I hope this is in the right place.

Anyway. Recently I've been trying desperately to write, but all of my ideas seem silly. A fantasy series I've been working on seems to have lost all of its unique qualities, just a remix of what's already been done. Any new story I think of seems to just be a duplicate of whatever story I am currently interested in, with minor changes. I have my Pride & Prejudice with a couple more guys and less sisters. There's that Narnia with three kids instead of four, minus a lion...it's driving me crazy.

Does anyone else struggle with the idea that everything has already been done?

Also, I've become much too obsessed with hoping my stories are liked. I analyze popular books to see what makes them so, wish to implement it into my own stories...but then kill myslef because they seem to similar. I don't want to be the next Paolini, with obvious elements from Star Wars and LotR mixed around and thrown together. But I'd like my books to be read...
A wise person once said that writers should write for themselves, not audiences. And I'm trying to. But I'll only be pleased with myself if it's original, and I can't seem to do that!

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As a writer myself I try not to think of what's already been done or compare my ideas to already existing stories. I usually draw inspiration from my own life and experiences, from places I have been to people I have met - doesn't matter if it's fantasy I am writing or a psychological thriller, there is always something in there from my own life. The next step I take is to think 'if I was a reader, what would I want to happen in the story? What would excite me as a reader?'. I always try to write the stories and books that I would enjoy reading myself, not what I think other people would enjoy.

I stink at explaining these things, sorry. Let me know if you want any more help or ideas!

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Write from the heart is all I'm saying. What would YOU like to see in a fantasy novel? I've posted this before in the Writers Club, but all fantasy is is a writer's playground. You pour your own experiences and beliefs into your story.

It's perfectly fine to analyze popular books. But instead of focusing on their plots and setting, focus specifically on the writers' style. What are their ways to build suspense? What is it about the story's characters that makes them so endearing or hated?

Most fantasy books all have their stereotypical aspects, such as the great dragonslaying quest or the simple farmer who becomes a hero. These plots are perfectly fine and will be widely read but only if you make them your own. And remember, all individuals are different so unless you're deliberately TRYING to imitate another story, your own story will retain its originality.

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yes, and i know that can be frustrating, but as part of one of the modules on my degree, i had to read an essay called 'the death of the author' by a guy called roland barthes, and he reckons "[the author's] only power is to mix writings". i take that to mean that no idea is truly original, so the originality is in the combination and manipulation of ideas rather than the ideas themselves. basically, don't worry if you feel your ideas have already been done, cuz chances are they haven't been done in quite the same way.

hope that makes some sense and helps in some way.

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Here's the way I feel about this whole thing. I've posted similar things multiple times, mostly when people accuse Tolkien of copying off of someone or someone of copying off of him.

Everything we write is created from who we are and what's inside our minds. If you have certain stories in your mind, they're part of you. Therefore, they will also be a part of what you write. I don't think it's unoriginal to have elements from other people's works in your own. It just means that those stories are a strong part of you. You admire them, and they show through you in the things that you write.
Admittedly, what Christopher Paolini did was a little ridiculous. His stories were written purposely to be a combination of other people's works. I don't blame him either though, and I actually like Eragon.

So, I hope that helps a little bit. Don't worry so much over it. Just write. Your self will come out when you do. And if there's a bit of C. S. Lewis or Jane Austen in you, it's ok.

It's always hard to think of something and it be original. You probably read so many other books that you are bound to adopt something. You really shouldn't worry about it! Writers block is tough! I am going through a tough dose of it at the moment. But the good part about my story is that the plot was an RPG that was started by Dark, Queen of Angmar-- i got her permission and started writing it! It's really fun and enjoyable if you don't have to think about everything and worry if you are going to copy someone.

Just let your imagination out, probably half the time you won't be copying another novel, you only think you are. It's ok to analyze novels, i do all the time but i do what LDM was saying, i think what makes the suspense and the characters so well written? It's a great way to expand your writing style.

Just have fun with your novel, i heard from an author once that you will finish your book and half the time you will end up throwing half of it away, so don't stress, plots usually form when you are writing.

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Simply said but very true, eowyn. Because we're all human and have similar personalities, no doubt the stories we come up with will also have similar traits. Just keep in mind that like individuals, no two stories can ever be the same.

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LDM is totally right. I have tried and tried to write fantasy novels and many times(like now), I get into a writers block. It's not fun or easy, but it's something all writers go through, I believe. I think that it's normal and that something that you will usually almost always provale, it just takes time. But what LDM said about writing from your heart is one of the most important things you always need to remember to do, espeically if you are in a Writers Block.

P>S ~Great advice, LDM!

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Look around you, and get ideas from that. I saw a guy smoking the other day. Just that, and I have got ideas for an entire story. Ideas are surrounding you, just waiting to be noticed. Writers are great eavesdroppers too *look guilty* It's amazing how many ideas you can get from one person's random conversation

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What I had to do, to gain inspiration, was to find a style. It had to be a style that wasn't already going on amongst my friends (I roleplay lotsly), but something totally unique to me.

However... I had a muse. I had a person who's inspired me in my writing, because when I started out, I KNEW that I couldn't let her see silly things. I didn't want to seem stupid in her eyes. That helped.. so for one, I don't know whether you do it, to gain a REALLY unique style..try roleplaying.

Once you've found your style, you tend to slip into writing things, that aren't like LOTR, or Austen's writing. It's your own...your feelings, because you're PROUD of your way of writing.

...But this usually requiers (for me at least), to read very strange..or different books. I've read things that are so out of the ordinary, and they've contributed to my writing every time. Things such as Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray, moved me so much, that I started to create better characters... so try and widen your range of novels. Even if they're what you wouldn't call nice.. it does help. Anne Rice's description (admittedly, I know not everyone'd read her books), challenged me even in a different way than Oscar Wilde. I like reading books that are different from one another... old books, and modern books.

Just.. don't be afraid to experiment, just a few times.

After that.. don't plan ahead, at least, not TOO far, in a story. Get the feeling of it, and the characters.. plan your characters; write bios. Things tend to get a lot easier after that, and you'll find that you're not copying other books - you're just inspired by them.

This is coming from a person who lives for writing, so I hope I'm some help. XD'

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Those who find ugly meanings, in beautiful things, are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. -Oscar Wilde-

stupid writers block, i'm suffering from a nasty case of it and it's horrible, i can't think of anything to write!!!

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Me too, all of a sudden

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I've had some bursts of inspiration lately (the biggest one brought on, I kid you not, by the weird name of the color of my uncle's new car.)

But I actually totally agree with Seral, is what I came to say. I've found RPing to be an amazing stimulant, and even though I'm the type of person who tends to let stories ruminate a LONG time before putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, as it were, lately I've been wanting to write more and longer. Also, the better the quality of writing of your RP buddies, the better yours will become.

As for writer's block...we all suffer from it at some point or another. I've felt many a time that none of my ideas are original and that I should trash them all. Usually this is very late at night and in the morning I wake up with some new inspiration and wonder what in the name of everything fantasy I was thinking, and that this is an amazing story.

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Nicely said, Seral. Concerning the characters, it also helps to write short stories (no more than 3 or 4 pages long) about a certain poignant event in a character's life, perhaps the event that defines them or makes them possess a particular trait. Lately, when I hear a song that fits a particular character, I've taken to running music videos through my head to match the character and the song.

My writing and my roleplay feed off. Many of my best characters and scenes stem from roleplays, and the vice versa. Roleplay is also a fantastic agent to put you and your characters in positions you normally wouldn't think of or experience when you write solitare.

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I don't have much to say other than it's totally understandable that you want people to read and like what you write. So do I! And I think everyone does.
I'm sort of in the same spot as you. I have this gnawing desire to write something convicting, funny, romantic, adventurous, clever...

But I just can't seem to. I don't think you or I are alone, though. Maybe things will change when we grow and mature.

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^Thanks Gily!
<By Bubble Black

Moving to ever-awesome still pretty darn brand new Fanfiction section.

-[kitoky]

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