De ja vu all over again?
So there are only so many original ideas and ways to tell those stories. That’s a pretty depressing thought. Why then do we write if we are only reiterating the same old love story.
Because we have to. I mean, I do. I can’t NOT write. It’s in me. I’m always writing something; a poem, a song, a story. Lately, it’s been songs. But I’ve not strayed far from the literary world. I’ve got ideas I jot down, scenes that will not go away. And that’s a good thing. I don’t want my fount of creativity to go away. It’s part of who I am. I truly identify myself as a writer/singer/lyricist.
That being said, on another forum, someone posted a question about how to handle the similarity in her work and another’s. I was one of the ones included in saying, ‘move on, it’s not exact, you’re work is different and in your voice.” Nontheless, I was nonplussed when two days later I received my copy of “The Art of Sensuality” by Jax Cassidy (thanks hon!) and realized that she and I have similar affection for a name.
At first I was trepidatious about continuing my character with that name. But I remembered my own advice: Move on. It’s different. My voice. Plus…my genre is different from that of Miss Cassidy. Mine is historical; hers, contemporary, erotic romance. So, the french name starting with a G? Yeah, I’ll own it. And the last name, while similar, is not the same. I’ll own it.
That is regarding my WIP #2. The ‘oh-no-what-to-do’ with WIP#1, I read an author whom I adore, Woodiwiss, and realized that a book of hers, which I’d never read until 3 years after I started Constance, bore similar plot lines. But I didn’t give up. Similar, but the characters’ motivations are different. Not even the same time frame, although, both are in America. (how’s that?)
The bottom line: There are an infinite possibility of ways to share and to show a love story. The only limit is our creativity. We seem to have a collective conscience though, and when we tap into it, we get something remarkable that while apparently similar, will be dissimilar in closer comparison.
So, write on, author, write on!
Tags: Art of Sensuality, de ja vu, Jax Cassidy, Leigh Royals, same plot, similar story
I’m sure there may be books aout that have similarities to mine – it would be strange if there weren’t. I remember a while back when I’d put chickens in a book and then a writing friend of mine – unbeknown to either of us – had also put chickens in her book. We wrote for different publishers, her chickens bore no resemblance to my chickens it was just one of those weird collective conciousness moments. I’m one of those odd people who can’t work with someone elses characters – I even flunk Round Robin writing things. Everybody tells stories their own way – there may be elements taht are the same but the writers voice is as unique as a fingerprint.
Are you referring to the collective conscience that Jung wrote about, including the archetypes?
I recently encountered a book with a similar premise to mine. The difference is hers has vampires and mine doesn’t. And my friend also reminded me that my story is still unique because it’s my voice. Still it can be disconcerting. Or do great minds think alike?
Timely post!
I love a love story. So you writers out there…keep writing and I’ll keep reading! Your voice IS unique which makes each story you write have a different “feel” to it compared to anyone elses. Readers will never get sick of the same old love story told a multitude of ways through different eyes and hearts. Keep it up!!!