tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post2524758813662081903..comments2024-03-10T00:26:33.241-08:00Comments on <strike>Muse Riding Shotgun</strike>: Hey, That was My Idea...Mason T. Matchakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-73991339089962235512014-06-18T18:02:41.998-07:002014-06-18T18:02:41.998-07:00Interesting theory - I've heard that applied t...Interesting theory - I've heard that applied to the sciences before, not as much to various creative stuff. But I do like the idea of being able to tap into the "ultimate source of awesomeness". ^_^Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-56310102428554129252014-06-18T08:55:30.040-07:002014-06-18T08:55:30.040-07:00Hello Twilight! YES. We were in NYC pitching a mus...Hello Twilight! YES. We were in NYC pitching a musical with a sympathetic vampire when Twilight hit the scene and stole our thunder. *sigh* That's okay. I wasn't ready for the theater life anyway. Regardless, I've come to a conclusion. There's a creative consciousness out there and we have the power to tune into that ultimate source of awesomeness. I think there are seasons when it broadcasts specific ideas--like technological advances--and several people get the same spark. For me that's happened with music. I've heard a truly inspired composition in my head a dozen times, and then WHAM. I hear it on the radio. Someone was tuned into the same mental-inspirational channel. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-72002068804923009992014-06-15T15:04:53.302-07:002014-06-15T15:04:53.302-07:00Hrm. No new plots, maybe, but I think there are a...Hrm. No new plots, maybe, but I think there are always new ideas. And I know what you mean about worrying you'll appear derivative. I've already considered making changes to my idea, but I probably won't, since it doesn't work without the element that the other author is also using. Eh, it happens, and it'll still be different enough if I write it.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-39024592250911574012014-06-15T15:02:00.935-07:002014-06-15T15:02:00.935-07:00Probably; I've heard a lot about people writin...Probably; I've heard a lot about people writing/reading stories with similar elements. Odds are good this won't be the first time I have that "heyyy..." moment. ^_^Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-74515116095093708872014-06-15T07:05:30.183-07:002014-06-15T07:05:30.183-07:00You're right: it's all in the execution. I...You're right: it's all in the execution. It could even be argued there are no new ideas anymore, only new authors with new ways to tell old stories. I got a little paranoid when I started subbing my future noir novel to various agents -- a bunch of my ideas showed up on that show FRINGE shortly thereafter. So now, of course, when my novel eventually gets published, critics may say it's derivative. But FRINGE is over, and my novel has not yet begun to fight. I have plenty of time to modify a few gadgets and plot points -- until they appear in another series...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-23396398553250950822014-06-14T15:42:48.342-07:002014-06-14T15:42:48.342-07:00I've written from similar ideas as others and ...I've written from similar ideas as others and both of us eventually split off in very different directions. I think it happens more than we realize. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com/blog" rel="nofollow">Anna from Shout with Emaginette</a>emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-43611904108779482932014-06-13T17:25:22.472-07:002014-06-13T17:25:22.472-07:00Yep. ^_^ I've talked before about how plot a...Yep. ^_^ I've talked before about how plot and story are two different things, and idea and story are likewise not the same thing.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-57579823481306927512014-06-13T17:24:38.141-07:002014-06-13T17:24:38.141-07:00...ouch. >_< Of all the times to hear that......ouch. >_< Of all the times to hear that, especially from an agent.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-58279067486431454912014-06-13T17:23:45.835-07:002014-06-13T17:23:45.835-07:00Oh, trust me, not writing it was never an option. ...Oh, trust me, not writing it was never an option. It never even occurred to me. ^_^ It was just a surprise.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-20361351326492966602014-06-12T10:56:06.858-07:002014-06-12T10:56:06.858-07:00Yep, happens all the time. But in the end no two s...Yep, happens all the time. But in the end no two stories will ever be the same so I just go ahead and write what I want to anyway. I wouldn't worry about anyone thinking that you ripped off an idea (besides, can't we say that about pretty much everything that's been published?). Just write it. Your experiences will make your book unique. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06317095707905133969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-59826369298664881732014-06-12T10:50:11.056-07:002014-06-12T10:50:11.056-07:00Oh, I know exactly what you mean. Back when I was ...Oh, I know exactly what you mean. Back when I was considering agents, I pitched one of my books to one at a conference. The first thing she said after she heard my pitch was it sounded exactly like this other book. The initial premise was very similar, but the way we took the story couldn't have been more different. It still was quite the punch in the gut all the same. Execution is key, so as long as that's different, then you're good to go. :)Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-21402187192571730512014-06-12T05:02:37.179-07:002014-06-12T05:02:37.179-07:00We are all different, which means that we all take...We are all different, which means that we all take a different spin on ideas. Write yours anyway.<br />Most of my ideas come from bits and pieces of movies. So far, I've not stumbled upon a book with a similar idea or plot.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-54532497263617692342014-06-11T20:04:31.504-07:002014-06-11T20:04:31.504-07:00The thing is, though, ideas without execution aren...The thing is, though, ideas without execution aren't really stories. They're not even plots. If we got credit just for having ideas, you and I both would be ridiculously successful, but unfortunately we have to actually develop those ideas and make stories out of them before that whole success thing happens. And I know we've talked before about how the idea is the easiest part.<br /><br />Things like this, I think, are why there's a brand of whiskey called "Writer's Tears."Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-75584651179600713782014-06-11T20:01:16.231-07:002014-06-11T20:01:16.231-07:00It wasn't Margaret Atwood, I'm willing to ...It wasn't Margaret Atwood, I'm willing to say that much. It was this person's first novel, so who knows? Maybe they'll become huge, and I'll meet them someday, and I'll share this story and we'll laugh. Then we'll discuss how we handled the idea differently. That would be cool. I don't think it's disheartening, mostly because I can tell from the book's plot summary and excerpt that we're handling it in really different ways.<br /><br />And yes, I think lots of us have a part that we don't usually let write anything on the internet. ^_^ Some people don't... those people are easy to spot. Oi.Mason T. Matchakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382636658554302699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-68032521632573990212014-06-11T19:01:27.978-07:002014-06-11T19:01:27.978-07:00In a word: Yes. Yes I have had a book that sounded...In a word: Yes. Yes I have had a book that sounded exactly like mine. I've been in the same pitch contest. But, when you think about plots, there are really only seven, so you get sort of lost in flavors of one of the plots. On the other hand, we do retellings all the time, so clearly, it's not about the idea. <br /><br />Which is sad, because it seems like the idea should count for more. Alas, it's all execution, all the time. Renahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02767762370997304308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667260282067472646.post-62249532916843761952014-06-11T18:35:00.510-07:002014-06-11T18:35:00.510-07:00" But some small part of me, the part I don&#..." But some small part of me, the part I don't usually let write anything on the internet, is standing with its hands on its hips and saying "Heeeeyyyyy.......""<br /><br />I had to laugh when I read that, because it's such a perfect image. I can totally see that!<br /><br />How WEIRD that someone else is working on the same idea. It IS strange. And you're right, I bet your two books will be vastly different, but it's still just a little strange...and a tiny bit disheartening? Don't give up on this idea, though. I bet yours will be better than that silly person's, anyway :)<br /><br />(Unless that silly person is Margaret Atwood or something, in which case, MAN, how cool is it that you had the same idea as Margaret Atwood??? ;) )Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.com