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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting
Make people pay to name your characters
Authors let bidders name characters
SAN FRANCISCO
- It can take years of late-night navel gazing for a novelist to choose the name of a character, says Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.
Or it could come as quickly as an auction on eBay, and in the process, keep a nonprofit dedicated to freedom of speech from closing its doors.
Stephen King, John Grisham, Andrew Sean Greer and several other best-selling authors are joining Chabon next month in selling the right to name characters in their new novels.
The profits will go to the First Amendment Project, which defends the free speech rights of activists, writers and artists.
"It feels a little scary for most writers because when you're writing you're completely in charge. You can say this book is all mine, it's my world," said Chabon, who sits on the project's board. "Whether giving some of that over has any monetary value or not, we'll see."
King says his highest bidder will get to name a character in a new zombie novel he describes as being "like cheap whisky ... very nasty and extremely satisfying."
John Grisham, on the other hand, is promising to portray his top bidder's chosen name "in a good light."
But bidders beware: Most of the authors are clearly retaining creative control to use the names as they see fit.
Andrew Sean Greer promises his winner may choose the name of a "coffee shop, bar, corset company or other business in another scene," but only "should it suit the author."
The auction begins Sept. 1 on eBay Giving Works, the site's dedicated program for charity listings, and runs for 25 days.
SAN FRANCISCO
- It can take years of late-night navel gazing for a novelist to choose the name of a character, says Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon.Or it could come as quickly as an auction on eBay, and in the process, keep a nonprofit dedicated to freedom of speech from closing its doors.
Stephen King, John Grisham, Andrew Sean Greer and several other best-selling authors are joining Chabon next month in selling the right to name characters in their new novels.
The profits will go to the First Amendment Project, which defends the free speech rights of activists, writers and artists.
"It feels a little scary for most writers because when you're writing you're completely in charge. You can say this book is all mine, it's my world," said Chabon, who sits on the project's board. "Whether giving some of that over has any monetary value or not, we'll see."
King says his highest bidder will get to name a character in a new zombie novel he describes as being "like cheap whisky ... very nasty and extremely satisfying."
John Grisham, on the other hand, is promising to portray his top bidder's chosen name "in a good light."
But bidders beware: Most of the authors are clearly retaining creative control to use the names as they see fit.
Andrew Sean Greer promises his winner may choose the name of a "coffee shop, bar, corset company or other business in another scene," but only "should it suit the author."
The auction begins Sept. 1 on eBay Giving Works, the site's dedicated program for charity listings, and runs for 25 days.
Top answer
[nq:1]Authors let bidders name characters SAN FRANCISCO - It can take years of late-night navel gazing for a novelist ... auction begins Sept. [/nq] I wonder if they have to take the top bidder's name...
- [nq:1]Authors let bidders name characters SAN FRANCISCO - It can take years of late-night navel gazing for a novelist ...
- auction begins Sept.
- [/nq] I wonder if they have to take the top bidder's name...
- If so it might be worth it to be immortalized with my **** star name (firt pet + mother's maiden name): Yes, John Grisham's latest courtroom thriller revolves around that well known litigator Tiger Hurcombe.
- " Long John Baldry
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5 Answers
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[nq:1]Authors let bidders name characters SAN FRANCISCO - It can take years of late-night navel gazing for a novelist ... auctio
- It can take years of late-night navel gazing for a novelist ... auctio
00
[nq:2]Authors let bidders name characters[/nq]
snipped
[nq:2]The auction begins Sept. 1 on eBay Giving Works, the site's dedicated program for charity listings, and runs for 25 days.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wonder if they have to take the top bidder's name... If so it might be worth it to be ... (firt pet + mother's maiden name): Yes, John Grisham's latest courtroom thriller revolves aroun
snipped
[nq:2]The auction begins Sept. 1 on eBay Giving Works, the site's dedicated program for charity listings, and runs for 25 days.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wonder if they have to take the top bidder's name... If so it might be worth it to be ... (firt pet + mother's maiden name): Yes, John Grisham's latest courtroom thriller revolves aroun
00
[nq:1]I've been thinking about this. So often, a name defines a character. I wonder if the winning name will prove ... and a mediocre life? Would they have been the same with different names? SL and Buck Turgeson is already taken[/nq]
Wilford Brimley
Dan Aykroyd
Katharine Hepburn
Martin Scorsese
Buck Turgidson
"Don't try to lay no boogie-woogie on the king of
Rock
Wilford Brimley
Dan Aykroyd
Katharine Hepburn
Martin Scorsese
Buck Turgidson
"Don't try to lay no boogie-woogie on the king of
Rock
00
I've done this before - not an auction, it was a raffle at a writer's conference. The winner is character in my next film.
MC knows that I used most of the folks on the old Compuserve screenwriter's forum when I was naming characters in BLACK THUNDER. I'd have to watch it again to see what character is "Cope", but I remember "Stone" (Bob Stone) is the evil terrorist.
- Bill
MC knows that I used most of the folks on the old Compuserve screenwriter's forum when I was naming characters in BLACK THUNDER. I'd have to watch it again to see what character is "Cope", but I remember "Stone" (Bob Stone) is the evil terrorist.
- Bill
00
[nq:1]I've done this before - not an auction, it was a raffle at a writer's conference. The winner is character ... to watch it again to see what character is "Cope", but I remember "Stone" (Bob Stone) is the evil terrorist.[/nq]
I had no idea!
Well ****, Bill, that deserves a "Martell"!
"Don't try to lay no boogie-woogie on the king of
Rock 'n' Roll!"
Long John Baldry
I had no idea!
Well ****, Bill, that deserves a "Martell"!
"Don't try to lay no boogie-woogie on the king of
Rock 'n' Roll!"
Long John Baldry
0
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