Vanessa

I have an original idea that will lead me to writring 5 books, where there are two main characters being Dopplegangers (reincarnate ghosts who live as Ragtags - the real living) and where in each book they rise to higher rank.

As my book is for older children, the above is apparently similar to the school years in Harry Potter books. Is this too similar as I have been told that my writing is similar too.

The basis of my idea is original so should I abandon it and if my writing is similar to Harry Potter, do I have to change the way I write as well even if that is the way I write?

frostystar

I believe that some people may find this story a little too similar to Harry Potter, but, there have been several other books that have used this similar structure of writing and they have been successful so i believe you should go for it.

__________________
Love you from Amy!

Vanessa

I may take out the ranks as the book can survive without them. Would it be possible if I could submit part of my first chapter to you and then you could be able to see exactly where I am going.

gabriella

There are three things that make Harry Potter, well, Harry Potter.

A book is a full school year, one for each of the seven grades.
He's marked, and there are people after him.
He has a tight group of friends and they get in loads of trouble.

Any one of those things incorporated into a five book series, will, as you said, be a little too much Harry Potter, especially now that it's so big. The fact that it's over and over five times is what does it, frankly.

I like the idea with cutting out the ranks, too. You need a whole community in order to have ranks, and having a five book series based on a community that has five ranks to it, and having two main characters advancing a rank after every book, is just like Harry Potter.

Even better, just reply here explaining what the story is about really, something on the characters, what the ransk are for, yadda. Saying "I'm making a five book series, each book about two characters advancing in a rank of Dopplegangers" is enough to make anyone think of Harry Potter.

__________________
You write by sitting down and writing - Bernard Malamud.

Vanessa

pp

eleutheromaniac

I think when Airborne said your book was 'too Harry Potter-ish', he simply meant that he doesn't care for that genre of writing. For me, I hate fantasy. Ever since the LOTR movies, it's become like a plague. But whatever your genre of writing, there are going to be people that are just naturally turned off by it. Don't take it personally.

__________________
Augmented Reality

Vanessa

Of course there are going to be some that don't that the genre I am writing for, but at the same time, there are others that have stated they think my style of writing and idea is too Harry Potter.

I also received another rejection today which was more specific in their rejection. That although they enjoyed the way in which I wrote, my text and subject matter was not original enough, as was most of the submissions they received.

This just confirms what I started to believe. There is no point in writing something that has already been done and I hope that my new idea really hasn't and although you don't like fantasy, to me you do seem to know what writing is about and therefore your comments are appreciated in that whether it is fantasy or not, you will give your honest opinion on the writings content - which is what I need to know to produce my best

Sam

Not me, I'm afraid.

If your story was about a secret school for ghosts, wrapped up with prophecies and kitsch magic words, then yes, I'd suggest you shift away from Rowling's territory. As is, though, I don't think you have anything to fear. Quite the opposite, in fact, as many people hanker after Potter-esque stories to keep them entertained until the next excursion to Hogwarts. Just so long as your story is interesting enough to guarantee you end up as more than a stopgap, I would say you can put boy wizards firmly out of your mind.

As for changing the way you write, I dare say that many people do so in a Potter-ish fashion. I’m not trying to downplay Rowling’s ability, but her writing style is far from exclusive. As previously mentioned, many people will find your style comfortably reassuring, so as long as you do not entrench yourself in the overtly familiar any comparison between yours and Harry’s adventures will only be skin deep.

__________________
Procrastination is like masturbation; in the end you're just screwing yourself.

Vanessa

I think I will write my book in the way I have outlined above and not write as though I have the intention of having it published which will stop me restricting myself. I can only write as I write and as I have felt restricted in the past...'can't write that because...' I will write as though I am freeing my mind and see where that takes me.

DawnMorningStar

I have a similar problem, although for me, it's probably even a bit more complicated. The main character in the story I'm currently writing was first created in a story and then for an RP based on the Harry Potter universe. When I decided that I wanted to try to write an actual book about him, I realized that I needed to take out all the things that make it HP-ish without sacrificing plot and character traits.

So my character is a mage, but he lives in a world where mages are rare. And he's also a shape-shifter, although I'm going to grant him the power to change into various animals and things so as not to be too much like an animagus. It's things like this that have me wondering if my story is a bit too "Harry Potter" as well, but I think the plot strays pretty far from anything Rowling has done thus far, so hopefully I'm okay.

bobothegoat

I like fantasy myself, but I have to agree here. I remember having read and reread those books well before the movies. What really gets my goat (pun intended ) is everyone obsessing over Legolas.

Anyway, as for something sounding to "Harryish," your idea isn't too bad. Perhaps there is another way to raise their ranks rather than by being taught. You could have them do various things that benefit others. This would cause them to be given titles and basically higher status in their society.

__________________
Bobo the Goat

OrbitalYolk

maybe they have to go off on "missions" to successfully complete a rank. just an idea.

Magnatolia

I think it's silly the way people criticize every thing that is anything remotely like HP.

My idea for a story involves, probably a magic school. People have already pointed out that that's similar to HP. Yet, no one realises that she's not the first person to use that idea.

One example is 'Wizard of Earthsea', which involves a magic school. Just write how you want to write, and keep an eye on where your story is heading compared to HP.

Cheers
Jason

Magnatolia

I think it's silly the way people criticize every thing that is anything remotely like HP.

My idea for a story involves, probably a magic school. People have already pointed out that that's similar to HP. Yet, no one realises that she's not the first person to use that idea.

One example is 'Wizard of Earthsea', which involves a magic school. Just write how you want to write, and keep an eye on where your story is heading compared to HP.

Cheers
Jason

Nbiz

I wouldn't worry about whether it's too similar to Harry Potter. Harry Potter is not the first book that ever dealt with wizards. Most fantasy revolves around the world of Dungeons & Dragons type characters.

Just watch that you don't write your book as if you are trying to copy HP. From your introduction, it kind of comes across that way - Five books and the characters rise in rank in each book. My suggestion, stay away from setting up a diggitch game and having four houses within the school.

Nelson.