On Writing : Should You Worry About Your Story Being Similar To Something You've Read Or Seen Before? by Ashley Renee Smith

Ashley Renee Smith

Should You Worry About Your Story Being Similar To Something You've Read Or Seen Before?

Hey, Writers!

A little pick me up for your day- In the below video, best-selling author Victoria Aveyard talks about the difference between inspiration and plagiarism. Specifically hitting on the obvious fact that most stories and "tropes" have been used a million times before, and that's ok. Because YOU as the writer are what makes it unique.

https://www.tiktok.com/@victoriaaveyard/video/7388129840009874731?is_fro...

Maurice Vaughan

Victoria is right, Ashley Renee Smith. The writer/angle that the writer takes is the difference. Example: I could write a story that's similar to The Truman Show but tell it from the POV of an audience member.

Jonathan Jordan

Your voice is what makes the work unique or injecting a new twist/spin on the trope. But in both film and publishing, people need an anchor point to say "it's like X" or "it's X meets Y." Gives agents/producers some confidence that you know the market and audience expectations. There's still plenty of room for originality. Tarantino didn't invent the heist genre ... but look at what he did with "Reservoir Dogs." JK Rowling didn't invent fantasy ... but look at what she did with "Harry Potter."

Ashley Renee Smith

Ooooh, thats a pretty cool idea, Maurice Vaughan!!

Ashley Renee Smith

1000% agree, Jonathan Jordan! But it's definitely something that I need to remind myself of while I'm writing. I often get too in my head overthinking things.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Ashley Renee Smith. I might have to write that script one day.

William Joseph Hill

So true, Ashley Renee Smith - it's your voice that makes things different. Thousands of years of human storytelling means everything has been done before, but your unique experiences and background means that what comes from you as an author can be fresh and new.

Ashley Renee Smith

Please do, Maurice Vaughan! =)

Ashley Renee Smith

Absolutely! No one person could ever deliver the same final product, William Joseph Hill.

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