CupofJoe
Myth Weaver
I forget the way-round it went but something like that happened between Julian May and Anne McAffrey. One of them had a "great" idea but didn't have any use for it then and the other one asked to use it. The complications came up later when the original author/thinker decided to use part of it and then had to keep explaining [to other people] that it had been her idea first... apparently they used to joke about the confusion it caused for other people.... On the very rare occasion I run across an idea another writer tosses out that I love and want to use - and believe me, we throw ideas like snowballs around here - I just ask to use it. ...