Similarities to your work and something already out there x 2

folkchick · Nov 9, 2009

I don't watch Heroes, never have and probably never will. Today I was cooking dinner and I heard a commercial talking about the show and it said the name Bennet, so I run to the computer and look up "Heroes and Bennet" and damned if I don't find out that there is a character with that name who is known as the man in horn-rimmed glasses.

Well, get this. In my book, my antagonist are men in horn-rimmed glasses--a reference from the cult religion my father used to belong to. They all wore suits and the glasses and slicked back hair. My Protagonist's name is William Bennett.

It's so frustrating--it always happens to me!!!! Should I just change his name to something else or just say, forget it, and leave it be? I don't want to be called a stealer when I'm far from that. Thanks ahead of time.

Judg · Nov 9, 2009

Might be a good idea to change the name, all right. But seeing as I've never watched Heroes, you might want to wait for more knowledgeable input. Still, changing a name is pretty simple stuff.

entropic island · Nov 9, 2009

I don't know...that is pretty darn coincidental. You could change the name, appearance, or plead temporary insanity in court. Actually, noone will probably act lawsuit wise, but better safe then sorry.

third person · Nov 9, 2009

in my WIP characters are psychic. instead of calling what they can do "abilities" i have them call them "talents", if just to get away from all this ULTRA popularity with supernatural everything right now in which characters blab on about their "powers" and "abilities". well earlier tonight, guess what i found? a series of books called the "Talent Series" about psychics. i groaned loudly and even punched my wooden dressing table. yes i did. it's not fair! just like you, i've never even heard of this Talent series. did i really think i'd be the first one to use "talent" instead of "ability" or "power"? no, i'm not that naive. but still . . . it's annoying. getting over it and just finishing my damn story, however, is what will make me a stronger writer.

folkchick · Nov 9, 2009

I'll probably end up changing it. William Bobbitt . . . nooooo. Let's see, how about . . . William Baggett . . . NO! Crud, this reeks to holy heck. But I'll find a name. Oooh, I just had an idea. I'll go look through my hubby's old yearbook.

folkchick · Nov 9, 2009

Third- I know how you feel. When I was a kid I wrote and illustrated a book and then saw it on TV a month later. Then a few years ago I wrote a song and heard the exact same thing on the radio--it went to number one for that artist. Talk about being psychic at the wrong place and time.

Now I have this fear that anything I write will get out by someone else before I have it finished. It'll work for us someday, I hope!! Hang in there!

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 9, 2009

I remember when I was in my teens, I used to write the adventures of this one character. I thought the name I came up for him was original. Then my mom came home and handed me a book. "Var the Stick" by Piers Anthony. She thought it was neat that someone else had used the name of my character. I groaned and never wrote another word about Var.

Ehab.Ahmed · Nov 9, 2009

It's similar but I don't think anyone will notice. Besides, you're bound to find similar properties if you looked hard enough through every book that's been ever made! So, finish your book, find what might be very similar and change it, if you wished.

I'm in your same shoes, like almost everyone here, and I decided to finish my book then look at that other book (or in your case, the Heroes show) then change what's very similar.

folkchick · Nov 9, 2009

I think I'm going to change it to William Buckley. I know that is the name of a famous author recently passed, but I love the sound. Perhaps because I loved Jeff Buckley so much.

His nick-name is Billy Joe (the Soul Seekers call him that to be annoying) so let's see--Billy Joe Buckley. That's kind of cool.

Other choices were (could still be): Barrett, Barnett, Bowers.

Ahh!!! I'm still not sure.

Jennasis · Nov 9, 2009

In the show Heroes, Bennett is NEVER referred to as the man in the horn rimmed glasses. He is generally called that on fan websites/boards (they call him HRG).

I say keep it.

BigWords · Nov 9, 2009

There was a screenwriter named William Bowers. He appeared in The Godfather, Part II. William Barnett comes up with a few names on The Other Wiki. There was also a philosopher named William Barrett.

Depending on how unique you want the character to be, this may or may not be a problem for you.

folkchick · Nov 9, 2009

Well . . . maybe I will keep it. I'm going to think about it overnight and let time do its thing. Thank you everyone for the great input, as usual. I really appreciate it!

Stijn Hommes · Nov 10, 2009

This isn't uncommon. I considered writing a book about a 14 year old spy, right before discovering the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. Since I didn't have much to add, he hadn't already done, I abandoned the idea. I guess the idea that no idea is original anymore is in fact true.

kaitie · Nov 10, 2009

I wrote a story once that coincidentally ended up having three names in it show up in LOST. That was weird. Granted, one of them was Charlie, which isn't all that uncommon, but Locke and Ethan?

I think I'd just change the name to something similar. I'm wondering actually if you both borrowed form the same source and that's the reason they're similar. Or maybe if you really wanted to keep it in for the reference, you could have them always refer to him as William and have "Bennett" not be said very often. That might work as well. Talk about frustrating.

I actually tend to google any main characters to make sure I'm not accidentally using a famous name early on when I start writing. Won't catch everything, of course, but it can avoid some problems.

Salis · Nov 10, 2009

There's over six billion people in this world, and many more buried. It's inevitable that sooner or later you're going to name a character after someone in real life, or another story, or something. Unless it's someone famous, I wouldn't worry about it. If it is someone famous, oh well, change a name, that takes all of ten seconds with find and replace.

Example: the main character of a piece I'm working on had a last name I thought would be fairly unique because it was something I came up off the top of my head, a kind of a merge of a common name ("Smith") with something less common ("Silver)"... turns out there's plenty of people with the last name Silversmith, since it was a profession. I was trying to make a name that sounded ordinary, though, so that's good.

In fact, that's the strongest argument. If you're trying to be convincing with your names, hitting on something that other people use might be a good thing.

folkchick · Nov 10, 2009

Salis- I like the name Silversmith, sounds really cool and different.

Well, after much thought I realize it's just too much of a coincidence to have Bennett and horn-rimmed glasses. I'm the only one who will mourn the name change, but that's life, baby!

I like Barrett, though it does have a sort of feminine quality. But it's close enough to have the same sound and syllable to still capture that original feel I was going for. It'll wear on me eventually. Thanks again everyone.

Ooh--I just googled and found a philosopher William Barrett and an artist William Barrett. I like it. Getting a good feeling. And . . . time to delete Bennett. Thank God for find and replace in Mac Pages.

Jennasis · Nov 10, 2009

Sometime you gotta go with your gut. FWIW, on heroes, his name is NOAH Bennett.

third person · Nov 10, 2009

find and replace rocks my socks

Chumplet · Nov 10, 2009

Beswick is pretty close to Bennett and sounds lyrical.

Ehab.Ahmed · Nov 10, 2009

Barrett is similar to a character from a universally famous video game, called Final Fantasy VII. I think it shows you can't avoid similarities, after all, you're just a human being with other 4 billion humans.
I like silversmith, though. It sounds original and catchy yet not forced.

AlishaS · Nov 10, 2009

When I pick a name not only do I pick something I find interesting but that has something to do with my novel. I sit and sift through baby name books and look at the meaning of the names. I find it helps to come up with something original.

In the novel I am writing now my one characters last name is Lexine..very odd I know but the meaning is "defender of people" which works well for the character. I know it is trivial and most readers would never pick up on it but I find it helps with the unique factor

Freelancer · Nov 10, 2009

Just keep the name. This sort of similarities are used to happen. The best example is Lost where few of the characters are named after historical person: i.e. John Locke or David Faraday. Or just to show an example for your dilemma. Also in Lost there is the character Desmond David Hume (Usually referred as Desmond, but this is his full name.). In Total Recall 2070 Detective David Hume was the main character. This sort of similarities are used to happen sometimes as these are common names. If you would use Luke Skywalker, James T. Kirk... so legendary names, well, that would be different.

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