Thursday, February 11, 2010

You Totally Stole That! I'm So Telling My Mom...

I don't read as much as I'd like, but I've been trying to read more—to get a feel for what's out there, and well, it's probably my favorite way to procrastinate. ;) The only bad thing about reading (besides getting nothing else done) is finding similarities to my story.

It makes me crazy when I'm reading along and find a scene that's like one in my story, or a character that's a little too familiar. In fact, there's one popular series out there where the description of the hero and the heroine are almost identical to the description of my hero and heroine, and my descriptions were set long before I read that series. I can't change it now. It would never feel right. But I hate feeling like it's not all mine.

I know it's been said many times that there are no new ideas. Even so, I think the overall concept of my story is unique, and I've worked very hard to weed out aspects that are glaringly similar to stuff that's already out there. Still, I find things are always popping up that make me think, "If I get published, is it going to look like I copied this idea?"

Does anyone else do this? Is this an early symptom of writer's dimentia?

14 comments:

  1. No, no no one will think you copied because your overall package will be unique. But, I know exactly what you mean ... the same phenomena happens to me. And I see it as a positive, especially when the book I am reading is hugely successful ...because it shows I am on the right track.

    Not many publishers will publish something too 'different'. They are frightened of losing money. lol

    I also liked what you said in your profile about losing your mind now you have entered the publishing world. Everyday I ask myself Why? But the thought of seeing your own book in print ... ooh la la! (to put it mildly.) :)

    good luck

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  2. I hope it's not writer's dimentia because it happens to me too. I just put my finger in my ears and hum until the similarities go away. ;)

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  3. This happens to me quite often, but I take it as a sign that I have good ideas and great minds think alike. ;)

    It can be exceedingly frustrating, when, say, you reference a classic novel in your own novel--in a way that makes it impossible to remove from the story--only to read a published novel that references that same classic, but it could have been almost any classic, or other book by the same author and not made any difference.

    Especially when you KNOW yours is the better reference (lol).

    Don't take it too hard, is all I can say!

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  4. It's happened to me several times. It never ceases to stun me, but I try to take it as a good sign that I'm on the right track. :)

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  5. This happens to me too. I have to sit back take a deep breath and continue writing what I intended to write. I feel that if I do what is from my heart then it is unique.

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  6. I had this moment when I read RAMPANT, and the main character's name is the same as mine: Astrid! I was sad.

    But what are you going to do? :) You're right that there is nothing new under the sun. It's all how you present it!

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  7. Wow, this is happing to a lot of people lately! I read a blog post a few weeks ago in which the aspiring writer has been revising her book for a few months and she recently found another book that is being published this year that has a premise almost exactly the same as hers. She even said the love interest has the same name. Talk about crushing! But the comments were very encouraging. Basically everyone told her that even though the premise may be similar, the books will be totally different because her voice is unique.

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  8. Isn't it annoying? I say don't worry about it. Surrounding that similar description is your unique story, told in your voice.

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  9. I hate it when that happens too. However, I think that we just do the best we can and our story will have to stand for itself.

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  10. I'm working on a time travel novel now, and then my sister told me that she'd heard Stephenie Meyer is working on a time travel novel. I have no idea if that's true or not, but arghh! if it is. I'm not going to give up on my idea, though - certainly there's room out there for more than one - look at all the vampire books out there and more coming out every day.

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  11. Yep, can relate to this one. Same deal with plot elements. But still, once you put it all together, I bet it's still a different book to what's already out there. Unless, of course, it's the same to one in that two year publishing limbo. ;) Don't worry, you'll be fine.

    Btw, I've given you the Happy Award!

    Have a great weekend!

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  12. Ew I hate when this happens. I hate going into a Barnes and Noble, congratulating myself on my awesome idea for a story, and finding that idea sitting in paperback form on a shelf with someone else's name slapped on it. But no idea is completely original! It's all in how you put your own personal spin to things :)

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  13. This is why I gave up on my WiP that I just finished for about 2 years. (Give or take.)

    But I've weeded out the most similar elements, I hope, and will continue to do so as I revise and revise.

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  14. It is a common problem, I think. But with characters I wouldn't worry because scene and setting will change and evolve the characters into their own persons and no on will noticed they're similar.

    We are all drawn to certain types of characters and that's a good thing because they can be repeated. Even if it's unintentional. :)

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