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Okay, so last night I got this amazing idea. At least I think it sounds amazing. But my problem is, it also sounds a bit cliche.
The problem is, I don’t get out much. Honestly, I’m pretty picky about what I read, so modern secular works are very rarely added to the list, and I am pretty clueless about what’s actually on the shelves. I know I really need to get more connected to the world outside my circle of books, but there’s so much junk out there, I kinda gave up a long time ago.
So I need you guys – anybody who can, but please don’t feel pressured to respond – to tell me whether or not this is actually cliche. Does this have anything original in it? Would you read it? Have you read anything like it before, and if so, do you remember the name of the book? (Totally okay if you don’t.) Just lookin’ for anything you can give me here… Anyway, here’s the blurb I came up with last night:
When Jin Dai is Anointed (a ritual that determines the call of the gods on her life), she is named the next Anointer, a highly prestigious position. Taken to the royal palace, Dai is given the best education in the land and the finest care. Although she quickly learns secrets about the corrupt government and the process of Anointing that she never could have dreamed, she gradually becomes used to her new life under the apprenticeship of Huldah, the Anointer of one of the largest districts in Nadíon. Used to it, that is, until gold dust starts appearing wherever she touches.
Frightened, Dai tries to keep the dust and her newly revealed abilities hidden, but as her powers grow and she begins hearing voices in her head, her secret becomes harder to keep… and what are the consequences if someone finds out?
More details you might want to know: the ‘calling of the gods on her life’ is only a temporary thing because the voices (Voice) in her head is actually El Ehyeh (God) speaking to her. Also, I have no idea what her abilities are (thoughts?), nor do I know why she’s the only one who has said abilities (like I said, I just came up with this last night), but I do know that the ‘abilities’ are far more than just gold dust. That’s just one of the signs, I guess.
Or something.
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@faith-q Oh that sounds like such a cool idea!! I have read one book by Jennifer A. Nelson called “Mark of the Thief”. You might enjoy it, although there is some Egyptian mythology stuff in it. But it’s a good book and sounds kind of up the ally of your book idea! (Although not too similar, it just reminds me of it haha)
I really like that book idea!! I would love to read that. I can’t really think of any books that have done the gold power thing, although the ‘chosen one with super powers’ is a cliche, but honestly I never get tired of reading that one XD
Another book (A ‘King Midus’ gold touch retelling) reminds me a bit of your idea. “A Touch of Gold” by Annie Sullivan. I think it was a bit heavy with violence, but the story was good and the romance was really terrific! I don’t think I remember any language in it.
"It's easy to be caught up in stardust and whispers when reality is so dark and loud."
Very interesting! I don’t think it’s cliche at all, but the fanfics I make with my brother are sometimes cliched on purpose, so I’m not sure if I’d know…
"When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
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That idea is very creative! I like it.
I do think you’ve got a couple tropes/cliches in it (I see most obviously “The Chosen One” and the “corrupt government”), but what you need to remember is that THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT AT ALL. People love reading about certain tropes and cliches, that’s why so many books include them. It’s just a matter of using those tropes/cliches in a creative and fresh way – putting a spin on them, so to speak – which I undoubtedly think you will accomplish if you decide to write this story!
Lovely story idea! Honestly, aside from the tropes Joy and Daisy mentioned, it sounds unique to me! And, like they also said, even those tropes are common, they are still incredibly enjoyable (Honestly, the more I think about it, almost every story has a “chosen one” of some sort, even in the Bible). So, in my opinion, you’ve got a great story idea!!! I don’t know much about popular fiction, but I think this story has a ton of potential and I hope it goes well for you if you dive into it!!! Wishing you the best! <333 😀
Oh, gotcha. Thanks for the comments, and I appreciate the encouragement! I’ve officially added it to my many ‘to-be-written’ WISemi-progress XD
And, just out of curiosity, why did my story idea remind you of ‘Mark of the Thief’?
Haha, yeah, I get that. I’ve never written anything cliche on purpose, but I can totally see my brother and I doing that some day…
@joy-caroline
Honestly, I didn’t really think about that… but you’re right, cliches can be enjoyable (and there are several huge twists I could put on the story that would make it very unique). Thank you so much for the encouragement; I appreciate it more than you know!
Aww, thank you so much for the encouragement! (Huh. Funny, but you’re right: Chosen Ones are all over the Bible and almost every government is at least a bit corrupt, so I guess cliches and tropes really are based on real life. Interesting.) Anyway, I appreciate the time you put into it, and you made me feel way more confident about the story!
Thank you all so much! I so appreciate it, and I can’t wait to write this story now!
@faith-q Girl of course!! And I totally feel you, my to-be-written list is also never-ending XD
It has the same kind of vibe to it, if that makes sense XD The ideas are totally different, but the whole “anointed one” aspect reminds me of it, although those words aren’t the ones used exactly XD You’d have to read it and ‘feel’ the world to see exactly why haha.
"It's easy to be caught up in stardust and whispers when reality is so dark and loud."
Well, I really haven’t been paying enough attention have I? I just saw this tag. =|
That sounds like a good start for a story, and is making ideas spring into my head. If written well it wouldn’t be cliche. It has some possibilities for a powerful storyline.
Random spark of ideas- What if this country is something like Israel under Ahab or Jehoash from the Old Testament? A kingdom originally close to/created by God, but has fallen away so that that can hardly be recognized? Perhaps she was just placed where she is so her real calling can be fulfilled. Or something like that.
I don’t know. I liked your idea though, can you tell? XD
I would totally look into a book like that, and I’m pretty picky with what I read.
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkOoh, thanks for the encouragement and suggestions! *brain starts churning, then realizes that idea is WAY too similar to the last book she wrote, haha*
Yes!! If I can get picky readers (like me and, apparently, you) to go past the blurb on the back, I’d consider that a solid win! This idea is now officially on the list of ones I hope to write sometime… when I’m done with all my other pending ones.
Like that’s ever going to happen.
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