# You've got a story idea, but you can't write.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 16, 1999, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-story-idea-but-you-cant-write/9424 "1999-10-16T02:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 3
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 1999, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-story-idea-but-you-cant-write/9424/3 "1999-10-16T02:48:00Z")
Most authors can’t go to a party without someone coming up to them and saying “I got this great idea for a book. Why don’t you write it and we’ll split the profits?” Polite writers say “No, thanks.” Impolite writers laugh. Many people think the idea for a story is the most important part. It’s not. Anyone can come up with an idea that could make a good story, but the matter of execution is something else entirely. A writer has no trouble coming up with ideas and doesn’t need help. It’s the writing skill that turns the idea into a story, and the idea is only about 2% of that. If you think it’s really a great idea, then write the story yourself. You may be better than you think, and you have nothing to lose. * * * [www.sff.net/people/rothman](http://www.sff.net/people/rothman) --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-story-idea-but-you-cant-write/9424)._