Quick PSA:
Unless I have an existing, mutually agreed-upon working relationship with you, please do not send me your writing for critique, review, or other professional feedback.
I don’t have the time to read your stuff, and I don’t want the legal exposure. Even if I did have the time to read your novel—which I don’t because my schedule is stacked with my own projects—I can’t look at what you send me because I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a future lawsuit that claims I ripped off your work in one of my own stories.
(And no, I am not interested in writing a novel with or for anyone else, regardless of how amazing your idea may be, or how certain you are that it will lead to untold riches for us both. See the paragraph above about the legal exposure thing.)
I get such requests on a semi-regular basis, but they’ve picked up lately for some reason, so I am putting this out here to discourage future requests. This isn’t me pulling the ladder up and thinking I am too good to help out new writers. It’s to protect myself against copyright claims and to minimize the chances of someone showing up at my place one day with a framing hammer, a bunch of zip ties, and an unshakeable conviction that I stole their idea for a novel.
I would never! Besides, my writing is crap. I’m a 70 year old grandma who just wants to sit in my chair with a cat on my lap, cup of tea and read your way cool books to my heart’s content. Thank you for what you do, Marko.
If I send you a l handwritten note, with anything (Idk, how much I loved your last book) can I get an opinión on my handwriting and how to improve It maybe?
Cover your ass first. Self preservation trumps all
You handled that perfectly.
All understandable.
Smart. Tom Clancy claimed that he only read nonfiction (history and technical manuals) so he could not be accused of ripping off another author.
Damn, I was about to start writing my novel about an author who turns up at another author’s house with a framing hammer, a bunch of zip ties, and an unshakeable conviction that they stole their idea for a novel.
Back to the drawing board I guess
No way, that was MY IDEA!