Anyone ever feel this way?

[GeorgeMichael]

Hey I just was wondering if anyone ever felt, while writing your stories, that you were kind of just retelling a recently heard story.

I've slightly felt this way recently because I'm writing this story about the pregnant girl just as Knocked up recently came out and now there's this movie called Juno, which ironically I know really want to see because it stars one of my favorite actors (he gave me my user name :)), which is also about a teenager who gets pregnant and I just kind of feel a little bad. I know someone told me that all writing is just a repeat of previous writing but is this a bit much?


Has anyone else ever felt like this?

Is this what Paolini felt like while writing Eragon? :P (ok cheap shot but I had to.)

[Nyx]

So honestly, your story's topic isn't original but didn't you know that from the start? That doesn't take away from your story though, you used great humor and ideas and it worked. It doesn't matter how many stories have been told/written about a pregnant teen as long as yours is one that people read and recommend. As long as there's something that sets yours apart from the rest, wether it'd be an original character, a new way of narration or a sense of humor, that will make it your story.

And I have felt that way before too, one novel that I started last year (that never reached past chapter 5) was strongly influenced by Inkspell. I kept on thinking that I was stealing C.Funk's story....

[GeorgeMichael]

yeah I knew it was already used before, I mean what hasn't? But it was just that the fact that it was two movies in the same year was starting to concern me, it made me be like ... so... that sucks.

Even though I really liked knocked up and I really want to see Juno :)

So I guess I should be fine then :) I was just wondering

[Andy]

I've felt that way, too, usually within the first 50 pages or so, and I ended up restarting everything several times because of that. :D Not that that's what you should do; I think it's because I wouldn't be able to bear the idea.

The important thing to remember is that even though dozens of stories will have similar plots, no two will ever be the same mix of ideas. The characters' genders and personalities will be different, the themes and messages you put into your story, the setting, the history, everything. And if it turns out that you're writing exactly what someone else has written, then call up Ripley's Belive It Or Not and you'll get on TV. ;)

[GeorgeMichael]

:D thanks for the advice :) Ripley's will at least get me on TV :D

[Rafael Domination]

Tell me about it...

I was writing this book about a pair of teenage assassins, and then Jimmy Coates and The Sleeper Agenda just had to come out...

It forced me to upgrade my characters though. Now, they're a step ahead...

[Eve]

I feel exactly the same way. But I guess it's natural because writing usually comes with experience.

[Shaun]

I feel that way sometimes. I just found out that the story I'm working on may have already been written by Charles Stross, a prominent new author in SF right now. So it happens.

I don't think Paolini realized he was telling a story similar to other stories. His interviews suggest he didn't.

[jordanisonfire]

I've done this several times. For example, the beginning of my novel is "inspired" by Braveheart. It isn't exactly the same, but some elements are the same. Of course, Braveheart has a better beginning than mine. :D

[Rafael Domination]

I think this is okay though...I've been forced to upgrade my characters and plots (sometimes to spite the authors who beat me to it) and nowadays, I think 'wow. they're a lot more interesting and better than before when I was relaxed and naive...', and frankly, some of them are even better than the ones who beat them to the roles I had in mind.

[Shaun]

Well if you use an idea that has been done before that doesn't mean you have to change things. Look at fantasy novels. There are a lot of stories with elves in them, but the best stories are the ones that put news twists on elves and make the ideas they present feel new. First contact science fiction stories, in which mankind meets aliens for the first time, are really almost repetitive, yet some authors can take those repeated ideas and make them so new and fascinating you forget that you've read a similar story elsewhere.

It just takes a little fiddling.