《Your Guide to Writing the Perfect Story》Originality
Advertisement
"Oh, dear me, how unspeakably funny and owlishly idiotic and grotesque was that 'plagiarism' farce! As if there was much of anything in any human utterance, oral or written, except plagiarism! The kernel, the soul — let us go further and say the substance, the bulk, the actual and valuable material of all human utterances — is plagiarism. For substantially all ideas are second-hand, consciously and unconsciously drawn from a million outside sources, and daily use by the garnerer with a pride and satisfaction born of the superstition that he originated them; whereas there is not a rag of originality about them anywhere except the little discoloration they get from his mental and moral calibre and his temperament, and which is revealed in characteristics of phrasing. When a great orator makes a great speech you are listening to ten centuries and ten thousand men — but we call it his speech, and really some exceedingly small portion of it is his." - Mark Twain
As Mark Twain said in the quote above, there is no such thing as an original idea. No story or movie or play-write you will ever encounter will really be "original" as people like to say. Each and every one of them are inspired from others. Take Avatar for example. Avatar is literally Pocahontas with a few differences. I provided a link below if you're interested.
We all take ideas from other authors and icons intentionally and not, but that isn't the point. There is a fine line between plagiarism and simply being inspired by an idea that's already been written. This does not mean that you can steal the world of another author and change the characters and even the plot and call it your own. You still stole that world from someone. Key word: stole. That is a form of fanfiction.
Advertisement
Say, for instance, that world had a maze in it and you were absolutely fascinated with the idea with the maze and made your own story, completely different plot, with a maze. That is original.
It's okay to take elements of another story and make them your own. It would be impossible not to have at least one thing in common with another story. Often times, many new books are very closely tied in with a variety of older ones, but they have something that makes them different. Plagiarism is where you blatantly copy another person's work. Such as taking their world, character's, or exact storyline. Plagiarism is a crime. Don't do it.
Overall, know where your ideas are coming from and make sure that you are not stealing from someone else and you'll be okay.
Advertisement
- In Serial31 Chapters
The Defective Hermit
Vincent Standish had faced a lot of disappointments during the last five years. But things were finally starting to look up for him and in a big way too. While working the late shift at his second part time job, as a cashier in a gas station, on a whim he bought a lottery ticket which had a jackpot that had grown extremely large. Three days later he was astonished to find that he was one of three lottery winners. With that money he was able to retire, when he had been afraid that he would be forced work until the day that he died, or worse yet living in a cardboard box if he lost his two paltry paying jobs. Vincent soon found forty acres of land and quickly had his simple and robust dream home constructed. Disappointed in people, it was his avowed goal to be a hermit and shun the world. Too bad for his dreams that only a year after winning the lottery, all of humanity started seeing colored text messages before their very eyes, messages that warned of dire things to come.
8 553 - In Serial30 Chapters
D-INJECT Second Birthday
Heaven's memory of the past three years has come to a close. The supernatural battles in Evo City have become few and far between. The Demons have resigned themselves to peace for the time being. But the silent peace of the last three years is torn apart when Nina launches a devastating attack that sets the eyes of the world upon Evo City. Now countless new enemies take their positions on the board, and in the midst of the coming battle, Heaven faces a truth that destroys him. He is left lost at a fork in the road. He can either fade away with the dying city, or change himself entirely. life.
8 197 - In Serial7 Chapters
The Adventures Of Heegan, Bleegan, Hoogan, and Bloogan: The Search For The Enchanted Toad Of Delarmir
This is a tale of four young goblin brothers, whose adventures and calamities are told as legends and jokes throughout the land. But they were first inspired by legends they heard, before ascending into one themselves; a reminder that simple beginnings can be the start of something great. Written for my D&D 5e party after they demanded I write an actual story about a children's book they found in one of our sessions, so I wrote it as it would appear in game as a childrens story. I took a very different approach on writing it, so do not be too disappointed when you find out it's not written at first grade reading level. Feedback is much appreciated, as I have never produced anything like this and I do hope I manage to entertain at least a few of you. New chapter releases to be within 3-5 days of one another (Work is now complete, do not expect new chapters).
8 98 - In Serial110 Chapters
Potestera- Race for Power
To reach the peak of existence, to follow a Sentient Beings innate urge to Ascend to reach the realm of its beginning, to rule with wisdom, might, and longevity...What path must one choose? Is the path SCIENCE- innovation, research, and technology? Or is it MAGIC- to manifest phenomena, command, and bend the laws of the world? Do you Kneel to the supreme beings and WORSHIP Gods and ask for enlightenment? Or do you look within and embrace the essence of your life to Will yourself to the top? Does NATURE hold the key? Will the universe pick its own path for you and give you a glimpse of the summit. This is POTESTERA!!! Where worlds and ideals of power clash, where nothing is certain except power and discord. Where only the strong survive, where only the strong LIVE! Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge
8 246 - In Serial142 Chapters
One Versus Destiny
Arjun Singh, a ten-year old from Chennai, India, is sucked into another universe. He has to fight extremists, get clothes, and defeat monsters. Magic also exists to help fight monsters. And that's only the first day. What will he do? How will he survive?Releases will be every weekday, and times are 7:15 PM Eastern Time. This is a serial that will never be taken down. If you read the first few chapters and think I copied He Who Fights With Monsters, the first three chapters are similar to the start of He Who Fights With Monsters, but it branches out in Chapter 4. [Participant in the Royalroad writathon challenge].The content warnings are more for minor things, minor enough that a fourth-or maybe third grader could read.A lot of chapters, particularly in the first 3 books, are unedited, and I'll try to get more edited soon.Covers credit to Asviloka.NOTE: I only publish this on Royalroad.com, and if you read it somewhere else, it is pirated and you suck.
8 239 - In Serial13 Chapters
{Smut Warning} Big Fun {Kurt Kelly X Ram Sweeney}
{this art is not mine. I can't draw people.}{Under editing} So drunk that he doesn't even know his own name, Ram Sweeney drags his best friend, Kurt Kelly, into a room with him, and he's horny as fuck. Yes, this burns slow.
8 207

