I don't know if there's a word for a nightmare daydream, but have you ever had one where you're sitting in a movie theater watching the previews and suddenly you see a trailer for a movie that somehow is exactly like the book you're working on? No? Just me?
I think a lot of writers can be paranoid. It comes with the territory. If you have a great idea in your head, then you would be devastated if someone stole it. Especially for those of us who blog about their writing progress, there's always that little voice in the back of your head worrying about who is going to see your words and what they could do with them.
I was recently browsing books on Amazon and came across a novel that had a few similar elements to my WIP. And I proceeded to freak out. There's that moment where it feels like your whole life is over. You think all of your hard work has been for nothing because somebody has already done it. So what's the point in finishing?
You have to think of it this way: Everything's been done before. And yet, it hasn't. There are so many elements that go into a story that make it unique. Sure, there are only so many basic plot structures, and they've been used countless times. But you've got to factor in all of the details of a story--characters, plot twists, subplot. There's no way that you could accidentally write a story that's 100% been done before. Every element of a story makes it different. Like, if I changed my main character, if I swapped genders, changed to third person, or switched point of view. Each one of those changes would be an entirely different story. If I set it in the rural South instead of New York City. Different story. If my protagonist came from a nuclear family instead of a single parent household. Different story. Do you see how many things impact the story you're writing? And you come up with every single one of them.
As I read more about the book, I realized it really had barely anything in common with my WIP. Every story is unique and exists all on its own. In fact, after finally having some extra money, I bought the book and I'm looking forward to reading it. I love reading books in the genre I'm writing, because it helps inspire me. It's not that I look for ideas in these books, but that I wait for them to trigger ideas of my own.
And I know there's always the paranoia of theft. Sometimes we don't want to display any detail about our stories because we're afraid someone will steal it. But once again, it really comes down to all of those elements. Even if you gave just a basic summary and someone did steal it, what are the odds that they would end up writing the same story as you? They couldn't possibly guess every detail that you have planned. And chances are, if they are stealing, they probably aren't as good a writer as you and they won't be able to pull it off.
So write without fear! Your story is completely yours, and no one could write it quite like you.
That's exactly how I felt about Crewel when it came out, because it has a weaving magic system like my novel has. I'm in the middle of playing The Last of Us and it too has so many similarities to my zombie WiP that I almost swore. Thankfully, both are different in their own way from my version. Chalk it up to the collective unconscious, when the same ideas are being worked on from different people and places. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to make something that's 100% original, but I think it's even harder to make something that's 100% the same as something else.
DeleteI read a IWSG post a few months ago when the blogger had given up on her WIP because she found a story similar to it and she was pissed about it. I, along with everyone else, commented that there are no truly original stories, but what you add to it will makes it uniquely yours. I need to send her your post. You have the right attitude about it. It's that familiarity and ability to related to stories that make people read and fall in love with them.
ReplyDeleteThere really are so many details that go into a story that make it unique.
DeleteReading books in the same genre helps me keep the right mood for my story. And the writers that steal ideas from others are usually not experienced. A story becomes so much more beautiful when it comes from inside of you.
ReplyDeleteEven if someone did steal a story, it's unlikely they would be able to put the same amount of passion into it as the person who thought of it.
DeleteGlad I found this post! I was beginning to feel that way about my WIP - now feel much better about it!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have helped!
DeleteI always read the same genre as I think it helps focus the way I write. But yes, I often have that nightmare LOL!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne @ Suzannes Tribe
Oh good, so it's not just me! I imagine myself storming out the theater in tears...I think I crave the genre I write--it gives me inspiration when it has run dry.
DeleteLook at blogfests and anthologies. Dozens, if not hundreds, of people with the same prompt, and they all go in different directions, or express it in different ways.
ReplyDeleteThat shows how many different possibilities there are, as well as how unique a writer can make a story even when the initial premise is the same.
DeleteIt's just the kind of thing you have to choose to not get upset about. Unless it's actual copyright infringement.
ReplyDeleteIt's important to know that there's a lot out there. Getting upset over small similarities will only hold you back.
DeleteWhat are the odds? Virtually none. We each place our own spin on a tale, no matter how familiar.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be impossible to completely duplicate a story by accident. And despite what people may think, there's always a new story to tell.
DeleteAloha Sarah:)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've heard there are only like SIX original ideas out there and everything else is a variation on one of those ideas...
PS.. I'm not writing a book called PAWS (see my IWSG post:) but many commenters are wishing me well...
So, it's not the story - but what's the THING you can bring to make it zing - so you can buy some bling?
'nuff said :)
Ha! I sort of find it hard to believe that there are only so many original ideas--does this mean EVERY story falls into one of these archetypes? It feels like it's much more complicated than that.
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