I have been told from many a person that my ideas for fiction novels are great and that they would make great novels or even great films. I am no writer so I was wondering if any one out there knows of any writer who would be willing to listen to my ideas?.

Why don't you try. You may not be a "writer" but you may be able to tell a story. From my experience a 'storyteller' is of far greater enterainment value than a 'writer'. Give it a go, you might suprise yourself!

I am brought into mind of 'The X Factor' where people are told by family and friends that they are the new Elvis/Jesus.Send your Manuscript (Ideas are no good) to as many publishers as you can find on the web, if they all ignore it-take the hint. BUT, if you get any positive results,let me know. As your agent, I will only take 95%.

Rubbish, if you can string a sentence together, you can write a novel.

Every November a bunch o people, do just that, write a novel in 30 days. (http://www.nanowrimo.org/). I've done it twice and it is great fun, a bit scary and a great learning experience. I now have two drafts of novels, which although they might not be great, at least I tried!!!

Oh and buy the book about the contest, with tips.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Plot-Problem-High-velocity-Low-stress/dp/0811845052/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254245430&sr=8-1

Anyone who can string a sentence together can write a novel? I'm not sure I agree; not to mention National Novel Writing Month is gruellingly hard work (and I say this as a writer - or should I say storyteller? I fail to see the difference; a good writer is one that can tell a story and a good storyteller is one who can write well, surely). Furthermore, I get the impression that the OP was after someone who could fashion their ideas for publication in some medium or other.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to help. Ideas are a very hazy copyright area - writers borrow ideas all the time, because like it or not no basic idea or plot is truly original, deconstruct one closely enough and you'll always have borrowed elements x, y and z from someone/thing/where else. This, incidentally, is the reason why writing well is so crucial: given how we're all delving into the same melting pot of ideas, it is good writing that sets the good work apart from the fluff.

Because of this, ideas are quite unlikely to yield you any or much money, if that's what the OP is after. I'm forever finding quotes, overhearing things, having conversations which give me an idea and off I go. If I remember what the original spark was I'll acknowledge it; a lot of people who like to think they're more original than they actually are won't do even that.

Inability to write should be no impediment whatsoever. (Didn't stop Jordan, did it?) Has inability to come up with one complete tune and one ounce of street cred hurt U2? Has inability to win a Grand Slam quelled Wimbledon fever? Did inability to think do Sarah Palin any harm?
Seriously, Rollasoc might be right in suggesting you use your ideas to have a bit of fun. Tony Hip is definitely right in saying that unqualified people who are close to us might be unduly flattering. And if you do get a bite I'll undercut him and give you a 10% cut. Good luck.

Yeah but don't forget Jordan uses a ghost writer...

... and that even her ghostwriter is hardly a skilled craftsperson...

thanks to all who replied. I would love to have the time to write my own novel but I am working seven day weeks (65 Hrs), a new born baby and moving home all at the same time. I have very little time to work on a book. It would be a shame for my Ideas to go to waste. I am not after money or glory but it would be nice to see the cover of a book with story by G.D Buxton written by ...(who ever) that would be enough.

[Deleted by Amazon on 30 Sep 2009 21:33 BST]

The sad fact is someone else has probably had the same ideas already and possibly already written a book using them. When it comes to plot ideas for novels there really is 'nothing new under the sun' (I think that was the title of short story by O Henry), the novelty comes from the way that the story is told.

You could give these a try - no idea what they're like or what they charge though:
http://www.copywritingcompany.co.uk/
http://www.ghost-writer.co.uk/
http://www.freelance-copy.co.uk/ghost.htm

You can do creative writing as distance learning from college and do it at your leisure ;)
lizx

Check out http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/JuliaMcCutchen?ref=mf

Sanjay

I got curious and googled ghost writers. Found this -

"1. How much, roughly, does it cost to ghost-write a book?
Typically, around £8,000 for the text, all interviews and travel costs, £1000 for page design and cover design (optional) and £5.50 per printed paperback copy inc. delivery (optional)."

And Neil Gaiman talked a little on his blog about people offering him ideas -

"Every published writer has had it - the people who come up to you and tell you that they've Got An Idea. And boy, is it a Doozy. It's such a Doozy that they want to Cut You In On It. The proposal is always the same - they'll tell you the Idea (the hard bit), you write it down and turn it into a novel (the easy bit), the two of you can split the money fifty-fifty.

..... I tell them, truly, that I have far too many ideas for things as it is, and far too little time. And I wish them the best of luck."

Perhaps the best way is to start writing yourself - perhaps not now, but if you kept notebooks of the ideas, at a later date when you've free time again?
Anyway, congratulations on the baby, and good luck with the move. I can't imagine managing both while working a seven day week...

I agree with Jen Errik. Do what you can, when you can. Imagine if J K Rowling had given her ideas away! Hopefully you won't always work 7 days per week !! Make some 'me' time soon and join a local Creative Writing class and take it from there. Good luck . I wish you evrey success

The thing with Jordan is she's famous, so it's a lot easier to get published. Although having said that Dan Brown managed it and he can't write for toffee.

I have to make a comment here too:
Jen Errik is spot-on. I know several published authors and they all say the same; that they are continuously being bombarded with people who think they have a great idea for a hit novel/film.
An author is driven to write; it takes passion, dedication, perseverance and patience, which can olny stem from the stories embedded in their soul/mind/heart. No 'author' would need or want someone elses idea.
A ghost writer is another subject. These are people who will write you're book for money, so cash is their incentive.
If a story idea is amazingly good you need one of two things - either the dedication and conviction to write it, or a whole lot of cash to get someone else to write it for you.
Either way, I wish you huge amounts of luck.

"Rubbish, if you can string a sentence together, you can write a novel."

And there, in a nutshell, is why there are so many truly bad novels in print.

C.S. Author of Danny Volume 1

Why not write it and publish it yourself? There is a website that allows authors to do this. I think it's www.lulu.com It's up to you to sell it, but it might be worth it.

Try me. Bronwyn Editions exists to help others achieve. I am an author, editor, typesetter and publisher. I don't have my website up and running just yet, so I don't know how to contact you. I know we're not supposed to give out email addresses on here, so perhaps looking at my reviewer's profile might help. Best of luck anyway :-)

If your idea is at all crime-based, a compromise might be to consider entering the Crime Writers' Association 'Debut Dagger' competition. It's for unpublished writers, and calls for the opening of a proposed novel (up to 3,000 words), together with a synopsis (500 to 1,000 words) on the further development. Having been a member of the CWA for many years, I can vouch for its integrity and professionalism. The website is at www.thecwa.co.uk.
I would add that, as a published writer of many years' standing, the only thing to do with a fiction idea is to sit down and write it. If you're sufficiently keen and driven, you do somehow find the time. Your life does sound massively crowded at the moment, so if nothing else, write your ideas down - good ideas don't have a sell-by date. As for 'being no writer', if the plot and characters are good, an agent may well be prepared to spend time helping you to polish the style.
Best of luck and happy writing!
Sarah Rayne.

G.D. Buxton, have a go. I didn't consider myself a writer, but this year my novel Blood On Their Petticoats was published and I'm now writing the next one. I suggest you join a self-help writing group and give it a go, if for no other reason, than the feeling of achievement on completion. Have plenty of hope but don't have too many expectations as getting it published could prove difficult.

As the wonderful Diana Gabaldon said: ""I'm sorry, but it doesn't work that way. Ideas are the easy part. Every single writer I know has more ideas than he or she could possibly write down, if they lived to be older than Methusaleh. They don't really need any more." (http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~gatti/gabaldon/writerscorner/wc_advice.html)

Why give your ideas away to somebody whose only motivation is their fee - it would only cheapen everyone involved. But if you can find the time and you have the compulsion to make those sparks of yours fly, I promise you that whatever the outcome the experience of writing can only enrich you. However, I'd discourage you to go down the self-publishing route - the same cynical profit-making ethos tends to apply to this industry as it does to ghost-writing and besides, the world doesn't need any more bad books whose existence can only be justified by how effectively they soothe the vanity of their parents. Plus, an agent won't even take you on, let alone offer any editorial advice, unless you have a finished draft to show them. The only solution seems to be: get writing whenever you're able!

Stephen King's On Writing is as good a starting point as any - it won't make a writer out of you if the gene is absent to begin with, but it does contain a lot of practical advice on how to approach the practical aspects of practising the craft. Or if you'd prefer to give scriptwriting a try, there are lots of "how to" guides out there. You'll need a dedicated screenwriting software package - Final Draft is probably your best bet - and while the craft of writing a screenplay is very different to the craft of writing novels, it tends to be less time-intensive and would maybe better suit a novice with such a busy life as yours. But beware, while there are plenty of organisations which exist for the development and production of film (your first port of call would probably be the UK Film Council) feature screenplays remain notoriously difficult to sell in little old Blighty, with or without an agent.

Good luck.