I am journal writing about my guilt hang-up in relation to
the _The Coast News_ Article “Writers help other Writers in Oceanside Group,”
November 03.2017 by Patty McCormac
I am not seeking advice in this post. I am journaling in
public share about the process.
I had a friend who helped me brainstorm the first chapter of
the novel, _Peter Mouse_ back in 2010. However, he told me in a call that same
year, “I lost interest in the project.” And “It is your work.”
My feelings were conflicted at that because this was a time
when I felt I should be going into business with people. Also, because my
bachelor’s degree (writing) came to cumulation, I was without that
network/community, and I felt isolated. It wasn’t me, seeking validation over
it being my work, it was an emotional tug. However, I listened and took in his
words.
The year after I gave birth, between 2014-2015, I got in
touch with him about novel housekeeping, and I inquired if he wanted me to thank him by
having his name on a thank you page when at publication. To paraphrase, he
wrote back that he wanted to be put down as a contributor (writer). It was a
complete P.O.V. Shift. However, I wrote down his name as the way he would want
it, and I filed it away for safe keeping/reference.
I got to address the matter in 2021, when I sought legal
advice. One of the biggest questions in my mind was how would payment break
down because there was a total of 99, 100, or 101 pages at this time; however,
he contributed 4 to 4 ½ pages in total. The difference 94.5/ 95.5 or 96.5 of
pages, depending on what the total was, was done by me.
It was assessed if were under contract to one another. To be
under contract with one another 1.00 exchange has to be made at the minimum.
Since no monetary exchange was made, I was advised to highlight and edit what
he wrote, and to do a revision to avoid Copyright issues.
Two points prior to I proceed,
The novel itself was expanded off a lyrical poem I wrote
during college Spring Break at the San Marcos Library in 2003. I am not 100%
sure of the original title; however, I submitted it in a Capstone Project for a
499C class/Independent Study with Professor Wallace in 2008, and the title I
have down is “Young Peter Mouse”.
The second point, this year, I met my deadline in writing a
Transparency Letter to him.
In 2017, prior to the article was published, it was a
spontaneous in-the-moment event, not a planned interview. It was a regular peer
review session with the Writers’ Group with the Oceanside Public Library. Until
the journalist introduced herself, I thought she was there for peer review. She
introduced herself as a Stringer, and she was doing Free lance with _The Coast
News_. She was doing an article on the Writers’ Group. Her name was Patty
McCormac.
A situation like this with friend/anonymous Writer was never
discussed between us, that is one of us being interviewed. Because of this, I
did not think I could authorize to give his name to the press without consent,
in conjunction with him not being present at the meeting to represent himself.
So, looking at it now if I had the cogitative leap to go back and explain to
the Journalist to put the name down I would have it put down to include there
is was an anonymous contributor/Writer.
But one of the complications, I had not had the time, to
figure out the matter of his contribution, and I viewed it as a private matter
to be addressed not related to a news article.
Other nuanced factors included having fear of oversharing to
the Journalist, or not sharing the right thing with some one I met for the
first time.
The other nuanced factor was I believe during that meeting I
shared 4 to 5 pages of Chapter 3 which was only my work.
I could not mentally get past is I figured he would have a
hang-up if I put down anonymous contributor/Writer because he wanted credits to
his name i.e., not wanting me to thank him on a thank you page, but wanting to
be put down as Writer. Also, his words of, “I lost interest in the project.”
(2010 phone call) played into how I responded.
Because if I felt it was okay for me to call him, and it was more solidified on his contribution, I would have called him.
In summary, as of April 2026, I met my deadline in sending
him a professional transparency letter of needing to use a highlighter, edit,
and revise to avoid Copyright Issues because we are not in contract with one
another.
When I think about this now, the sense of having an equal
contributor would mean more of a back-and-forth communication on continuing
chapters as well as planned in-person meet ups to address issues. After the
2014 to 2015 exchange, he never offered to write any other chapters, and since
he at one point had said, “I lost interest in the project.” ( 2010 phone call)
It affected me emotionally in-terms of that gut feeling one has when one is
present and involved. Enthusiasm in one’s work plays a key role in how one
authentically views one as a co-worker or partner in business. So, when looking
the contribution of work from mine to his, it wasn’t equal enough to be a
partnership.
This is a guilt-hang up, but I am also writing it to show
the authenticity of the work.
Comments and questions are welcome to this post, but no
advice or fearmongering.
