If you're asked for a "small sample" for a potential short story, what do you do? I sent a paragraph or so in actual form it would be for the book... then I summarized the rest of the story. The next day I received a positive reply although they admittedly had not had a chance to read it all. However, I didn't hear anything for a few days. I sent a follow up, and that was three days ago. Now, this whole thing in its entirety was maybe 500-600 words... not an essay or novel they had to sit and read through. I am beginning to feel that either I didn't get the job, and they don't have the courtesy to let me know, or they took my idea and ran with it. Thoughts? Suggestions for future? Thanks!
I've been freelancing for 15 years. You always feel like you give something away in trying to make the right impression. I think you did the best you could. I met with a client not too long ago and noticed they were taking notes. Then it hit me. They're not going to use me. They just want to "use" me. Now, I do leave out some key elements so if they do execute an idea, it's missing a key element. I went on an interview last year and a month later logged into their site and noticed they tried to implement my ideas. They were done poorly but obviously they took my ideas and ran with it. I also threw in a stupid idea at the end of the interview and they ran with that one, too. I had to laugh. That was a plant to see if I had the right intuition. It happens. But they can't do it like you can so let them learn the hard way. Just remember to hold a little something back. Hard to do. Hard for me to do because I basically want to think the best of people.
Hello vGal , The same thing happened to me too , had a great idea and talked with a programmer and he stole my idea and never got back. Actually it's a shame to the ones who make these kind of things so what I recommend you is get a patent for your idea or make the other's sign a document where they certify that they wont be using the idea without your proper rights
Implement your best ideas yourself or save it for trustworthy clients. Don't take a chance giving your brilliant ideas to a random nobody.
How could we possibly 'sign' the agreement when all these transactions are taking place online. Please elaborate.
If it's fiction, don't worry about your ideas being stolen. It's not the plot that matters, it's the execution. It takes a lot more than a plot outline to write a good story, and the people who don't appreciate this will just end up churning out some rubbish and wondering where they went wrong. With non-fiction it's not quite the same thing, you should guard your sources more closely because what you're selling is the information, and not just the way it's presented. That's trouble with the web, almost every great idea is easy for a talented programmer to copy, and there's not a lot you can do about this. The most you can do is develop it yourself and be first to the market with it, and hope that someone with deep pockets doesn't copy it and take over your market.
You can also give them samples of your work on other subjects. If they like it, then the odds are that they will think that you can do the same for their subject. For example, if they want an article on money making, show them your best work in the health field. They will see your style of writing, how well you can explain things to the reader, and your key selling words. Then tell them you can do the same for their subject.
Your story is an excellent explanation to a question in my mind about all the time I spent helping people doing my best and getting back nothing but pain If I would preserved quietly some of those ideas for my own business implementation I would not faced so many trouble building a name and a steady income
IMHO it just the way web is. It is fluid and ideas can easily spread, especially the good ones. As somebody said build on the good ideas yourself, but it still does not mean someone else can't make for example almost a same brilliant website as your is. As far as I know you can't patent ideas.
I think it would be better if you register your idea to protect it, here is the link that may be useful for you; http://www.wikihow.com/Protect-Your-Written-Ideas-and-Stories
Yeah it's happened to me too, I had a great idea and someone stole it, I bet you won't believe Google was my idea originally ... ...Only jokin On a serious note I do agree with some of the others here, try to give a simple outline without revealing too much information so that if they do a runner it won't be the exact same idea.