When I was a kid, I read a bunch of action-adventure stories in the "Doc Savage" series (a sort of Indiana Jones crossed with Sherlock Holmes crossed with Tarzan character with a group of five--I think--sidekicks). These stories were written between 1933 and 1949 and serialized in the "Doc Savage Magazine," and were printed up as individual novels by Bantam Books starting in 1964. I stumbled across them in the school library and read about 50 of them. They're really melodramatic and trashy but they were good fun when I was a teen.
The name of the author of all of these stories, according to the book covers, was Kenneth Robeson. The thing about Kenneth Robeson is that he did not exist. The Doc Savage books were in fact dreamed up by publisher Henry Ralston and editor John Nanovic of Street and Smith Publications, and were written by several writers who were not credited by name. Most of the books were penned by a guy named Lester Dent.
I was surprised when I learned about this (not that long ago, actually), and thought that it was a funny thing that publishers used to do. But it is, in fact, something that's still going on to this day.
One recent discovery I've made is that a lot of series (sci-fi, mystery, romance, etc.) are dreamed up by publishers or agents and then writers are found to do the actual writing. Some of this is published under pen names, some of it under the writer's actual name. As far as I know, I don't personally know anyone who does this sort of writing, but I stumble across them on the internets often enough to think that it must not be that uncommon a practice.
Me, I couldn't do this sort of work. Not that I have delusions of literary grandeur and have already made room on my mantlepiece for a Pulitzer, but I just know I couldn't use stories and characters that someone else has dreamed up, and write to their satisfaction. I just don't have it in me. Part of it, yes, is pride. I admit that I want to write from my own ideas. But part of it is the idea that this sort of writing sounds like a real grind to me. I think I'd get bored by the second book in the series and make a total mess of it.
Does anyone here either do this sort of writing (and if so, can you say a few words about the experience (anonymously if you like)) or, if you don't, would you if the opportunity was offered?
Yes, Scott, I am secretly writing sultry romance on the side under the name Ivana Fox. Seriously. I am.
ReplyDeleteOkay, not really.
I often think that if I really had the need for the money and the time to spare I might do something like that - write other people's stories. But then I wouldn't be spending all my writing energy on the good stuff I want to write, and I think it would come down to the pride issue, as well, and I'd probably get bored. Even with a name like Ivana Fox.
Interesting questions and thoughts here. I wonder if some of the serial books I read as a child were like this. Probably. Maybe I should be the next choose-your-own-adventure author. I loved those.
And I wrote the sixth Harry Potter. You've found us out, Mr. Bailey, right in your own backyard.
ReplyDeleteI was noticing this recently when the follow-up to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was written by another author. I figured there was no way this could be a coincidence and that someone must have been behind the curtain.
It's a really interesting concept. If I was paid to do it, I might give it a shot, but I have an idea I'd be bad at it. I would not pass up the chance to write Anna Karenina Two, Anna and the Chamber of Secrets, though.
You are very droll, Lady Glam. You too, Big Daddy. I've been writing under a pseudonym for years, though I won't tell you what it is. Right now I'm under contract to pen "The Road to Ozwarts," a post-apocalyptic novel about a magical boy following a yellow brick road through a vast wasteland to the last bastion of civilization: an old boarding school for magical children. I think it's going to sell in big numbers.
ReplyDeleteThe publishers of PPZ came up with the concept and then found a writer. Same with "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters." I actually saw someone reading PPZ yesterday at lunch.
LOL. The problem for me is that, if I put that much effort into something, I want to get credit for it. It's all about me, me, me. Mwahaha. Seriously, though, it is kind of true.
ReplyDeleteThose kind of serial projects may be for those who feel they are not creative enough to come up with good storylines, but are actually good writers. I've heard that James Patterson has a group of writers that writes stories that he comes up with. He will then go back over them and put his finishing touches on, and then off they go to the book shelves. That's part of how he can get so many out so fast.
I heard that about James Patterson too.
ReplyDeleteMy husband told me that about Patterson. My husband knows the most random things. He always has good ideas for stories. He should pay me to write them for him. Oh, wait...
ReplyDeleteLOL! And, if that plan doesn't work out, he should go on Jeopardy!
ReplyDeleteMy gut reaction is, "Egads, may it never be!"
ReplyDeleteMy honest reflection is, "Hmm. Do they pay?"
Oh my gosh, Davin. YES. My mom keeps telling me to make Adam get on one of those shows where he can win money for being smart. He's like a huge walking encyclopedia of useless facts. He could so win money. We need to look in to this.
ReplyDeleteSee I've always believed I'd do well at something like this, but only for a series of stories that I already loved.
ReplyDeleteFor example: I'd love the opportunity to write a Doctor Who-branded novel or a Star Wars Expanded Universe one. I love those creations so much that getting the chance to play with the characters would be a dream come true for me.
On a related note, similar to the James Patterson thing, did you know that the original Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew novels were written by the same person? Franklin W. Dixon and Carolyn Keene were creations of Edward Stratemeyer, owner of the Stratemeyer Syndicate and have been several people over the course of the years.
Crap, Matthew, you just shattered my world! I read both of those series as a child. Funny that I never picked up the similarities in them. :D
ReplyDeleteIvana: Maybe Adam writes for Patterson but has been sworn to secrecy. You can't rule it out.
ReplyDeleteLois: I think there are some people who love to write and are good writers but don't necessarily have any stories to tell. So yeah, this would be a good gig for them.
Nevets: I'm sure it does pay. Pretty well, in some cases. But I think you've still got to publish something of your own first to get your foot in the door.
I am now Ivana. :P
ReplyDeleteMattDel: When I was a kid, I read all the novelizations of the original Star Trek by James Blish. Though I never read anything else by Blish, even though he was a real person.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really hard (and likely very competitive) to get a gig with one of those franchises. But I imagine the pay is astronomical.
Is there really a Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters? Really?
ReplyDeleteOh, My. Carolyn Keene. No. Say it ain't so. I loved those books when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteGlam, I love your new name.
I remember hearing that Carolyn Keene, the author of the Nancy Drew series, was a fictitious name for some man. I was a big Nancy Drew fan when I was eleven and learning that a man wrote Nancy Drew was a big disappointment.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I wouldn't enjoy this kind of writing. But I'd do it in a heartbeat if the alternative were writing up insurance claims.
First - Scott, Lady Glamis (Ivana), Davin (Big Daddy), and all the other commenters, thanks for the laugh . . . and a great source of knowledge for the next trivia night.
ReplyDeleteSecond - I knew Carolyn Keene was multiple people, not personalities, but I didn't realize that about Franklin Dixon.
Third - did you realize that most of V.C. Andrews (Flowers in the Attic, Petals on the Wind) novels were written by other people? In fact, I believe only the first two in the Flowers in the Attic series were penned by her, then she died, and someone else took over. In fact, I always wondered why the voice of the later novels were so different than first two until I found out her estate was hiring other writers to do the writing.
Lastly - I want to write my own characters, though a series about three crazy writers who write the blog The Literary Lab might be a fun series to contribute to every now and then. : )
S
Wow, I'm coming late to the comment party obviously. I will try to remember to call her Ivana from now on.
ReplyDeleteScott, I stumbled on Doc Savage stories a long time ago when I was little, but I never knew all that. That is really interesting.
Would I do the same thing, given the opportunity? For me, it just depends on how much they would pay. If it's highly lucrative, I could probably struggle through. But if it isn't high paying, it wouldn't be worth the trouble. Rather mercenary of me, huh? I have enough trouble as it is starting with my own material, let alone someone else's idea.
Now we must all bow before the glamorous Ivana Fox, may her reign be long and rich.
Now I've just seen that someone else posted something about the Carolyn Keene/Nancy Drew hoax. Interesting to know that others felt the same way about it!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't do it. I would put this on the same level as fan fiction, where you must respect the established canon. My creativity just doesn't work that way.
ReplyDeleteI knew about Carolyn Keene and yes, I think I would give something like that a go just to see how I do.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ivana: Sense and Sensibility and the Seamonsters exists.
Matthew- I actually knew that about the Stratemeyer Syndicate- Woo for college!
ReplyDeleteGlam- Yes, there really is a Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. No joke. I've held it in my hands.
There's also this:
ReplyDeleteghost-written books
If the pay were good (I mean, pretty freaking good) and I was interested in the story, I think I'd be okay with this. Like being a ghostwriter. At first I might think, "But my name!" But then later if I'm making money and writing creatively, that could be cool.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me think of fan fiction (which I'm not a fan of), but in the way of TV shows. I know there are many writers who work on differet episodes for TV series. I think it'd be fun to write an episode for a show I loved. And then I'd get some money from the studio and my name on the opening credits.
Ack! Really, there is a SS&S? I think I Miss Austen is seriously turning in her grave. This is just a sad display of publishers giving in to the next "big popular idea" that's making money. Sorry if that comment just offended someone.
ReplyDeleteI'm kidding about the Ivana name. Watch it stick more than Glam now. Heh. This makes up for all the nicknames I DIDN'T have growing up. Everyone just called me plain-old-boring Michelle. And people wonder why I like hanging out in the blogosphere.
Harlequin publishes series novels quite often. The authors all get individual credit for the story they contribute to the series. I love reading them, and seeing what the different authors do with the character and settings.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether I would want to actually write one of those or not. I think it would be weird writing a story for someone else's characters, but then again, once I create a character they develop themselves anyways, so it may not be any different than that. I guess I'd be willing to try it once, just to see how it goes.
Scholastic's "The 39 Clues" book series is written by a bunch of different authors. Rick Riordan (of Percy Jackson fame) wrote the first and crafted the overall story arc. Each author then knows what points A and B are but it's up to them to get there. There are going to be 10 books in all and they're coming out like every 2-4 months I think.
ReplyDeleteGlam aka Ivana: I hear S&S and Sea Monsters is actually quite good but I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDelete(Want to test out more nicknames? Be happy to oblige!)
Mostly, I just want to write the dozens of stories of my own I haven't finished. But in this post-job era of trying to survive I would consider it if it paid the bills and left enough energy to also write what I wanted; the last part is the sticking point.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds very much like the tie-in novels that are done for shows like Stargate SG1 and Farscape. Those novels have been called fan fiction, just written by writers who are paid by the shows’ creators and who are bound to follow canon and other guidelines.
ReplyDeleteSome of them are all right, some are not as good as the fan fic writers in the shows’ fandoms. And the debate about fan fic and professional writers who write it flares every so often. In 2006 Naomi Novik was part of that debate. She wrote fan fic and viewed it as practice for her real writing gig if I remember correctly.
I've never had any experience with this. I know it's done, but I doubt I would ever do it. I just...I hate (or at least severely dislike) writing things that other people give me. Prompts and assignments for my creative writing class are one thing, but novels and short stories? Yeah, not so much.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, ghost writing? I might. If the story was something I loved. But I would want MY name on the thing. Nope. Couldn't do it. No way.
ReplyDeleteAnd I had no clue that the Doc Savage books were written by ghost writers. No clue. Bubble busted.
If the pay was decent...sure. I don't think that sort of writing precludes one from doing her own work; I don't really see it as much different from a really brain sucking regular day time job. And I do have one of those.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that you mention because I was looking at an agents site just the other day. They had a "What we're looking for" link. I expected genres. Nope. They had five or six plots listed.
ReplyDeleteI thought this is weird, but now that you mention it, I bet some aspiring writers see that and run off to write it! (It crossed my mind, but only for a second)
Six to twelve months later they start getting queries for the books they want... and they can choose which one is best or not at all. (I'm not saying they do this, but it's kind of a smart way to "order" a book without hiring a writer.)
I feel like I'd be tempted to do this sort of work, because it sounds like it might be very interesting to work with someone else; and, if the idea were really awesome, my instinct would be to latch on in some way.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't think I would be able to get 'raw' as it were with someone else's brainchild. I don't think there'd be the same level of passion and intensity without the characters living in head and shouting their story at . I doubt it would be as good as the work from my own ideas.
I have written teen horror romance for Mammoth under the name Maria Palmer. I recently nearly wrote chick-lit under the name Lily Blake. And I've written as other real people, but I can't tell you who.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun and challenging - I have to be someone different from the persona and narrative voice I would use in my own fiction. Some people say they wouldn't like to write other people's stories but it's not much different from being a journalist, where you write what your brief tells you. Or from being a scriptwriter on a long-running TV series, where the story arc may be decided by a team.
dirtywhitecandy: I'm glad you commented, because I knew you've done this sort of work. Thanks for saying something about this topic based on real experience.
ReplyDeleteI just think, frankly, that unless I was a big fan of an established story, I'd really suck at this; I think I'd screw it up and the publishers would fire me. Since you bring up journalism, I'll admit that I also think I'd really suck as a journalist. An editor would give me an assignment and I'd go off and write about something else that interested me. I can claim all day that I have some kind of higher artistic values or whatever, but the truth of it is that I think I'd just be plain old awful ghostwriting or writing on assignment.
How much editorial control do you have doing this kind of writing? If you think you have an idea that's better than the publisher/editor, do you run with that or do you clear any changes you'd like to make before doing the writing?
I'd probably get bored. Even with a name like Ivana Fox.
ReplyDeleteWork from home India