What do you do when you discover a notable writer has already covered your plot? - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T21:10:11Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/what-do-you-do-when-you?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A216478&feed=yes&xn_auth=noDo it better. This happens al…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-12-05:537324:Comment:2215522009-12-05T03:29:26.841Zdoug andersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/douganderson
Do it better. This happens all the time. Shakespeare stole plots from everybody and knocked people out with the result. I'm writing a novel that involves human trafficking. I was concerned about the number of books and movies on the subject, but now that I'm writing it, the characters make it brand new.
Do it better. This happens all the time. Shakespeare stole plots from everybody and knocked people out with the result. I'm writing a novel that involves human trafficking. I was concerned about the number of books and movies on the subject, but now that I'm writing it, the characters make it brand new. I definitely say go ahead and…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-11-15:537324:Comment:2197742009-11-15T03:48:52.556ZMorgan St. Jameshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MorganStJames119
I definitely say go ahead and write your book. There are so many similarities in books today, it is mind boggling. It really depends upon how you write it. You've read Mosley's book, so don't make yours a clone of his. Different characters react to situations in different ways. L.A. is a big city with thousands of stories just waiting to be told. I would suspect that you can find parallels in almost every plot you come up with.<br />
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I remember just before "A Corpse in the Soup" was released, my…
I definitely say go ahead and write your book. There are so many similarities in books today, it is mind boggling. It really depends upon how you write it. You've read Mosley's book, so don't make yours a clone of his. Different characters react to situations in different ways. L.A. is a big city with thousands of stories just waiting to be told. I would suspect that you can find parallels in almost every plot you come up with.<br />
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I remember just before "A Corpse in the Soup" was released, my sister and co-author took a book out of the library (can't remember the name or author) that was similar in plot. At first, as new authors, we panicked. Then, in reading the book, we realized that although the theme was similar, both of the books were definite stand alones because of the characters, and out style of writing.<br />
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MORGAN ST. JAMES<br />
<a href="http://www.silversistersmysteries.com" target="_blank">www.silversistersmysteries.com</a> Unless your plot is similar t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-11-09:537324:Comment:2191732009-11-09T02:24:07.561ZKeith thomsonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Keiththomson
Unless your plot is similar to a famous high concept, i.e., "An aquaphobic sheriff moves to a small town and must contend with a man-eating shark," you're probably good. 100,000 words gives you a lot of leeway.
Unless your plot is similar to a famous high concept, i.e., "An aquaphobic sheriff moves to a small town and must contend with a man-eating shark," you're probably good. 100,000 words gives you a lot of leeway. As they say, there's nothing…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-11-01:537324:Comment:2184572009-11-01T02:27:57.943ZBeth Groundwaterhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BethGroundwater
As they say, there's nothing new under the sun, and that especially goes for book plots/themes. What makes it unique is the way YOU write it, so write it, make it yours, make it special. Don't let the similarity of the stories stop you.
As they say, there's nothing new under the sun, and that especially goes for book plots/themes. What makes it unique is the way YOU write it, so write it, make it yours, make it special. Don't let the similarity of the stories stop you. It's according to how close i…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-11-01:537324:Comment:2184502009-11-01T02:06:38.270ZJackBludishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JackBludis
It's according to how close it is. There are so many people writing and publishing today that it is more probable that someone will write your "plot" than not. But even though a plot is similar, or even exact, you can still write it.<br />
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I still remember a book that I wrote and circulated that was published a few years later by another author with my plot AND my title. But it was about a relatively notorious event, and the title was an obvious one.<br />
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It happens. Put the book aside for a while. Look…
It's according to how close it is. There are so many people writing and publishing today that it is more probable that someone will write your "plot" than not. But even though a plot is similar, or even exact, you can still write it.<br />
<br />
I still remember a book that I wrote and circulated that was published a few years later by another author with my plot AND my title. But it was about a relatively notorious event, and the title was an obvious one.<br />
<br />
It happens. Put the book aside for a while. Look at it again when your well into another project. Does it still work? Do it.<br />
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Life and careers are too short to spend time lamenting things that you have no control over.<br />
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Jack Bludis Thanks for everyone's suggest…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-10-15:537324:Comment:2165602009-10-15T13:19:44.923ZG. Patrick Johnsonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/GPatrickJohnson
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Every post provides sound advice, and echoed the little voice inside of me telling me to rally forth.<br />
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I really didn't want to bog everyone down with the details of my story's plot because I felt it distracted from the larger question I posed about <i>"What to do when you discover a notable writer has already covered your plot?"</i> I'd like to hear about experiences from my fellow authors about how they have encountered a similar dilemma and how they…
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Every post provides sound advice, and echoed the little voice inside of me telling me to rally forth.<br />
<br />
I really didn't want to bog everyone down with the details of my story's plot because I felt it distracted from the larger question I posed about <i>"What to do when you discover a notable writer has already covered your plot?"</i> I'd like to hear about experiences from my fellow authors about how they have encountered a similar dilemma and how they confronted the challenge.<br />
<br />
Again, thanks for all replies. Terrific advice! It is virtually impossible to…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-10-15:537324:Comment:2165572009-10-15T13:13:08.624ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
It is virtually impossible to end up with the same book as another writer's. There are too many separate parts involved. For me, plot is not terribly significant in the first place. Should I ever find myself with the same plot idea as another, all I would have to do would be to switch some characters. It's amazing what that will do to a story. Of course, one hopes it happens in the planning stage, or there will be a big rewrite.
It is virtually impossible to end up with the same book as another writer's. There are too many separate parts involved. For me, plot is not terribly significant in the first place. Should I ever find myself with the same plot idea as another, all I would have to do would be to switch some characters. It's amazing what that will do to a story. Of course, one hopes it happens in the planning stage, or there will be a big rewrite. Yes, as publishers, we'll all…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-10-15:537324:Comment:2165532009-10-15T13:06:13.066ZNeil Nyrenhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/NeilNyren
Yes, as publishers, we'll all know Mosley's book, but what you're describing are only the broadest of similarities -- there's a huge amount of room in the plot, characters, atmosphere (the 70s aren't the 40s, after all), style, etc. to make yours a completely different book. So don't worry about it, just write the hell out of your novel. Good luck.
Yes, as publishers, we'll all know Mosley's book, but what you're describing are only the broadest of similarities -- there's a huge amount of room in the plot, characters, atmosphere (the 70s aren't the 40s, after all), style, etc. to make yours a completely different book. So don't worry about it, just write the hell out of your novel. Good luck. Your setting in the 1970s wil…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-10-15:537324:Comment:2165402009-10-15T11:03:34.185ZL. A. Starkshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Starksbooks
Your setting in the 1970s will make it sufficiently different, your style will make it your own, an oblique reference or two to Devil in a Blue Dress will delight the readers who've read it and, if you like, signfies that you're aware of it as a literary and historical predecessor. Indeed, as a reader, I'd be interested in what's the same and what's different between 1940s and 1970s racism in Los Angeles, and how the city and its mores have changed.<br />
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I recently read a scene in Good Omens that,…
Your setting in the 1970s will make it sufficiently different, your style will make it your own, an oblique reference or two to Devil in a Blue Dress will delight the readers who've read it and, if you like, signfies that you're aware of it as a literary and historical predecessor. Indeed, as a reader, I'd be interested in what's the same and what's different between 1940s and 1970s racism in Los Angeles, and how the city and its mores have changed.<br />
<br />
I recently read a scene in Good Omens that, in the wonderful joint style of Pratchett and Gaiman, mimicked one I'd hope to write in my current book or book 3. I was disappointed, then realized many authors who have watched or played paintball have likely imagined a similar variation. What do you want to do? I say…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-10-15:537324:Comment:2165002009-10-15T06:14:43.371ZminervaKhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/minervakoenig
What do you <b><i>want</i></b> to do? I say, do that. Writing isn't just for the masses. It's for us, too.<br />
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MK<br />
<a href="http://www.minervakoenig.com">www.minervakoenig.com</a>
What do you <b><i>want</i></b> to do? I say, do that. Writing isn't just for the masses. It's for us, too.<br />
<br />
MK<br />
<a href="http://www.minervakoenig.com">www.minervakoenig.com</a>