Gifted writer Jonathan Lethem (Motherless Brooklyn, The Fortress of Solitude) is the coolest writer in the universe today. Why? Because of this:

Bloomberg reports on Jonathan Lethem's plan to offer up the film rights to his latest novel for nothing up front against a two percent fee of the final budget of the film if it gets made.

``What I'm going to do is give away the option to someone who writes me a persuasive letter,'' Lethem (pronounced LEE- them) said in a phone interview today. ``The date when I promise to make up my mind and pick someone is May 15, so it's sort of a open free-for-all between now and then for filmmakers who might want to get in touch with me.''

Lethem's proposal is part of a growing trend among writers in Hollywood to retain some of the rights to their works. Advocate groups for artists, such as the not-for-profit Creative Commons Inc. in San Francisco, is encouraging authors to decide which rights they want to keep instead of relinquishing all of them.

How cool is this??!! Read his work if you have not and find out. I'm off to dash off my letter now. Sound off readers, filmmakers, about your thoughts on this.