Me, circa 2004: “Hey, wouldn’t it be awesome to write a sweeping epic, with sentient elephants who have established a complex society and family groups? I think I’ll call it Tusk.”
Me (in a bookstore, circa 2005): “Goddamnit, that was MY idea!”
Me, circa 2009: “I’ve got a great idea to pitch to that zombie series: postapocalyptic world, sassy teenage girl, skilled with a bow and arrow. I’m gonna write that sucker.”
Me, circa 2012 (everytime I see this poster): “Goddamnit, that was MY idea!”
Me, circa 2006: “OMG, best idea ever. So, when Ned Kelly was holed up at Glenrowan? And there was that train bringing all of the policemen to arrest him? What if it NEVER arrived? It would change everything! That’s a great idea for an alternate history novel! I’m gonna research it RIGHT NOW.”
Me, about 15 minutes of internet research later: “GODDAMNIT THAT WAS MY IDEA.”
Imagine my chagrin as a 12-year-old when I discovered I was not the first person to name a planet “Vulcan” in fiction. I had a real grudge against Gene Roddenberry. 😉
Damn that glory hog! If only you’d gotten in first 🙂