Copycat Accusations

E.G. Gammon · Apr 8, 2005

Has anyone gotten accusations from people, saying that your writing is ripping off someone else?

My novel series (been writing it for over seven years - intended to be a soap opera - now a novel series - you know the story) has seven novels and has a supernatural plot in it. Without even hearing anything about my story, one of my relatives accused me of trying to be like J.K. Rowling - copying Harry Potter. She didn't even want to hear what my series was about. She heard "novel series" and "supernatural" and she just immediately assumed I was some copycat (some relative huh?). My novel series follows the lives of the inhabitants of a small town (almost 80 characters), infamous for its supernatural occurrences, after the sudden emergence of a serial killer. My story is nothing like Harry Potter. But, it made me think, how many people will automatically judge my books without even reading them? The story has a female heroine with magical powers. Does that mean people will accuse me of ripping off Buffy, even though my story is COMPLETELY different? It just surprises me how many people judge things they know nothing about, well, except what they've heard.

Any thoughts? Comments? Your own experiences?

three seven · Apr 8, 2005

I read a lot of detective novels. They're all the bloody same. Nobody cares.

If narrow-minded family members want to judge you out of jealousy that they can't come up with any original ideas, and couldn't write them down even if they did, that's their problem. The book-buying public as a whole, I'm fairly convinced, is generally more circumspect and will choose to read your stories based on their theme, and not whether they feature a character that might sound a bit like Buffy if you listen really hard with your eyes shut.

Personally, when you said 'female with magical powers', Buffy didn't even trouble my train of thought until you mentioned her - so perhaps you should keep any potential parallels under your hat!

Liam Jackson · Apr 8, 2005

I wouldn't worry much about it, EG. There are only so many literary styles and themes in existence. If people look hard enough, they can find similarities, however remote. It also seems some people put a great deal of effort into finding those similarties.

I've not had to endure this...yet. However, I'm sure my time is coming. I read a post on the Stephen King website in which the moderator stated King no longer read/critiqued unpublished manuscripts, because of past plagarism suits. A damn shame, that.

Screw 'em.

arrowqueen · Apr 8, 2005

If she hasn't even read it, why worry about her opinion? Some folk just open their mouths and let their guts rummle (Old Scottish saying!) so don't let it get to you. You know it isn't true and that's all that matters.

Chin up.

:Hug2:

aq

BradyH1861 · Apr 8, 2005

There's nothing like relatives! Though when I hear female with special powers, I always think of Buffy. But that's just because I have a "thing" for her, as they say.

Brady H.

James D. Macdonald · Apr 8, 2005

Don't sweat it. You hear that stuff all the time.

KTC · Apr 8, 2005

It's so typical of a relative to say something like that. Don't worry about it. Brush it off and move on. I've heard the same type of thing over and over. They hear that you write and they automatically say some dumb thing that will inevitably p*ss you off. Not all relatives...but we all have one like the one your describing. You say you're writing a horror and all of a sudden it's "Oh like that one Stephen King wrote." Who knows, your relative might have even been well meaning. Brush it and move...

E.G. Gammon · Apr 8, 2005

The book-buying public as a whole, I'm fairly convinced, is generally more circumspect and will choose to read your stories based on their theme, and not whether they feature a character that might sound a bit like Buffy if you listen really hard with your eyes shut.

I just used Buffy as an example. In reality, my character, besides the fact that she has magical powers, is NOTHING like Buffy. But, when people hear "girl" and "with magic powers" they'll immediately assume I stole the idea from somewhere. She's actually half of a heroic team, the other half is a guy.

There are only so many literary styles and themes in existence. If people look hard enough, they can find similarities, however remote. It also seems some people put a great deal of effort into finding those similarties.

Isn't that the truth... I've always believed there are what I call "general ideas." Some examples are "battle between good and evil" or "a serial killer." But, we as writers take these general ideas and create our stories around them. So, no matter what we write, there's going to be someone out there accusing us of ripping off someone else.

If she hasn't even read it, why worry about her opinion? Some folk just open their mouths and let their guts rummle (Old Scottish saying!) so don't let it get to you. You know it isn't true and that's all that matters. Chin up.

Well said. Thanks.

zeprosnepsid · Apr 8, 2005

Try to put a good spin on this. Harry Potter is like the biggest selling book in the universe. Buffy has a huge cult following. These people may buy your book because it sounds like Harry Potter or Buffy. It could be a lot worse. At least you know supernatural novel series and heroines are marketable. I don't know if you're signed somewhere, but Agents and Editors might have these same prejudices to your advantage.

But the fact that you have relatives that don't want to hear about your 7 book novel series! That's a bummer. If I was your relative I would sit wide-eyed and jaw dropped at what you've accomplished.

Anaparenna · Apr 8, 2005

She heard "novel series" and "supernatural" and she just immediately assumed I was some copycat

That's it. She is so totally out of the will.

HConn · Apr 8, 2005

Just tell her to shut her shriek hole.

reph · Apr 8, 2005

Without even hearing anything about my story, one of my relatives accused me of trying to be like J.K. Rowling - copying Harry Potter.

That kind of criticism is so common that she can't claim it's original with her. What's she doing, trying to copy the relatives of other writers?

azbikergirl · Apr 8, 2005

Some relatives are just asking for a smart-aleck response. Here are some ideas:

"What makes you such an expert?"
"Harry who?" or "J.K. Rowling? What did he write?"
"I didn't realize you had already read my novel. Who was your favorite character?"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm glad I have relatives like you who truly believe in my creative genius."
or the less sarcastic version:
"It's too bad you have no confidence in my creativity. I wish I could have counted on your support."

DiscoDan · Apr 8, 2005

I read a few reviews for some of the Harry Potter books on Amazon.com a while back, and it seems like I remember a number of them claiming the books were obvious rip-offs from other stories..

Don't worry, I'm sure all authors are accused of being rip-offs, you'll probably even get a few people screaming plagerism in the future.

katiemac · Apr 8, 2005

I've noticed some treads within my WIP that could be similar to already-published novels. Heck, even Harry Potter. But what I did realize was that these elements that are the same exist in most every novel, and the specifics are contained more to mythology and other "classic" literature.

Since I'm still working on it, if inspiration strikes and I think of something truly brilliant, I'll change it. It works fine as it is, I bet some people won't like the "rip off" if it gets published, but that's them. It's not something I'm particularly worried about, because I know I'm not a hack.

No matter what you write, there will always be somebody there telling you it isn't yours. :Shrug:

Galoot · Apr 8, 2005

My answer would be "Yep. And I hear Rowling didn't share her new wealth with the family, either."

Note On · Apr 9, 2005

People say stupid things. Once you're published, they matter less. (And sometimes those same people become your biggest fans.)

MadScientistMatt · Apr 9, 2005

Remember, it's not whether you've taken ideas that have been used before, it's how well you pull them off. Taking ideas that have been done before is nothing new. Even classic writers did that. How many times has Shakespeare been accused of stealing someone else's plot?

Don't let it get to you. Just focus on original writing even if you've got elements of your story that have been done before.

three seven · Apr 9, 2005

EGGammon said:
She's actually half of a heroic team, the other half is a guy.

Buffy Potter? License to print money!

E.G. Gammon · Apr 9, 2005

three seven said:
Buffy Potter? License to print money!

Ha ha! The two 18 year olds, one a girl and the other a guy are more like "spiritual siblings." Ooh, I'm giving away too much...

James D. Macdonald · Apr 9, 2005

Harry Potter and the Bridges of Pokemon County

katiemac · Apr 9, 2005

Brilliant, Jim. Brilliant.

JohnLynch · Apr 9, 2005

EGGammon said:
when people hear "girl" and "with magic powers" they'll immediately assume I stole the idea from somewhere.

Some people might, but not everyone.

I use to be discouraged by my ideas sounding anything remotely like something already made. I'd actively look to see if anyone else had come up with my idea, and lo and behold, they had. There was no way I could have stolen the idea (sometimes the movie/book hadn't been made when I came up with it

), but I discarded the idea anyway.

Now I don't care at all. In fact, I'll actively think of ideas while reading other books and jot them down. Will people accuse me of stealing the idea? It's doubtful. Because while I got the inspiration from something, I went off on a completely different tangent

Don't sweat the similarities between other stuff. And don't worry about close-minded relatives (easy for me to say. I keep my writing habits secret). If someone accuses you of stealing their idea or someone elses idea, see it as a sign of success. After all, they must have seen your work to be able to accuse you (close-minded relatives not withstanding).

Julian Black · Apr 9, 2005

My WIPs (most historical, one contemporary) all involve people who happen to be wizards and witches, and some of them live within a culture that is very separate from that of normal people. Sound familiar?

I've had these books in mind for years. After finally reading the Harry Potter books, I was initially discouraged by the similarities, and for a while lost confidence in them. The stories never went away, however, and now that I'm back working on them, I'm also focusing on the differences--what makes them my stories, not JKR's.

Occasionally, I've had people ask what I'm writing. Sometimes I laugh and say "Harry Potter for grown-ups," before explaining a few of the particulars. So far, the response seems to be positive.

Ultimately, all stories are very much like some other story. Rather than worry about it, trust that your way of telling the story, and the ideas you have, are important and will make it worth reading.

Christine N. · Apr 10, 2005

Ugh. Been there, heard that. All I had to say was that my book was being published, and that it was middle grade fantasy. They all said the same thing, but they're teasing me about all the stuff I'll give them when I'm rich.

I said maybe I'd be able to take them out to dinner. Maybe. It's the name they know, so it pops into their head first.

Just smile and say "Thank you."

Copycat Accusations

(Graeme Cameron)

Heathen Horde Elder

RIP, our sarky besom

Hold Fast.

Your Genial Uncle

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Just Another Exquisite Fish

Whore for genre

Fig of authority

I really do look like this.

Five by Five

I am a pretty pretty flower

Empirical Storm Trooper

(Graeme Cameron)

Your Genial Uncle

Five by Five

Will Read Slush for Food.

haz a shiny new book cover