There’s a maxim in the startup community that ideas are worthless. Tons of people have ideas. The value is in executing them. As a former entrepreneur I talked to a dozen people with a plan like “I have this amazing idea! You do it, then give me half the money!!” Uh, no. I’d rather work on my own plans, thanks.
When I was writing, I stopped telling people about it because of this very thing. “You are the vessel that will birth my amazing book idea upon the world.” Like, naw, mate. You have fun writing that thing. I’ll write mine.
Never thought writers would have to deal with that too, but i guess everyone thinks they should write a book now. Software engineers experience the same shit. “It’s Facebook, but inconsequential feature that no one will use”. I’ve started quoting people twice my hourly rate from my full time job and it’s gotten it to largely stop.
If people wanted to pay me to make their project, I’d consider it. But usually I’ve gotten people who think I’m going to work on their “idea” for months with no investment or compensation, then release it and cut them in.
