Who's Idea Is It?

Abstract

You can avoid most but probably not all of the misunderstandings about "Who's idea is it?" The preventive strategies work. Fortunately, I was aware early in may career of the need to move rapidly from the idea to the proposal or written manuscript stages. In one instance, when I was attending a national meeting, I informally suggested a topic for a new nursing journal to the president of a publishing company. I heard his interest and automatically responded, "I will send you a written proposal next week." I sent a detailed, copyrighted proposal three days later, and it was accepted. As an author, reviewer, or editor, don't let your good ideas sit too long. By writing the details in a letter, outline, or proposal; including the copyright notice; and setting deadlines so the project moves to a finished manuscript, the idea will result in a successful publication.