Have you ever feared, dear writer, that your work isn’t original?
I know I have. It’s so easy, especially whilst in the dreaded middle section of one’s book, to cast a jaded look over one’s manuscript and see nothing but flaws. Every scene feels like it’s been torn straight out of the pages of someone else’s novel, the worldbuilding feels like a pathetic reflection of Hollywood’s latest sci-fi action flick, and let’s not even touch on the characters—they’re all cleverly-disguised caricatures of other protagonists.
Sound familiar?
Of course, as is the case most, if not all of the time, it’s not quite as bad as that.
You see, we writers want to be innovative. We create worlds out of thin air, after all. It’s only natural that we want the stories we tell to be unique.
However, it’s easy to get bogged down by the fear that our writing simply isn’t original, or, worse, is cliché. I know that countless times, I’ve come down with a dreadful case of writer’s block over this very thought.
Worry not, dear writer. I’m here to offer hope, not yet another reason to fear putting your thoughts down on paper.
But first, I have good news and bad news. First, the bad news: it’s impossible for your writing to be completely and utterly original. Everything you write will draw from countless experiences you’ve had, the books you’ve read, the movies you’ve watched, and the books you’ve reread too many times to count.
Now, for the good news: the bad news is incredibly freeing.
In this article, I will offer you four things to consider when you’re feeling like your writing is about as original as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Buckle up, grab the hot beverage of your choice (or iced beverage, if that’s what you prefer—you’ll hear no judgement from me), and get cozy. We have writing to discuss.
1. Learn a Lesson from the Greats
…and by “the greats,” here, I mean George Lucas.
Now, before you think back in anger to the travesty of cinema that is the Star Wars prequels, hear me out.
Whether people admire his work or not, they nevertheless still admit that George Lucas created one of the most iconic film sagas in all of cinema history.
However, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Star Wars copied the tropes, cinematography, and storytelling of Westerns. Not only that, but Westerns, in turn, copied the style and structure of Japanese samurai films, particularly the work of Akira Kurosawa.
Now, what does this mean for you?
Well, quite simply, if some of the most well-known films in all of cinema can bear blatant similarities to other films, why can’t your writing have some similarities to something you’ve read or seen and enjoyed?
Thus, going by example alone, being “unoriginal” is perfectly acceptable. Of course, I’m not advocating for blatant plagiarism (there’s more of that out there than you’d think, unfortunately), but borrowing an element or two that you like and putting your own unique spin on it? That’s a-okay in my book.
2. To Borrow or Not To Borrow
Now that you’ve learned that it’s okay to take inspiration from other sources, here comes the tricky part: how much can you do this?
Well, that’s a complicated question, one that is better felt than outlined in a hard and fast rule. However, the rule of thumb I like to use is this. If there’s an element you like from a particular story, such as the wintery setting of Disney’s Frozen, don’t be afraid to include something similar. However, make sure you don’t copy the rest of the original story along with it.
Now, what exactly do I mean by this?
Well, to return to the example I used earlier, if you like, say, the space-Western setting of the Star Wars universe and want to create a similar location in your book, go for it! However, make sure that your protagonist isn’t a desert-dwelling orphan who gets his hand cut off by his estranged father in a floating city after successfully destroying a moon-sized battle station. Make sense?
A more concrete example of stories borrowing too much from each other are the infamous Hallmark Christmas movies (or, in these modern times, Christmas-themed Netflix Originals). Now, there is certainly nothing wrong with liking these movies; I’m not here to hate on the merriest time of the year, after all. However, what exactly is it about these movies that gives them such an notorious reputation?
They all have the same plot.
If there were only one or two or even five such films out there, I doubt anyone (except perhaps the Grinch) would have a problem with them. However, the sheer number of them quite almost overwhelming. Their characters, storylines, and even aesthetic elements are all so incredibly similar that the individual films blur together in the viewer’s mind. To put it simply, the films borrow essentially everything from each other, to the detriment of their individual stories.
Now, don’t panic, dear writer. Your situation is most definitely not as bad as that. However, if you are planning on including something in your story that might resemble another work of fiction, consider adding an unexpected element or two to the mix to keep your readers on their toes. Just keep that in mind, and Cheesy Christmas Movie Syndrome will keep its menace far away from you and your writing.
3. Recognize Your Own Worst Critic (You)
Now, in addition to fearing that your work isn’t original, you might be afraid that a reader will notice your unoriginality, point it out, and laugh at you. Or perhaps not quite laugh, but you catch my drift.
However, as a counterargument, I invite you to consider this example.
There are 23 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe alone. 23 movies which, at their core, all follow a very similar formula, whether that be visually, aesthetically, or plot-wise. Now, does everyone tear these movies apart for bearing similarities to one another? Absolutely not. Rather, millions of people (myself included) very much enjoy these films, and look expectantly to the release of new films (or, in these trying times, the release of new Disney+ shows. I haven’t seen the inside of a movie theater since March.).
What I’m trying to say is this: your readers are not editors. They won’t be reading your work with a red pen in hand, ready to pounce on every mistake. Take comfort in the example set by the MCU, dear writer. Your work doesn’t need to be the most inventive thing in the world for someone to still enjoy it.
By default, you are the one closest to your story, and thus it is to you that its seeming shortcomings are the most apparent. To that end, it often helps to have another set of eyes to help either reassure you of the merit of your storytelling choices, or to help you brainstorm alternative plot points, character attributes, or whatever it may be that is giving you trouble. Alpha and beta readers are treasures, dear writer; ones that I encourage you to seek out.
4. Be More Like Thanos
…and by that I mean that everything must be perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
(Forgive me; I couldn’t help myself.)
The key to approaching the question of originality, like many other things in life, is balance. We writers seek to create memorable plots, worlds, and characters, and want those elements of our stories to be unique. I’m not advocating that you abandon that wish; it’s worthy of your time, to be sure. However, don’t let the fear of “not being original” cripple your creativity.
To that end, try to have a balanced approach to your creative endeavors. Especially in the idea and first draft stages of your project, don’t spend all of your time worrying whether or not your idea is the best thing since sliced bread. (Seriously—all manner of issues can be resolved in the second, third, fourth and onwards drafts. You aren’t running out of time.)
Speaking from personal experience, dear writer, the energy you expend trying to root out every single cliché, trope, or accidental reference from your writing could, perhaps, be better spent making sure the other elements of your story work. Perhaps instead of hunting down every slightly-overused element of worldbuilding or less-than-unique character descriptions, maybe turn your attention to making sure your plot points, cliché or not, come together to form a tight narrative. Or perhaps turn your focus to creating unique and dynamic personalities for each of your characters.
All in all, throughout all the stages of your creative process, remember to have fun, and write about the things you like. Your story can be the most unoriginal piece of literature in the world (though I highly doubt it is), but do you know what? It’s still special anyway, because you wrote it. Only you can write your story, and that story is important.
Tell your tales without fear, dear writer
L.E. Williams
L.E. Williams delights in confusing her friends and professors by going by her middle name (Elizabeth).
When she isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, photography, violin, acting, and playing video games with her husband Taylor (who serves as her biggest supporter, an incredible filmmaker, and her absolute favorite person).
Her favorite band is Stella Stagecoach, a group so hipster that even Google has barely heard of them, and she loves macaroni and cheese with a passion matched only by her fondness for her cat (Theophilus) and her ever-growing collection of plants.
She currently resides in East Tennessee, where she is pursuing a B.A. in English at Milligan University. You can visit her website at www.lewilliamsauthor.com to read dramatic accounts of her everyday adventurings.
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This is such an excellent article! I can definitely relate to feeling like my work is just another cliche drowning amidst millions of published works.
It is also so true that each individual writer has something special to the literary world:)
This was great! I agree–there’s a fine balance to be found.
I wouldn’t think of the prequels as a travesty, but the birthing place of the most legendary memes in cinema history.
I agree, they were ok. Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One are still my favorites, though, contrary to what everyone seems to think. (Ok, Disney and Star Wars just don’t fit that well, and The Last Jedi could’ve been done better, but honestly, I liked the new movies!
Great article, Elizabeth! I’ll definitely be reading it again whenever I (inevitably) feel as if my writing is too unoriginal or cliche. 🙂
So many great points! It’s so true that the best stories aren’t the ones that don’t have a single trope or cliche, but the ones that use them well and balance it out with the author’s own creativity. Awesome advice Elizabeth!
Awesome! I once wrote a story where all the characters except for the main character was based off somebody from a movie or show I’d liked, usually by either their name or role. The plot kinda bent off of what I’d wanted, so I’m going to write an entirely new storyline, but I found no problems with the raptor king, Peter, or the dragon soldier, Dameron. These characters’ names and appearances (the latter to a lesser extent) had their beginnings in Peter Quill and Poe Dameron, yet their stories were so drastically different from their Star Wars and Marvel “templates” that I was able to present the as my own character without fear of plagiarizing.
I thought of that when I read the “characters being cleverly-disguised caricatures of others” part.
Some things just can’t be forced. And there’s more to life than hiding behind Marvel references. You say you cannot help yourself, but you can. It all comes down to willpower and determination, and… some folks just don’t have that kind of quality. It’s a good thing you understand that, yes?