Thread: How important is originality and should the writing process be contrived or organic?

Hi there, I have been writing for some time now but always just for pleasure or school/uni. I am now thinking of trying to get my current novel in progress up to a standard were I can try sending it to an agent. The problem is now that I am thinking about trying to have it published, I have all these doubts and questions about the way I write and my current work; wondered if anyone had any advice or perhaps felt the same.

My novel is I suppose sci/fi/drama, but since getting the plot down on paper I have realised that many of the ideas are in other novels or films, not the same plot by far, but one idea in this novel, another in that one. It seems perhaps I have subconsciously collected them all and then formed them into a new work. I was worried about this and I started to research to see if there were similar novels on the market and have found even more, some with very similar ideas. Should this put me off, does an idea need to be very original in order to make a good story?

In a way I feel like this is the story I have to tell, I am already attached to my characters and don't want to give up on them. Of course I could change the plot to make it more original but I have always written rather 'organically.' My characters usually decide what is going to happen for themselves. I know that with the redrafting process one must take a different approach, but when it comes to creating the world of the novel and the fate of the characters, for me it seems natural to allow those things to come from within me rather than construct them to 'be original,' suit a particular market, current fashions etc.

Am I being naive, and does a good story in this genre need to be something new?

Thanks in advance, feeling a bit lost so all comments welcome x

My characters usually decide what is going to happen for themselves. I know that with the redrafting process one must take a different approach

I think that is it not either/or, but organic and contrived.

My main bit of advice would be to take a deliberate approach to all your writing and develop a critical 'head set'. So before you post something like this think it over and edit it. eg.

Hi there, I have been writing for some time now but always just for pleasure or school/uni.
Hi there, I have been writing for education and pleasure for some time

I am now thinking of trying to get my current novel in progress up to a standard were I can try sending it to an agent.
But would like to get my work in progress to a professional standard

The problem is now that I am thinking about trying to have it published, I have all these doubts and questions about the way I write and my current work;
But I have doubts about my work and style

wondered if anyone had any advice or perhaps felt the same.
Are you affected this way or do you have any advice?

Mostly it is simply verbose but "current ... in progress" is tautology. Trying is fine, thinking is fine, but "thinking about trying" is a bit sad, "considering"?

Hehehe, I suppose I had that coming, posting on a writers forum without re-reading what I had written, in my defense I am in particularly poor form today as I am unwell, lying on the couch and have as a result finally been presented with an opportunity to think about something other that the house/kids/work. You did however make a very good point, I can be very lazy and scatty with both my speech and my writing. I have the ability to communicate succinctly and effectively but I don't practice enough. I live in Cyprus and spend most of my time communicating in Greek, subsequently my English has begun to suffer. It is also a question of character, I am extremely creative but often overlook the details; this causes me a lot of trouble and hard work when it comes to redrafting. I suppose for me as an inexperienced writer one of my biggest current chalenges is to find and sustain that balance between creativity and craft. As you suggested I will try and be more disciplined with my language in general, it may improve my writing and save me some time and labour when it comes to redrafting.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, though it wasn't what I was expecting it was very helpful and you have given me something to think about

On the point of originality, think of music for a moment. Take the chords C, G and D. These are used countless times in thousands of different songs. However, no one would sue you for copyright for using those chords in your own song. Sure, these chords and progressions aren't original but that's life; there's only so many combinations that can be used to make great music. One can take ideas that may have been used in a very similar way but can still make great original art with it. I think something similar must apply to writing. I believe it's impossible not to be shaped and influenced by great writers if one reads and I think these influences will usually permeate in one's own work. Sure there may be other books out there with a story somewhat similar to yours but I don't see that as a deterant, personally.

There are hundreds of thousands of songs about love.
There are hundreds of thousands of paintings showing every day objects.
There are many thousands of movies depicting romance.

So who cares if your work doesnt explore ideas that have never been explored before; the point is that you express yourself.

One scan through the shelves of your local book or video store should show you that there are few original ideas: probably 99% of the books on the shelves are based on ideas that have been done before, but are either done in a different way or combined with other ideas or characters that haven't been combined in quite the same way before. And as for movies, well... 'It's Die Hard... with penguins!'

Obviously most people don't want to read a novel with a story they've seen before and characters they've seen before doing things they've seen before, but so long as those ideas haven't reached outright cliche levels and there's something we haven't seen there's a potential market somewhere. Most of the romance genre is the same story in different settings with different characters, yet it sells books by the bazillion every year because it's a story that people want to read.

When I first started thinking about writing a novel, I ran into the same problems. It seems like every story has already been told to one extent or another. That being said, I now see advantages. In your situation, you've found several books that are similar in plot already in publication. Instead of thinking of scraping your idea, use it to your advantage. There is obviously a market for the type of fiction you are writing. You also know which books you're competing with, and you should be able to distiguish your work from theirs. You know who publishes the types of books you want to write. You can taylor your book proposals to suite the appropriate publishers. You will get published if (a big if) your writing is great. The most original idea in the history of fiction will fail if the writing is poor. But a story idea that has been done 6 ways from Sunday (romance and mystery) may still find a publisher if the writing is great.

My advise, keep writing your story. Like Olly Buckle said, keep a critical eye on all your writing, whether its forum posts, emails, or your story. Writing well in all your daily activities will help you write well when it really counts. This happens to be my biggest problem, as I'm sure there are several mistakes in this post.

There was a slight relief when I saw your reply, I had posted mine before I looked at your post count, sometimes people can be put off never to return. Your attitude makes me think it might be good having you around. I remember that thing of not speaking English for some time when I worked in Spain as a young man, I met some French people on the way home who would not believe I was English because I had a reasonable French accent, they called their English friends over to listen to me and together they decided I was probably from somewhere multilingual, Switzerland or Belgium maybe because, although very good I was just not quite fluent enough.

Think about how you write the novel. This is key. The great writers may have covered oft-done subjects/themes, but it's how they approached them that elevated their works above others. Think about the voice, the style, the POV, the angle. Geometric Parable used great example with the notes. There are only so many and yet lots of amazing pieces of music. It was all about how the composer put those notes together.

Uh, yeah, what loulou said. You said it Loulou.

I think originality is all-important. If you can't think in new directions, you're doomed, but that's my prejudice. The simple fact that so many stories have been created, and good ideas from these absorbed by other story makers, means similarities are inevitable; but if you can fiddle with these same old ideas, improve on them and carry them to new directions, it'll be more awesome.

As for originality, I have to agree with what's been posted above. Nearly everything has been done. If you can tell your story (though it might have familiar elements) with a fresh flair and an interesting style, you'll be just fine.

I apologize in advance if I repeat anything someone else said, I'm in a rush and really want to help you out.

I personally believe that no matter what you write it is going to coincide with an already published work. There is really just nothing we can do about that. Now, if you really are worried your novel is way to similar to another, I would suggest you have someone close to you that you trust 1 million percent read the whole thing before you decide to change anything. Because it might just be you worrying too much. And that is very normal, you're not crazy darlin. When/if you have someone read your work, I would also suggest you go over it again with a fine toothed comb. Try not to write like someone you fell you're copying. You've got some work on your hand if you're intent on fixing whatever issues you see, but I can tell you that you're novel will be great no matter what. You're going to publish this book and there are going to be nay-sayers, there is no question about it. But what book doesn't have a few negative Nancy's dancing around it? You just have to focus on the positive things that you know are you're ideas. The people that know and love you will make sure your work is received with open arms. I guess what I'm trying to say is: Stop beating yourself up.

Good luck and happy writing!

Interesting take on this one. Allow me to redirect just a bit.

'Star Wars' was about a young man coming into his own. George Lucas was deeply into Joseph Campbell at the time. He wrote the story using Campbell's archetype hero and redefined the movie experience. Again, it was a pretty simple story.

It is not the originality of the material. It becomes the telling of the story, rather than the story itself. That is actually the crux of our craft, is it not?

Have you ever read a godawful book that you just couldn't put down? That's why we gather in places like this: To figure out how to capture the reader's imagination and NOT LET GO.

Forget about how original your story is. Tell us your story in an unforgettable fashion. (And then give this website the credit for your inspiration when you're rich and famous. )

Very well said KarlR! I would give you kudos if I knew what the hell they were.

Wow, thank you all so much for your replies, it is so refreshing to have an exchange of ideas like this. I am surrounded by people in my daily life, non of whom enjoy writing or reading for that matter and it is such a relief to hear other opinions and get some guidance.

I was thinking about what you said Olly and have been trying to be more disciplined with myself. For years I only wrote poetry and it occurred to me that returning to doing so now and again may help to re-train me to consider my words and form more carefully.

Their seems to be a general consensus that 'nothing/everything is original' I loved your take on this Fleamailman. I suppose I knew this when I posted but I have never really shown my writing to anyone other than teachers/lecturers, and now I am writing with the knowledge that this time I wil, I can already hear the reader's criticisms; familiar plot/themes being the biggest. I guess writing with ones critics in mind however is a surefire way to kill the creative process.

The comments on form were very helpful and actually very reassuring as I think the framing and narrative voice in the work are quite fresh.

The music analogy is fab and really rings true for me, I love music and see endless comparisons between writing and composing. Its so true, it is virtually impossible to write a novel without elements which appear in other work, but it is how we weave these strands together which enables us to create something new.

This is the story I have to write and there is not much I can can or should do about that. It doesn't feel right to 'build it to order' so to speak, all my favourite novels/songs/works of art have an honesty about them, they almost transcend the materials/words with which they are created. In order to do this, to speak from that 'other' part of ones self and be received and understood by another, one must almost 'let go' and originality and truth will naturally follow, I hope

Well thanks again, I feel much better about what I am doing and will get back to it.