iWrite discussion

For myself, as I am sure for others as well, it seems a never ending, daunting task to come up with trully original content... and the moment that you do you turn on the television or pick up a new book and BAM! there it is... your once thought "original" idea!

Proverbs does say "There is nothing new under the sun."


So proverbs aside, how essential is it to try so hard to be "original?"

I personally have added a LOT of familiar strands to my novel that are well settled and "comfortable" in the fantasy reader's mind. My hope is that this will start them off at a level of familiarity.

I have taken each aspect, however, and added my own twists and turns. Some more drastic than others. In hopes that they will take this familiar idea and soar through their imagination to a whole new level.

Good idea, bad idea, or just an idea?

If it's not plagiarized, it original enough. Telling the same story differently is a form of originality. Proverbs is correct.

That's a good way to look at it I guess. I've always just had this urge to come up with something that no one can point to and say, "Oh, that sounds like this other book I've read!"

I'm just not sure that's realistic.