Hypothetical #4

Nate · 2008-09-02T23:22:30Z

Used to do this a lot. What I do is give you a hypothetical outlining an ethical situation, and you answer how you'd respond if confronted with the decision. The situations always involve writing in some way, and there is no right answer. These questions are meant to dwell in that grey area between right and wrong. Lets say you are a published author with one book on your belt that made it onto the bestselling list. Thus. you're known, but not well-known. While you're writing the outline for your next novel, which is expected to sell 10,000 to 30,000 copies (a very good number), you are approached by the Coca-Cola corporation. In exchange for either using coke products or water whenever your characters drink something, they'll pay you $100,000. Additionally, you have to mention a coke product every 5,000 words, on average. Your book is set in your present-day hometown, and it would not be hard to mention only coke products or water. Do you accept the offer? Here are some other questions if you have time to answer them: Do you change your mind if the book you're writing is for kids younger than 13? What if your book is fantasy or sci-fi? Does it matter if the book is set in the northeast, where Pepsi is king, or in the southeast, where Coke is king?

Snoink

Supporter

Gender

Points 9692

Reviews 3900

Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:50 pm

Snoink says... · Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:50 pm

If the setting doesn't naturally have Coke products in everywhere, I would change the location so that it would make sense for Coke products everywhere.

Basically: darn straight, I'll sell my soul to evil capitalism!

Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

"The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly." ~ Richard Bach

Moth and Myth <- My comic!

Quote

W

Gender

Points 1090

Reviews 5

Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:56 pm

W says... · Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:56 pm

I'm supposed to mention Coke every 5,000 words? How could anybody do that? I have enough to worry about with my characters/plot than figuring out how to fit a Coke metaphor into the climatic battle scene.

But 100,000? Maybe I'd write a short story before starting my next novel...

el oh el

Quote

thunder_dude7

Gender

Points 1176

Reviews 56

Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:04 am

thunder_dude7 says... · Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:04 am

Keep in mind they said 5000 words on average. So if you mention Coke a whole lot at one time, you can go a while without it. Say your story had 75,000 words. Every 5,000 words would mean mentioning coke a total of 15 times. So if you mention Coke 15 times in the first chapter, you've followed the deal. It would be a lousy 1st chapter, but yes.

Quote

Snoink

Supporter

Gender

Points 9692

Reviews 3900

Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:38 am

Snoink says... · Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:38 am

W wrote:I'm supposed to mention Coke every 5,000 words? How could anybody do that? I have enough to worry about with my characters/plot than figuring out how to fit a Coke metaphor into the climatic battle scene.

But 100,000? Maybe I'd write a short story before starting my next novel...

LOTR would be sooooo much better with Coke references.

...Snoink's Imagination...

Aragorn took a big glug of Vanilla Diet Coke before turning to Pippin. "Okay, now that I officially have a caffeine/sugar rush, let us defeat Mordor!"

...see? Perfect!

Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

"The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly." ~ Richard Bach

Moth and Myth <- My comic!

Quote

Tusker93

Gender

Points 2018

Reviews 32

Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:48 pm

Tusker93 says... · Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:48 pm

It's a challenge, and writing well with a challenge on you is pretty cool - also the cash ain't too bad either :lol:

Quote

About / Info

Forums & RPG

Literary

Resources