Stuck in my MG novel rewrite or What is originality anyway?

C.J. Rockwell · Mar 24, 2008

This is something I've been thinking about for awhile, especially since I'm annoyingly stuck in my MG novel. As all writers have been told at one point or another, we should strive to avoid clichés and be original.

But at the same time, when we’ve written our story, and get some early feedback, we're always advised to "read books like ours." Is it just me, or is this a paradox of some sort?

I mean, how can we be original if there are "books like ours" out there already?

Now I know that a strong voice will differentiate my work from someone else's. But when you're stuck in your story, and no book in your genre deals with something in a similar manner, what can you do?

It's one thing to read within the genre you're writing, and in my case as a budding children's writer, reading within the age group my story would fit, but it's another to find something with a similar vein.

For example, my MG novel's a fantastical animal tale, which has been done before. On the other hand, most books of this type view humans as the enemy, or at least an obstacle, and I wanted to write a story in which both the cruel and kind sides of humans was represented.

But as hard as I've tried, I've been unable to find a story of this type that deals with humans the way I have. The ones that come close only helped to a certain extent.

So I'm wondering what you do when write your story outside the box, but don't know what to do to make it the best it can be? Especially when no book that you could find does what you're doing?

Please respond, I need some ideas! :welcome:

Hollan · Mar 24, 2008

Don't worry if you can't find any books like yours. Maybe that's a good thing. I've had the same thing happen with me with every book I've written! Sure there are books that are somewhat similar, but none that are that close.

If you're having trouble writing, take a short break and write something else. Or don't write at all. Take a jog or a walk and let your mind wander. Go see a movie, or read a book that has nothing to do w/ yours. Maybe they will give you a new idea or a new inspiration for your own story.

Then just write the story you want to write and then edit until it's good enough. Don't worry about how much like it other books are, just tell the story that needs to be told!

Good luck!

MsJudy · Mar 25, 2008

I find that reading books on the craft of writing help a lot. I usually only need to read a chapter or two before I realize, "Oh, I see what the problem is!" or "What if I tried it this way?" Most good books on the craft use examples from well-known books, so you can see how the techniques work without having to find something quite like what you're trying to do.

C.J. Rockwell · Mar 27, 2008

Hollan said:
Don't worry if you can't find any books like yours. Maybe that's a good thing. I've had the same thing happen with me with every book I've written! Sure, there are books that are somewhat similar, but none that are that close.

Hollan said:
If you're having trouble writing, take a short break and write something else. Or don't write at all. Take a jog or a walk and let your mind wander. Go see a movie, or read a book that has nothing to do w/ yours. Maybe they will give you a new idea or a new inspiration for your own story.

Then just write the story you want to write and then edit until its good enough. Don't worry about how much like it other books are; just tell the story that needs to be told!

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice Hollan; I'll try to keep it in mind. It's just that I'm so close to having a solid draft of my novel, I can't seem to take my mind off it no matter what I try. I've watched movies, television, listening to music, etc. Nothing works…

I haven't written anything fresh in almost four weeks and it's driving me crazy!

Plus, every time I try to start a short story or whatever, I get paralyzed for fear I'm not creating something plausible. I know something can't be "just right" when I first write it, but my real concern is that because I write fantasy primarily I have problems with suspending disbelief in my readers.

I've been able to read two books that are both outside my genre, and on the low end of my target audience. They made me feel better, but once I'm done with the last page, I think about my own story and wonder why I can't move beyond my stuck point.

It's been too cold where I live to go walking, but I'll be gone most of the day running errands, and I hope that helps.

I have been writing what I wanted all along, it's just that no matter how much I edit, it's never "good enough" in terms of plot inconsistencies and my grammar and punctuation among other things.

JudScotKev said:
I find that reading books on the craft of writing help a lot. I usually only need to read a chapter or two before I realize, "Oh, I see what the problem is!" or "What if I tried it this way?" Most good books on the craft use examples from well-known books, so you can see how the techniques work without having to find something quite like what you're trying to do.

Thanks JudScotKev, I do have some writing books I've been referencing a lot lately. But they don't have a lot of examples to learn from, do you know of any good ones I can find?

MsJudy · Mar 27, 2008

Have you tried Gail Carson Levine's Writing Magic? It's actually written for tween-age kids, but it has fun "assignments" and lots of examples taken from her own writing--including early drafts.

zeppelin123 · Mar 30, 2008

I love your book so far. It is a unique twist on a common subject. Sometimes this is the best kind of origionality.

Stuck in my MG novel rewrite or What is originality anyway?

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

Hollan

Stage name = Chainsaw Sally

MsJudy

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

MsJudy

zeppelin123