anyone is less of a writer. You'd think everyone would understand what it's like to be stuck and feeling like you have no ideas.

It's a little arrogant, really, to talk down to people asking for ideas. Like you said, they're not asking for a manuscript you labored over. As a writer, I have many ideas. Many ideas I will never get to for one reason or another. Might as well give them a home. If someone can work with an idea that I can't, good for them. Ideas aren't concrete or set in stone. The person receiving the idea is going to do what they like with it. Ideas are flexible, and that's what makes them easily shared. You could get unlimited stories off one original idea.

I don't know why people still reply if they're just going to say, "Get your own ideas." I don't do that. If I have no ideas to offer up, or any advice for the writer, I don't say anything. I think maybe people feel if they make it obvious to people they aren't going to give them ideas they'll stop asking.

Seriously, I don't even know how I would define "my own ideas." All my ideas originated somewhere else anyways. For me, I have to feel like the idea is mine. I can't outright ask for an idea because I wouldn't feel passionate about it.

A real writer is a person who enjoys writing. Asking for ideas is really no different than working with a writing prompt. But If someone learned the idea behind their most favorite book came from a prompt, I highly doubt this would make them feel any different about it. And if it did, well, that's terribly shallow if you ask me.

It's important to have an idea that the writer themselves is passionate about. If someone has to beg for ideas, they're not going to have the same enthusiasm for it as they would if they came up with it themselves.

Most of the people asking for ideas expect others to come up with an entire premise or plot for them. There's far more to writing a story than just coming up with a main plot--there's characterization, side plots, backgrounds, cultures. If someone can't be bothered to think up their own plot, are they going to bother with the rest of the work?

The main reason is that wanting to write something but not wanting to do the work is just plain lazy. There's plenty of people on the site who don't want to write a story--they just want to have written one. It's like wanting to come up with a world-changing invention and then stealing other people's research. If a writer doesn't want to have to come up with a story themselves, then they don't have the passion and creativity to write anything that's worth reading.

I tell people who beg for story ideas this because it's simply a waste of time to do something that you have no real passion for, and writing without passion is writing for all of the wrong reasons. If someone truly loves writing, they'll take the time and effort to come up with a story they want to write.

...I really just answer questions for points... :D

But your question really has me thinking about it I agree with a lot you've said. I don't mind giving out ideas on the little stuff, but when people get on here asking questions about what their plots should be, that's really just pathetic. I'm cool with giving suggestions that would make their plot better or more interesting, but if they don't have a base plot already, I don't offer any helpful answers. Because ideas ARE special. If it's yours, you deserve the credit for it.

Hah, this sounds like an essay question one of my English teachers might give me. I really hope I don't write you five paragraphs explaining why. ^-^"

I personally don't care that others want ideas that they themselves didn't create. I never have cared all too much. But I have never (and probably never will) ask someone else for ideas. I always seem to have more than enough to go around. I really think the people who lose out are those who want someone else's ideas.

I've never understood the logic of asking others for ideas (maybe starting ideas, however), as I've always found the creation of ideas the funnest part of writing. But if I were to use someone else's idea, for some reason, I'd feel guilty that I wasn't capable of making it myself. I'd also feel a little inadequete and insecure about my writing. It would also feel a bit alien to me, writing what someone else created. Like I'd want them to create all the other elements to their plot, like my ideas would stand out amongst theirs. Not to mention my writing specialty might not be what I'm looking for. For example: I'm best as writing fantasy and sci-fi, but what if somone gave me a romance? It's probably never bothered me because I feel that the loss is more on the taker's part rather than the giver's.

naw, it just sounded like a lot of blah, bhah to me.

Writers need to think up (not get) their own ideas because for heavens sake it IS their book.