Same Story, Different Words?

I think we all have a problem with the need to be "unique" in our writing.

We want to have a completely unique storyline that we are the first person to think of.

But you know what?

That's really hard.

For your storyline to be completely 100% yours, it takes a lot of effort. And it seems as if almost every idea has already been written.

I've found that you really can't base the quality of your story on whether or not the basic plot line has been done before, but on whether or not the story is fun to read.

But we also don't want to steal somebody's ideas.

What's the difference between overused tropes and copied plots?

Romance novels will give you a good look at this.

If you were to look at all the romance novels in the world and compare their plots side by side, I think you'd be surprised at the similarities.

Many romance novels have the plot line of "enemies to lovers" or "best friends to lovers".

Does that mean that all of these authors copied each other?

No.

It just means that they all used a certain "trope" in their book.

A trope is a common or reconizable theme, element, or idea that regularly appears in literature.

Using a trope or writing based on a trope is perfectly normal and it's not copying another author since it's commonly used by many.

Copying a plot would involve taking a specific plot or story line an author has constructed and using it as your own.

An example would be if I took the plot in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and wrote that same plot or specific elements in it in my book.

Copying is deliberate.

Copying is taking credit for someone else's idea.

If you're just using a common trope then you're not taking someone else's idea, you're only taking a common plot point and making it your own.

In a way, "same story, different words" is not what you want because you don't want to tell someone else's story.

But it can also be what you want when writing a common trope.

Do readers care if stories are similar in their plot lines?

Ah, the age old question.

Do readers really care about plots being overused?

Again, I ask, have you seen the variety of romance novels in your country?

Do you know how many of those romance novels have a similar plot line?

And yet, these books sell.

People buy them.

People want to read them.

When you pick up a good book, you're not going to care if the trope used in the book has been used a thousand times. You're only going to care that the book is good and enjoyable to read.

So really, readers don't care about stories being similar to others as long as they aren't boring because of it.

How can we make them not boring?

How can we bring old ideas to life if they've already been resurrected multiple times?

That is the question I will address next.

How can I make someone want to read my book if it's based on a common trope?

The secret to writing an age old trope and making it seem like a brand new idea is simple.

Use your ideas.

Make the story your own.

Take an overused trope and write it your way. Write it in a way that's never been done before. Come up with an intriguing story and unique characters that will immerse your reader in your work.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

Readers will read the same plot over and over again as long as it's entertaining.

So make your book entertaining.

Make it your own.

Like the title of this post, tell that same story, the same story that's been told a thousand times, in your own words. Same story, different words.

Make it so that common trope sounds brand new in your book.

Taking a trope and making it unique in three steps:

1. Find a trope that you want to write about.

Find the trope you're basing your book on.

Or, if you're simply mixing a trope into your book, figure out what trope that's going to be.

Choose how you're incorporating that trope into your novel and figure out how your characters are playing into that trope.

Try not to write a book simply based on a trope.

Instead, write a book with your characters story in mind and figure out what their story is. Then, whatever trope that turns out to be is the trope you're writing in.

2. Figure out how you can make that trope yours.

Whether it's adding that trope into a bigger plot and story or just making the characters and their lives unique, you have to make the trope yours.

It can't feel like you're rewriting someone else's book.

It has to be your book.

It has to be your storyline.

Even if you are using the same trope as a lot of other writers, you have to write that trope as your own.

3. Figure out some unique plot points that can mix in with your trope.

This is what you can do if you're writing a book such as a romance where the trope is the basis of your story.

Figure out some unique elements or plot points that you can put in your book to make it different from everyone else's.

Write something about your characters or their relationship that's unique to your book. Add side characters. Add side plots.

Make sure you're writing a story and not just putting a trope into words.

Don't stress about making everything unique.

Life's too short to stress about your idea already being written.

If you have an idea, even if it involves a common trope, write it.

If you have something you want to write, just write it.

It's hard to find plots or storylines that haven't already been written so don't stress about it.

The important thing is taking those common tropes or plots and making them your own.

I hope you all enjoyed today's blog post!

Happy writing!

-Jocelyn