Printer-friendly version
Author:
Taxonomy upgrade extras:
I was reading an excellent story and one of the comments was and I quote:
This story is very similar to another story posted.....
I hate to see this sort of comment as the implication, to me anyway, is that the story might in some way be plagiarism, even if that isn't the intended meaning.
A lot of my stories have had that sort of comment and I must admit that I take it personally.
The writers of those comments might mean something like 'Oh, I like this so try that story', but it doesn't read that way.
As Erin has said on more than one occasion, think before commenting.
End of rant.
Sue
Comments
Not being an author
I appreciate almost everybody's efforts on here. I feel you could easily make a family tree of TG themed stories and given a branch of the tree it would often come down to a James Bond style patented formula.
Yes that is a way too broad a generalization, there's always that crazy Welsh woman whose staple is caos and cliffhangers, but she's smoking cat dander.
There is such a weath of great stories on here that there is bound to be some overlap, there are only so many ways to describe a green sofa and readers scan over the details, filler unless you try to tell us its 64.125" long x 48.625" deep a 36.1875" tall, creative but not relevant. (apology to the author, meant in humor). Many of the stories boil down to a general outline:
Boy discovers femme side, boy accepts femme side, boy/girl gets others to accept femme side, girl lives happly ever after. Isn't this what so many of us identify with in our own experiences? At what point does the plagerism start? In a broad sense the sentance above plagerizes 80% of the stories here. I am not saying it is a bad formula, if we did not like it we would not keep coming back for another helping would we?
People, please cut these authors some slack unless you'd prefer Sue Brown and others who selflessly pour their hearts out go away and cut off your entertainment.
Every Story You Write is Yours
Sue, your unique stamp is on every story of yours that I've read. I mean that in a very good way. At a high level there are only so many plots. It's the twists and turns and the author's way of telling a story that makes it unique. For me it's a bit like romantic comedy movies. The critics mostly hate them (too formulaic), but regular people love them.
I agree with you. I shudder when I see, "This story is very similar to another story posted.."
Familiar?
I started writing my first fiction in September last year and I did my best to make it a unique story. Of course, where relationships and personal discovery are concerned there are only so many combinations available, unless you head for fantasy.
I have been hit with the 'heard it before' tag several times, almost as if the commentators actually know which twist the story is going to take next, confirming their suspicions about plagarism/familiarity.
Topsy
Mostly Harmless
This blog is just like one posted on...
Lighten up Sue - they were probably comparing you to John Wyndham. I get compared to the Mister Men, or Enid Blyton mind you that's where I get all my plot lines - plagiarism? 'Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.'
Angharad
Angharad
I would love to 'lighten up'
I would love to 'lighten up' as you put it Ang, but I do feel very strongly about this. I can take it, as I'm as big girl, but new authors who go through blood sweat and tears to write stories and then see them almost dismissed as something very similar to another writers work can put them off writing again. Although I did mention that it had been done to me, it was another authors work that I was referring to.
Sue
~~ This post brought to you by the sponsors of Sue Brown and the letters q, f, j, l and the number 67 ~~
As my editors can attest...
I very nearly didn't finish/post "The Reluctant Bridesmaid" when I ran across another story here - that had a similar title. I very carefully did NOT read that story, and was told mine was different. But, I do know what you were saying. It can be disturbing when someone words a comment in a way that sounds like you're saying "this story sounds/feels like Billy Jean's story Xyz". Depending on how it's worded, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that someone's saying your story idea came from the other story instead of you wrote this story, and someone else wrote a similar story, so if someone liked this one, they might like that one.
Where I've seen comparison comments that were "okay" the commenter was contrasting how two different stories handled a similar situation.
All that said - one of the stories I'm working on (when I can find 15 minutes running) is loosely based on a story that is likely familiar to many people. Though, hopefully I'll manage to put a twist on the story to make it mine. I don't mind this - it's been done before. (How many variations on "Romeo and Juliet" are there? Or La Boheme? or... You get the picture.)
I guess I partially agree it's important to be careful how one words a comment, to reduce the likelihood of a miss-understanding. But, that's important anyway. (Hey, I'm not suggesting folks not comment! Far from it! PLEASE DO! Early & Often.)
Annette
I think this applies as well...and dovetails with what you said.
..I alluded to it in jest, but it does happen frequently, where a commentator will actually dwell on the story they drew the comparison to while almost ignoring the author's story. Like being a parent and trying to show some pictures of your little girl's piano recital, and the person you're with ignores you and displays photos of someone else' child. Or going to a dinner party and raving about the pate' you had at Sarah's house the previous week. Put those together with several criticisms under the story, and it can get really discouraging really quick.
Possa Dio riccamente vi benedica, tutto il mio amore, Andrea
Love, Andrea Lena
I am also guilty
Of making such comments, in particular about one of Sue's stories. I am genuinely sorry, it was never meant to have an accusative meaning.
Faraway
Big Closet Top Shelf
Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!
Faraway
Big Closet Top Shelf
Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!
Gee Sue...this is a great blog...
...it really reminds me of another blog somebody else wrote sometime recently, I think it was here...anyway..it was really good and said a lot of stuff that I can't quite remember, but it was terrific and one of the best comments that I've ever read.... no...that's not it...
Oh yeah..what you said! Tangential Birds..they arise at dawn to comment, but they spend day calling attention to someone else's story while commenting on yours.
Possa Dio riccamente vi benedica, tutto il mio amore, Andrea
Love, Andrea Lena
I wish they wouldn't too.
However (you just knew there'd be a but!) in an English 101 course at the uni over 40 years ago I do remember the prof stating with absolute authority that there were only 781 possible plots in the english language. Maybe that's why we readers note some similarities. I do know that I very much enjoy your stories, so I don't want you to even consider the "similarity comments" ever.
I've never been overly
I've never been overly bothered by such comments, but then I don't get them often. When I do, they're usually references to The Twilight Zone. ;) But then, how many authors have reincarnated universes as main characters?
I admit my first reaction was that you were being perhaps a little over sensitive. But on further reflection I don't think that's necessarily the case. I mean, just because I haven't been bothered by it (which might have more to do with having less contact with it), doesn't mean that your feelings on the subject are invalid. I think too often people do that, ignore the concerns of others because the same concerns don't hold true for them. And I know I've certainly been guilty of that on more than one occasion.
There are only so many ways a story can go, so I suppose such comments are inevitable. It would be far more unusual for a story to be truly unique than for it to resemble some other story (or, more likely, many other stories). But if it's upsetting people, or worse yet, causing them to give up writing, than we need to be more careful about what we say. Or, perhaps more importantly, how we say it.
Did that make any sense?
Saless
"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America
Sue, If I
EVER say that, it is because I like the story. I NEVER mean that it is a copying of other material,, I simply mean that BOTh authors have good ideas. To me, you tell stories that are fresh, and challenging. Yet, I'd like to see you bring back older stories.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
I did it, Sorry
I did someting like it, I'm sorry.
I didn't think about you're point, and it's a real good one.
My comment way only one of wonder if the new one could have been desing as a prelude to the other one that i can't fine any more.
I'll try to do as Erin has said on more than one occasion and "think before commenting"
tmf
"In the old days" when Sci Fi was um the best!
When I was young, I was an avid reader of Anthony, Heinlein, and a bunch of others, it became obvious that these guys were sharing ideas. I liked it.
Even in those days, gender bending was in a few stories. I remember one which was written by one of the "good ole boys", in which the dress uniform for Men was a skirt suit, and the women's dress suits were the most lovely and ornate gowns.
I have tried but I can not figure out who it was.
Khadijah
That's where I've been going wrong
I've been writing in front of a mirror all this time. Seriously.....
My dad had a number of great sayings; one of them was "If you can't say something helful and constructive, don't say anything." I reckon it applies here as well as anywhere.
Try not to worry about it, Sue; I only ever recall seing positive comments about your writing.
Susie
yeah It was on mine lol. Thanks for supporting me sueBrown
I was wondering If I went over a line.
My story is slightly similar to the other he was referring to. I took some elements from the other story and I admit it. But just a few.
But, At least it made who ever commented to post a comment so yepee.
Similar stories?
Greetings
Wasn't it once said that there are only a few basic plot lines when it comes to fiction?
Which would make a lot of similar stories.
The difference is the details which an author includes in their writing, even if that writing is done at the keyboard.
I am grateful to each and every author who contributes stories here, even the ones I do not read, as not all readers want to read the same stories.
Brian
Too many comparative writing
courses I guess.
I do not recall doing any such thing, that I know of, but if I have, I apologize to all and sundry.
What I always try to do is to address the nuanced elements that give each story its own flavors. Which brings up a cooking analogy of there being only so many ways to roast a piece of meat, but the difference is in how to spice and prepare it and the quality of the meat to begin with.
Bring the best ingredients together and spice it tantalize the tongue with nice caramelized finish and to give a nice smooth finish and even a hamburger can be a gourmet meal. Not that your stories are anything hamburger-like, Sue.
Kim
Stories
It's been said, and truly so, I think, that there are only seven basic stories, so in that sense every story is similar to countless others.
All of us share certain basic needs, so every human story tends to involve one or more of a handful (or so) of things that we all want, or want to hear about. The exact number is inconsequential, so if one prefers five basic plays, or nine, the idea is the same.
The clever British literary critic Christopher Booker says that there are only seven basic plots:
1: Tragedy: Hero with a fatal flaw meets tragic end. Oedipus Rex. The Invisible Man.
2: Comedy: Almost anything with a happy ending, often involving romance, because we all of us get a little foolish when we're in love. Jane Austen.
3: Overcoming the Monster: Something like a quest, but one doesn't necessarily have to leave home. The monsters tend to be in the basement. Beowulf. St. George and the Dragon. These tend to mingle with Quests and Voyages, if only the liven up the plot.
4: Voyage and Return: The Hobbit is one of the best-known examples, but one notes that there were monsters encountered along the way. There are many variations. Alice in Wonderland is a voyage out and back, for example, but the full expression of the genre tends to involve some personal or spiritual development along the way, so that the protagonist returns home changed for the better.
5: The Quest: Moby Dick, The Lord of the Rings, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Quests are always popular, because at least some action is guaranteed, and the plot can be kept moving along by stumbling across a nest of Orcs, or a magic well, or whatever. Pure quests don't usually involve evolution of the character. Every Star Trek episode, for example, in some sort of Quest, but at the end of the episode, everything is exactly the same.
6: Rags to Riches: Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Potent wish fulfilment, from Cinderella and Pygmalion to anything involving Genies, magical amulets, or written by Horatio Alger.
7: Rebirth: It's a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Carol, and countless others. These tend to be tearjerkers, because we all wish to be reborn.
If people say a story "reminds them" of something else, it's usually a compliment, because it means that one has perfectly captured the essence of a certain type of story.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style