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Posted By: Kevin Nov 20, 2004 - 06:52 pm

This is the source of most of my frustration. All the good ideas are taken. I just now saw one movie that seems to parallel, quite closely, a book that I have been writing. Now I am going to have to re-write it, trying to space it from that blasted movie. What do I do? This happened to me with "The Time Machine" as well, but this one is even more closely drawn.

Posted By: arcane Nov 21, 2004 - 05:57 am

Ah, a truly classic case. Happened a lot with the first few of my ideas. You think you've got it, and then someone tells you:

"Ah, sounds very similar to (insert film title here)"

Aye, truly frustrating. However, when you are forced to rewrite your oringal idea, you can come up with little details which, in your opinion, will make the story better than the film.

Annoying, but good things can come from it...

Posted By: Magus Nov 21, 2004 - 06:02 am

Is this your story with the souls of the dead people, Kevin? What movie was it that was so similer, I can't think of any off-hand that would be even close.

The important thing is that you just need to write the story the way you see it, not change it to conform or spread apart from anything else. your story is what it is.

But, if you do try and space it, try to develope it into an altogether better story. If you weaken the story by changing it then you shouldn't be changing it.

What happened with you and The Time Machine?

Posted By: cleasterwood Nov 25, 2004 - 02:35 am

The Six Sense? Just because the basic idea is the same, doesn't mean your story isn't different. All novels stem from 7 major plot points, so in a sense all novels have the same basic ideas. It shouldn't bother you too much or cause you to rewrite the entire story.
Just my 2 cents.

Posted By: Magus Nov 25, 2004 - 05:46 am

What would those seven major plot points be?

Didn't Shakespear say that there were really only 2? Or was he the one that said seven? I forget. I only know that somebody said two, somebody said seven and one of them was Shakespear.

So cleasterwood is really right. All stories have similer qualities to them. How you mkae that story your own, however, will make your story what it is, what it is meant to be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted By: cleasterwood Nov 26, 2004 - 04:55 am

Magus,
I'm pretty sure it was seven but I could be wrong. (I was, it was 5 not 7) Go check the thread called Plot creation in the Questions forum. I posted a workshop article I wrote there that has it. It would also help you to read it when/if you have plot problems. Conflicts that are available are as follows: person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. self, person vs. machine, and person vs. religion/God.
Unfortunately, everything these days are pretty formulaic. Your statement, "How you mkae that story your own, however, will make your story what it is, what it is meant to be." is pretty much right too.

Posted By: Magus Nov 26, 2004 - 05:12 am

When/if I have problems? I'm plagued constatntly by problems. I'll be sure to give it a look.

Posted By: Neurolanis Nov 26, 2004 - 05:26 am

All the time I discover that a.my ideas have all ready been used or b.they have been used before I had chance to get mine out there. It can be very, very, very aggravating. That's why I feel a stress these days. I wanna get all my work out there -- BLAM!

Posted By: Magus Nov 26, 2004 - 09:09 pm

I'd imagine it would be aggravating.

Posted By: Sooty Nov 27, 2004 - 07:10 am

I believe there are seven major plots, but the stories around those 7 can be endless.

Everything hasn`t been written yet. You can take a different slant to any idea or theme and make it your own. Look how many vampire novels there are for example. Isn`t the creative mind wonderful?

SOoTy

Posted By: Magus Nov 27, 2004 - 07:27 am

I agree, everything is far from written. Just simply go out there and find your story.