I wish I could just hire a writer to write what I want just like how people can hire an artist to draw what they want. I see so many people’s awesome writing skills in fanfiction and I just want them to make more stories, damnit.
Why don’t you? Writers are always putting up their efforts to do stories for auctions of various sorts, or even taking prompts for free. Why not approach some of your favorite authors and ask them to write you something? Yes, technically, they can’t sell their stories like artists can sell their art work, but you can certainly give them money, just like you can give anyone money, and they can write a story just like anyone can write a story.
As a writer it is often frustrating to me that, unlike artists, we create and create and create and never have the option to see a dime for all of our hard work. I think giving authors gifts of money in return of asking them to write you something is a lovely idea.
Hmmmmm. Perhaps authors should start putting up “donate” buttons on their websites.
Commissioned fiction is a thing! It’s just not done very often, because most people are used to paying cover price for published fiction, where the cost is defrayed among many buyers, so it seems excessive when they’re quoted a fair rate for a commissioned story. If commissioned art can be expensive, well—writing fiction tends to take longer (though it depends on the writer and the length of the story).
But if you’re interested in commissioning a story, you can ask around! I know some writers would be willing. I even know somebody who commissioned a story as a wedding present to his wife.
(As a note to anybody interested in commissioning or being commissioned, though: make sure to sort out copyright and use rights as part of your agreement, and keep it in writing. If you want to buy the copyright or control other uses the writer may make of their work, then you can expect that to cost more.)