On behalf of the "Insecure Writers Support Group" Web-logging-Wednesday - I thought I'd share a writing dilemma that I hope I am not the only person to have had. If I am, well... that would be embarrassing. So, even if you haven't, consider saying you did to prove your angelic nature.
Have you ever enjoyed a season of being wrapped up in your writing? You've been working, and brainstorming and getting excited about the fruits of your labor. Then, you pause briefly to step back and breathe in the finished work, only to choke slightly because you realize that something brilliant you've added to your book resembles an element of someone else's book. Egads! What do you do now? I mean, it's not like the story is a carbon copy. In fact, the point of what you've written is to get across a very different story! There are plenty of differences! It wasn't on purpose! In fact, if you think about it- you came up with it before you ever read that other book!
Aside from this being somewhat discomfiting, the real trouble comes as you begin to wonder, "what do I do now?" Does it need to be changed? Do you twist it into something different? If you don't will you be passed over by agents? Or worse! - what if it isn't passed over by agents, but the scathing reviews fill Amazon and Goodreads (etc.,) about how the book is just a poor rendition of "Awesome Book That Now Holds the Rights to All Things Cool Therefore Negating Anything Cool and Original in Your Book". Admit it, you've all seen those reviews - maybe you've even written one yourself (no, judging, I promise).
While the solution is rarely simple, it eventually has to be made, and the writing moves on. But, now the question of truth - anyone else faced that sinking feeling of worry upon such a discovery? If so, did you end up keeping the "familiar element", alter it into unique-ness, or nix it right off?
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
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8 comments:
In fact, one of the things I love about writing speculative fiction is that it's accepted to a certain extent that there will be familiar themes and settings here and there. This allows you to worry about being original in places where it really matters, like characterization and conflict.
J.W.
Gwynneth
http://todayinshenaya.blogspot.com
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I wouldn't worry about it. Seriously? There's this little thing called "independent creation" and if you HAPPEN to write a similar story to someone else's, I say "Who cares?!" Your book will still be your baby! It might be a little harder to pitch to an agent, but if its well written, you shouldn't worry. Don't change yourself (or your story) to fit what's supposed to be "right."
Good luck!
There are a limited number of plots out there, a finite number of tropes to be worked over and over. What makes each story different is how YOU attack it, how you let it play out. We all write differently in style and voice, so even if your story shares similarities with another well-known book, your own flair will make it unique.
Which it totally was. Needless to say, I made some changes.
But you know what they say... good writers borrow. Great writers steal.
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