Q:
I need to ask: How do you feel about common plot threads between different authors' stories?
A:
Does anyone have a good one? Seriously, I'm asking.
This story being a fan fiction based upon a game, there are a lot of plot points that are going to pop up that occur in similar fashion in other writers' stories. The idea of facing oneself is one of them, of course, as is the idea of people having Shadow facets that come back to haunt them. This story has both of those, naturally. That isn't my problem.
My problem is that the plot points that I've been trying to develop over the past 54 chapters are happening in other stories, published prior to my chapters or at the same time, and I'm not certain what to do about it.
I've spent a long time (the better part of a year!) trying to fashion these subplots to fruition and conclusion, and I don't think that I can go back and change them now. I don't think I want to do that. (Actually, I know I don't want to do that. It would mean scrapping the last 400 pages or so, and just ending the story after the Duel chapters.) But will readers who cross over with other authors (or the authors themselves) read what I've written and think I've stolen their ideas?
I admit that reading other stories that tackle the same conflict have taught me what I don't want to do for my own story, but I really want my story to have the appropriate impact for the characters involved. And I really don't want my story to be viewed as an also-ran or a copycat. I truly came to these ideas on my own (led by the game, of course), and I've put a lot of work into making them, well, work.
Without revealing anything here (because the conflict hasn't been brought fully to light...unless you've been paying attention to every single phrase with a magnifying glass), I will say that readers who follow more than just my story will come to recognize some familiar issues to other stories'. I'm afraid that I just can't help that. I'm trying to create the issues in a way that's logical for my characters, and I'm trying to create equally logical solutions, as my characters would come to them.
I really just want to write a good, solid story. I'm sorry if it ends up reading like something you've read before. Perhaps I just need to keep repeating to myself that there are no original stories anymore...all that's original is the way I decide to tell my story. I can only hope that readers get some enjoyment out of it, too.
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I'll start by saying that I somehow feel the need to answer this because nobody seems to comment on these posts and I think it's a shame.
ReplyDeleteExcuses should also be made for lenght of the answer and any errors in grammar are because english is not my first langage.
Ok... It's impossible in this world to NOT be influenced by something. You see TV shows, you read books or play games. All the content of these somehow influences a writer at a conscious or sub-conscious level. In this case, the fact that you are writing in a universe that is not of your creation means you are bond by it's laws. Some fiction authors write outside of these laws (genderswap fics come to mind) but you decided to stay inside the parameters of the original story.
The rest is all yours. Yes, some ideas may be similar with some other author's idea, but that is to be expected. You are working from the same starting point (in this case, a game). What differenciate a good story from a bad story is only partially the idea formulated in them, it is also how one fleshes out those ideas.
Let's take an example: Vampires. Recently we have seen a number of books, movies and tv shows centered on vampires. Is this a new theme? Hell no. Vampires seem to get back in the spotlight roughly every 10-15 years. Last time was Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire. Now it's Twilight and True Blood (plus all the clones). Vampire are part of our folklore and I expect to be 80 years old and still see author try to find new idea to keep them hip, to make them trendy once again. As each generation discovers a certain theme they make it their own.
Now, coming back to your story, we have themes in there that have been exploited before, way before Persona. Then why are these themes still interesting to you? Why do you still need to write about them? That is a question only you can answer. And I, as another human being, can only relate to these themes from my own personal point of view. I believe that if you are writing about these themes it is because they somehow resonate with you. And I, as a reader, am enjoying reading about them because they resonate with me as well.
In conclusion, I guess I'll answer your original question directly: No, I don't mind reading the same ideas being used over and over in different stories by different authors. And there's a good reason for that: I'm free to read what I want. If I'm reading all the Chie/Yousuke stories in the world it's because that interests me.
On a more personal level, here's my message to you: Keep writing. Don't do it for me or anyone else. Do it for yourself. If it makes you feel good, you don't need any other reason. Don't let comments get you down. You are letting a bunch of spoiled rotten folks look at your work and comment. You are giving them a lot of yourself throught this story and other works. It's all free, ripe for harvesting for anybody who comes along. The internet is full of ungrateful people. Don't let them get to you.
And don't let indifference get you down as well. I've been a follower of One more chance since chapter 3 was posted way back when. I never felt the need to comment or review before yesterday. I suddendly realised that I was one of those ungrateful folks and that if I could be a little ray of sunshine in your day, well, maybe I should... After all, your writing as been my little ray of sunshine on wednesday for a while...
PS: see, that is why I don't comment. I always rant.
Your comment about "spoiled rotten folks" made me laugh, which is much appreciated. :) I have to admit that I do tend to get bogged down with comments, and writing something that is so personal to me and my views does make it difficult to separate dismissal of my writing from dismissal of my self.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for taking the time to post here, too. It's always nice to know what readers enjoy (or don't) about the story, and it's good to know that it does entertain. Especially for someone who has followed the story for so long, through so many ups and downs.
You definitely made my day, too! :)