Poll: I'm Writing a Story...help?

[TheSolemnHypnotic]

Okay, I've had this story going on in my head for several years and I am freaking out over the possibility of being sued.
The Deal :
I came up with these characters in my head in 3rd grade (around 2003) loosely based on classmates (that's not the problem as it's just appearances now). For years and years I was trying to figure out what to do with them. During middle school they were briefly vampires (then that one series took off), so then it was a rivaling territory thing (I dropped due to complexities and then that series took off). So finally toward the end of Sophomore year (2011) I fully had this darn thing sorted out (like, outlined and stuff). I've watched a pretty good amount of movies and looked into history to make sure I wasn't accidentally thieving but apparently one escaped me.
So I recently came across this other story and it's long history and I've cried due to how similar they are (even some freaking character description(s)). I have no clue what to do. I can't give up, that's nine years of planning right there. I've already started writing it. My story was to be a bit Eastern influenced while this other is more Western. HELP ME!

TL;DR I'm afraid my story's too similar to another. Help.

 

[Launcelot111]

There's apparently only like 37 stories that can be told. Don't be too hard on yourself if what you write is a shining beacon of originality. Just do it in your own voice, and if it's any good, then it will be plenty original

 

[DoPo]

Erm, change it a bit? Say you were inspired. There are lots of works that are similar to each other on different levels. In fact, I'd say unwitting "stealing" of ideas probably happens reasonably often due to the similar way people think. I mean, I had a couple of characters in mind for years. I always wanted to use them somewhere. Then a couple of months ago I read John Dies at the End - the main characters pretty much were what I had in mind. Not exactly but very very close.

It might help if you provide some examples of how similar those works are (you can keep it as anonymous as you think you need), we might suggest ways around seeming like a ripoff.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Fuck the other story, write whatever the hell you want.

I doubt you'll see it through to the end anyway.

 

[LordFish]

PAH, Avatar was a rip off of Pocahontas and there hasn't been an original idea since September 8, 1966

Dont worry about it, write the story you're writing, chances are some of the similarities are in your head anyway

 

[JoJo]

No offence but as a fellow writer, it seems from your brief paragraph that you may have a bit of a complex about copying other people's work. Seriously, look at any of the most popular franchises or series from the last century and you'll find influence of previous works, indeed many like Star Wars are mash-ups of two previously successful genres (Sci-fi and martial arts in that case) or a new take on a old story-type (look at the similarities between Hamlet and the Lion King). That's not to say you should deliberately copy another author but there's no harm in using themes, story elements or similar characters from works that have been made before. The best works are those that use well-known and good themes in a new creative way.

 

[shadowstriker86]

put batman in it. or a koala fu**ing an alligator.

 

[Muspelheim]

(Oh, fiddlesticks, pressed the wrong poll option.)

Sod the other story, I'd say. Way too many people seem to have the belief that the moment an idea is used, it's suddenly off limits to anyone else, and a part of the IP that used it first (or since those people tend to be rather young, the IP they first came across that used it).

For instance, there was an awesome Donald Duck comic by Don Rosa which centered around using a machine to travel into people's dreams, with a risk of being trapped inside the patient's head should he wake up while the machine was in use. And it did come out before Inception did, and some people who find out about it either decry Inception as a talentless hack/stolen idea, or find (make up) evidence that Don Rosa stole the idea from Team Inception.

There are limits, however. Unless you're really sure about it, I'd be careful in using the "Vampires masquerading as normal people in the present day" or similar things, as we've been mercilessly bombarded with edgy, sexy and utterly unlikable vampires as of late. Unless you're sure you can pull it off or plan on adding an interesting twist to the formula, I'd advice to think twice a bit.

Inspiration is the very lifeblood of creativity. If everything had to be utterly unique in the "No one ever thought about this ever"-sense, we'd have run out of stories to tell ages ago.

Again, go for it, but remember that the idea of modern day vampires have become a bit hackneyed recently. It's a wonderful opportunity to mix up the formula a bit. Or really stand out as a modern day vampire-story by making the vamps likable and interesting! :3

Best of luck!

 

[LordFish]

put batman in it. or a koala fu**ing an alligator.

This. actually burst out laughing.

But seriously, surely you know you'll have you're own spin on it, There are very few plot dynamics to work with sometimes. Either you have confidence in your own writing style, or you're just looking for something that hasn't been done before hoping that that will be enough to make it a success... I don't think it is.

If all else fails just take your MacBook and sit in starbucks and write it... It's such a popular thing to do it must be the key to success.