tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post8241804909571446944..comments2024-03-29T07:43:01.003+00:00Comments on Help! I Need a Publisher!: HIGH CONCEPT BOOKSNicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-39675620100089483882010-09-28T18:55:21.222+01:002010-09-28T18:55:21.222+01:00As I was reading I kept thinking of The Road.
Som...As I was reading I kept thinking of <i>The Road</i>.<br /><br />Someone said that while you were reading this book, you were afraid to put it down, else the boy and his father might die!<br /><br />That's high-stake, high-concept, if you make the reader feel that way.<br /><br />This is a great pondering post... makes me look at my own work and wonder how much of a hook I set, and if it'sEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-52882209088640402912010-09-27T20:23:25.135+01:002010-09-27T20:23:25.135+01:00Now I feel I simply must see Snakes on a Plane bec...Now I feel I simply must see Snakes on a Plane because Nicola has mentioned it. I successfully avoided all the hype only to be hooked by an author I admire and respect.Jo Treggiarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417288480274268189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-30176685133237827162010-09-27T18:11:56.933+01:002010-09-27T18:11:56.933+01:00Thomas - yes, indeed.
Dan - I'm not sure that...Thomas - yes, indeed.<br /><br />Dan - I'm not sure that i know what you mean about it being risky because ideas aren't copyrightable. If you're presenting a book, you've written it already, so anything a ghost-writer could produce is months/year away. And it would still be different. I think we have to stop worrying about theft of ideas - if you're sending it to a reputable Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56500414517939686402010-09-27T17:33:50.420+01:002010-09-27T17:33:50.420+01:00This is really interesting! I haven't thought ...This is really interesting! I haven't thought about this before!<br /><br />What about mysteries and crime fiction? What would an example of high stakes be there?Privatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018596012893869692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-46770531661350762392010-09-27T02:15:09.148+01:002010-09-27T02:15:09.148+01:00You mean I cannot tell agents my ms is high-concep...You mean I cannot tell agents my ms is high-concept and that they will miss a fabulous opportunity if they don't rep it? As in life or death? Darn it. LOL!!!Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-69682932694787823772010-09-26T22:38:48.810+01:002010-09-26T22:38:48.810+01:00Snakes on a plane? The very idea sends nasty shive...Snakes on a plane? The very idea sends nasty shivers down my furry spine!<br />Yes, I am sure that high concepts and good writing can go together - but I think the good writing is more important than most people recognise. Having an idea is not enough. <br />Oh, paws back on the keyboard - 99% perspiration may do it.catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-22265425113932060932010-09-26T17:47:23.917+01:002010-09-26T17:47:23.917+01:00I think high-concept also crosses with speculative...I think high-concept also crosses with speculative fiction - for example, lots of the classic sci-fi authors have great 'what-if' scenarios: 'What if a robot developed consciousness?' 'What if you could download your memories?' and this makes them very suitable for film.Leila Rhttp://www.thewritingden.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-18595890536011767052010-09-26T17:44:49.477+01:002010-09-26T17:44:49.477+01:00I reckon your bikini example could be *made* high ...I reckon your bikini example could be *made* high concept. Plus size model has been kidnapped by an insane magazine editor with a fat phobia, and forced to slim into bikini in two weeks in order to be on the cover of the spring edition, or else the editor will surgically remove the weight from her body. Narrative would focus on her desperate attempts to lose weight by any means possible while Leila Rhttp://www.thewritingden.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-87522901224911426982010-09-26T14:23:57.202+01:002010-09-26T14:23:57.202+01:00Very much like your blog. Good advice for writers ...Very much like your blog. Good advice for writers (and I speak as one who has been doing it for quite some time).Justine Picardiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957669049699860596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-51359585400272090482010-09-26T13:58:08.045+01:002010-09-26T13:58:08.045+01:00How about 'Worms on a Plane'? Do you thin...How about 'Worms on a Plane'? Do you think anyone will notice that I've pinched the idea for my high-concept novel?Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-26344269604117781662010-09-26T13:31:40.368+01:002010-09-26T13:31:40.368+01:00Thanks Nicola - I've realised I had the wrong ...Thanks Nicola - I've realised I had the wrong idea all along about what 'high concept' meant! I think I was confusing it with great literature - which of course it sometimes is, but presumably something high concept could be badly written too!sheilamcperryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444979085877277654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-6890735129623961852010-09-26T12:06:40.423+01:002010-09-26T12:06:40.423+01:00High Concept always makes me think of 80s Hollywoo...High Concept always makes me think of 80s Hollywood (Back to the Future, anything Simpson/Bruckheimer) and, of course, of that marvellous marvellous pitch scene in Robert Altman's The Player. The ultimate high concept is often illustrated with reference to a film from that era "Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger. As Twins"<br /><br />I often wonder about high concept - to me it Dan Hollowayhttp://eightcuts.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56256856175059576752010-09-26T11:39:49.376+01:002010-09-26T11:39:49.376+01:00Thank you for picking examples that prove that hig...Thank you for picking examples that prove that high concepts and good writing CAN go together. A lot of people consider 'high concept' to be derogatory.Thomas Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987047131104943571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-21492913389610321972010-09-26T09:13:04.986+01:002010-09-26T09:13:04.986+01:00hmmm.. sometimes I like high concept but i think I...hmmm.. sometimes I like high concept but i think I prefer 'journey'books more *grin* <br /><br />http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.comNicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17648307410383451558noreply@blogger.com