Hey all. I have a slightly peculiar requirement and where else but the Dope do you go for such a thing? I’m doing some creative writing and I need the input of someone with a good knowledge of existentialism and Nietzche’s work. It’s a bit more than simply factual stuff, I need someone who actually understands the thinking of the associated philosophies and can argue from within that frame of reference.
If you think you can help and are interested then send me a PM. Thanks very much!
I have a problem with this request and–not because I don’t like you–I hope you get no useful responses.
You are writing something creative, a novel or a short story perhaps, and at some point a character is going to have a deep, penetrating argument based on “God is dead” or the Ubermench or some such. Are you going to footnote your contributor? Doubtful. You’ll put your name under the title and be done with it.
I would suggest that you learn the value of research in your profession. Let’s get silly here: Katie Couric is interviewing you and pins you down on Freddie boy. Do you really want to say, “Well, I read everything lying around?”
I think not. As Nietzche taught us: “As in the mountains the shortest route is from peak to peak, but for that you must have long legs.”
Good fortune.
It’s a short story and I’m happy to attribute to anyone who contributes. If it was something as simple as a character arguing that God is dead I wouldn’t need any help, but it’s not, so I wanted some additional input.
Have you never asked for help with something before? Tacking good fortune on to the end of your post didn’t stop it feeling extremely mean spirited.
I’m sorry if I offended you, it was truly not my intent, but your request seems unprofessional and I am hoping you wish to be a professional someday soon and this is not a good way to start. Short stories rarely contain footnotes for contributors because–well–it’s supposed to be your work, not that of a committee.
I cannot imagine a short story that contains an in depth discussion of Nietzche’s work. Maybe an Ayn Rand novel. Perhaps you need to refine your request to a specific area of his philosophy. But I suspect you are not familiar with his work and want someone to light a candle in the darkness. Again, not good.
I meant good fortune even if it seemed disingenuous to you. Sincerely. The creative arts are difficult enough (The Bitch Goddess) without adding additional burdens such as “contributors” to the mix.
How about this: good luck and Godspeed. (I know, archaic. But so am I.)
Well, I’m no philosopher, but by your logic, every novel that a writer who went to college writes from now until he’s dead should list every professor, colleague, and student that the writer has ever discussed literature with. After all, they probably helped him form his ideas, right?
In fact, I’m a little puzzled by your disdain for the idea of someone “lighting a candle in the darkness.” I would say that is a nice metaphor for, well, teaching.
I’m sure you didn’t mean to imply that teaching someone something automatically entitles the teacher to be a coauthor on a work, but that’s how it looks from where I’m sitting.
Try PMing olivesmarch4th. She is very passionate about Nietzsche and is a lovely person to boot.
That she is 
I know Olives so that’s quite a good idea, thanks!
Aswan - have you ever actually read a novel? Virtually all of them have a page of “special thanks” that reads something like “Thanks to Liz Smith for all of her valuable insights into 14th century French farming methods, and also to Dan Johnson for his expertise on Roman mystery cults - I couldn’t have done it without you”. Writers draw on others for help all the time, I don’t see the problem, and whilst I get that you think this will make me a better calibre of writer I am only just doing this for a bit of fun and am not too concerned about whether it’ll hobble my chances for the Noble prize for literature just yet.
Yes I’ve actually read a novel or two and have occasionally seen those acknowledgements to wives or husbands, friends and editors for their continued love and support because art is a lonely occupation. I have never read one that says “Thank you to Sally Smith for coming up with all the ideas of Nietzche so I could write some interesting dialog.”
Perhaps you just want to have a bit of fun and that’s okay. I simply think you’d have more fun and derive more satisfaction if you could take credit for the entire work.