Have you ever felt like a copy cat? - Writers Forum

Cady · 03-12-2006, 01:26 PM

It seems like every time I get about half way through writing a story I find something VERY similar. Ussually I give up and moev on to something more original, only for it to happen again. I am not planning on giving up, but it makes the story seem so impersonal and copied now. Anyone else have this problem, or any words of advice? At least I can fall back on my characters.

kalibantre · 03-12-2006, 01:29 PM

I think it was the greeks who said there were only 8 storylines and everything else was an almalgamtion of those stories.

Pretty much everythng has already been done, the basics of it, take myths, they're used time after time..

you just have to find away to make people see past the storyline that you feel has already been done, by style, characters..

Cady · 03-12-2006, 01:31 PM

Thanks, that makes me feel better.

aliceedelweiss · 03-12-2006, 01:31 PM

I can understand how you feel its really hard to write orriganle in our times. Really the only way I avoid feeling like a copy cat is putting a lot of my own twists on something thats over used (i'm a vampire fan what can I say?) or just try and not care...because really everything is a copy of something before it, you just have to know how to do it write so it doesn't seem like a copy. (did that even make sense?) so pretty much, try not to care, unless its very obvious that its a "copy" and just write about what you want to write about.

New Moon · 03-12-2006, 03:38 PM

yeah, that happens to me a lot too.
so I just try my hardest to be as original and entertaining as possible.

Avarice · 03-12-2006, 03:40 PM

I've noticed that my novel is very similar to American Psycho, mainly because its my favourite book, all you can really do is see where you pretty much copy and change it.

imrhati · 03-12-2006, 05:14 PM

i recently wrote a story that had a alien race in it. I drew a lot of inspiration from warhammer 40k's tyranids and Star Craft's Zerg (which happen to be the same). I looked at what i liked about them and what i didn't like and kept the good and changed the bad. I ended up with an unique race. My teacher read the story and did not even notice the similarities (he happens to be an avid player). so it worked out great.

petitions author · 03-12-2006, 05:54 PM

Hi,
It's like the 'Hanged man' in a Tarot Deck. Instead of giving up, try looking at it from a different perspective. Give the ideas a new twist.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day! p.a.

<--- My buddy!!!

Cady · 03-12-2006, 07:08 PM

Thanks guys, it helps to know that I am not alone. I was afriad I was just totally unoriginal.

woodcut.evolution · 03-12-2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imrhati

I drew a lot of inspiration from warhammer 40k's tyranids and Star Craft's Zerg (which happen to be the same).

Which were inspired by the alien from Alien, which was inspired by, or at least very much resembles, the Arachnids from Starship Trooper (the book, not the movie). And so on down through history.

Lucifiel · 03-12-2006, 11:24 PM

Sometimes, I have. But I just sit down and try to make it different by putting in my own creations. Then again, being excessively neurotic about writing isn't going to help me enjoy my life much. You know how some of this looms over your personal life and one fine day, your hubby goes:"Fine! I've had enough! Either you quit being obsessive or I'll go!"

Dresdor · 03-13-2006, 03:29 AM

Yeah...nothing I write is all that original. It's the combination of unoriginal parts into an original whole that really makes a work sell.

Kimahri · 03-13-2006, 03:24 PM

When I first started writing I did have a lot of similar ideas and elements to my story as those of other writers I admire but now that I have been writing for quite a while, I have found ways to use those similarities but also to make them my own in my story to the point where I think the reader will forget. I agree with kalibantre that really a lot of story ideas have been done and its hard to stay completely away from those, but the key is to find ways in which you can create a story that still appeals. I think your goal is to make the reader say, "You know what this is similar to "blank" but I can't seem to put this book aside." Hope that helps.

kimahri

imrhati · 03-13-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodcut.evolution

Which were inspired by the alien from Alien, which was inspired by, or at least very much resembles, the Arachnids from Starship Trooper (the book, not the movie). And so on down through history.

actually tyranids date back farther than alien. warhammer 40k was orignally called rogue trader and had very few miniatures. i can get some pics of the old modles to prove it they have a VERY retro paint scheme.

Cady · 03-13-2006, 08:14 PM

I am about half way through my book, which does involve a species of more evolved humans. Anyway this weekend I saw a preveiw for X-MEN 3 and I thought, wow that reminds me a lot of what I am doing. And while I drew a bit of inspiration from the original X-MEN movie, I also used things from a billion other sources, and spiced it up with my own style. I just hope no one else draws the same conclusiont that I have, which is I somehow saw this preveiw a long time ago, subconsiously stored it and then one day thought hey that would make a good book. Ok that couldnt happen because I started this before X-MEN 3 was even in production (I checked) but still I dont want people to think that I am a copy cat.