Sucky serendipity

Marlowe · Oct 29, 2006

I'm two-thirds of the way through Lisey's Story, which is pretty good, when Stephen King starts talking about "laughers." Which is chilling and all, except that the novel I sent to agents a few weeks ago also has "laughers" as a major villain. Mine are second level zombies, his are- something else- but I feel pretty crummy now. I mean, my laughers are fairly intregral to the plot, and there's a certain progression they fit nicely into; and every time I read the word in King's novel, I cringe, and I think of some prospective agent reading my story and chucking it because of the similar phrases. Cause, y'know, what're the odds an agent who represents horror will've actually read a Stephen King novel...

Anyway. It's just bugging me because I'm not sure how bugged I should be about it.

janetbellinger · Oct 29, 2006

This is the type of thing that happens to me and probably everybody else all the time. Like, my novel has had the title of Rain for five years, and every second writer it seems, now has Rain in the title, or else it is the author's name or pen name. I mean, it's not like rain doesn't appeal to just about every creative person in the universe. It's the same with laughers, except of course, since King has already used that term to identify some characters in the novel, I would change the name. Keep the characters but change the name to soemthing else. Don't worry about the agent recognizing it, if he/she likes your novel, he/she will just tell you to change the name laughers to something else. That's part of an agent's job, to zero in on any potentially litigious words in a novel.

Marlowe said:
I'm two-thirds of the way through Lisey's Story, which is pretty good, when Stephen King starts talking about "laughers." Which is chilling and all, except that the novel I sent to agents a few weeks ago also has "laughers" as a major villain. Mine are second level zombies, his are- something else- but I feel pretty crummy now. I mean, my laughers are fairly intregral to the plot, and there's a certain progression they fit nicely into; and every time I read the word in King's novel, I cringe, and I think of some prospective agent reading my story and chucking it because of the similar phrases. Cause, y'know, what're the odds an agent who represents horror will've actually read a Stephen King novel...

Anyway. It's just bugging me because I'm not sure how bugged I should be about it.

Carrie in PA · Oct 29, 2006

Marlowe said:
Anyway. It's just bugging me because I'm not sure how bugged I should be about it.

Well, on the one hand it kind of sucks, on the other hand, you know it's a brilliant idea, right?

I can feel your frustration, I'm not sure how bugged I'd be. Probably a lot.

PeeDee · Oct 30, 2006

Neither you nor Steve King are the first to use the term 'laughters' to describe a creature. It dates back to a number of mythologies, and I damned well KNOW that it's involved in the Greek myths of the Furies, but I can't find the freaking reference right now. I've dug through three mythology books looking for it.

Unless your actual creatures are the same as his actual creatures, you're probably fine.

icerose · Oct 30, 2006

Ah...what are "laughers"???

PeeDee · Oct 30, 2006

In mythology? I can't remember. That's why I was trying to find the entry on them that I read, a few years back. I know the name, but I can't reliably put a story to them.
*sigh*

This will bug me nigh on the rest of my life.

RedMolly · Oct 30, 2006

Suck-endipity. Alas.

But I really couldn't see an agent chucking your book because of one infelicitous coincidence. They might come back and ask you to rename them, which would suck in its own way; but if it's a good book, would that really be a serious stumbling block? (Not that I know whereof I speak here, being neither an agent nor a published novelist.)

Marlowe · Oct 30, 2006

Well, the book is probably suck enough for agents to find other, more creative reasons for not being interested.

And yeah, I realize "laughers" isn't exactly a shockingly original terms. I was just unpleasantly surprised to stumble across it in a new novel by a famous writer two weeks after I sent my manuscript in, and I thought y'all might understand a concern that is simultaneously impossible to argue away completely, and deeply, deeply goofy.

PeeDee · Oct 30, 2006

Marlowe said:
And yeah, I realize "laughers" isn't exactly a shockingly original terms. I was just unpleasantly surprised to stumble across it in a new novel by a famous writer two weeks after I sent my manuscript in, and I thought y'all might understand a concern that is simultaneously impossible to argue away completely, and deeply, deeply goofy.

No, I do understand and sympathize. It does suck, doesn't it?

I was offering condolences, pointing out that an editor will perhaps think you're both drawing off mythology rather than looking like you wrote something Stephen King wrote....which is like arguing with an avalanche.

RedMolly · Oct 30, 2006

Well, the book is probably suck enough for agents to find other, more creative reasons for not being interested.

Oh stop that.

I totally understand the power of the Semirational Freakout. Hope you feel better soon... want some cyber-rum'n'Coke?

kuatolives · Oct 30, 2006

How's this. My first book was about a building collapse in NYC. Two weeks after I finish the book, 9-11.

My next book was about a the levees in New Orleans breaking. Two weeks after I finish the book, Katrina.

My latest book is about a global nuclear war. With my luck we'll have one and again any chance of publication will be ruined.

RedMolly · Oct 30, 2006

I have a better idea, Kuato. Why don't you write a book about me getting rich and famous and having all kinds of fabulous things happen to me? Then I'll put you down for a cut of my riches and have one of my brand-new editor buddies pick up the book.

HorrorWriter · Oct 30, 2006

Marlowe,
Don't sweat it. At best, you'll only have to change the laughers' names. I named a group of people in my book the same name of a group on the show, Charmed. I had mine first and left it in. Mine was more biblical in context so we'll see... Good luck!

Marlowe · Oct 30, 2006

PeeDee said:
No, I do understand and sympathize. It does suck, doesn't it?

A bit- but that's no excuse for me being snippy when you're offering condolences, so I apologize, and thank you for the comment.

kuatolives, if that's the truth, um, could you include a line in your next book that says, "Zack Handlen entered into a passionate romantic relationship with Maggie Gyllenhaal."? I'd really appreciate it...

And thanks everybody. I feel better now- it's just weird how something like this can hit you the wrong way... (For the record, that's two dashes, two ellipsi.)

Doctor Shifty · Oct 31, 2006

RedMolly said:
I have a better idea, Kuato. Why don't you write a book about me getting rich and famous and having all kinds of fabulous things happen to me? Then I'll put you down for a cut of my riches and have one of my brand-new editor buddies pick up the book.

About thirty years ago, British comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore made a movie called Bedazzled. The plot was - Moore is a sap, Cook is the devil. Devil promises Sap seven wishes for his soul. Sap asks for what he thinks will lead him to romance with the girl he has his eye on, Devil gives him what he wishes for, but with a twisted reality.

In one bit he thinks he has all avenues sewn up, wishes to be alone with girl, quiet environment, much in love with each other, neither married to anyone else, probably a few other things, and the Devil makes them both nuns in a cloistered convent.

So, you'd better talk a little longer with Kuato.

DeadlyAccurate · Oct 31, 2006

kuatolives said:
How's this. My first book was about a building collapse in NYC. Two weeks after I finish the book, 9-11.

My next book was about a the levees in New Orleans breaking. Two weeks after I finish the book, Katrina.

My latest book is about a global nuclear war. With my luck we'll have one and again any chance of publication will be ruined.

For the love of all things good and holy, STOP WRITING BEFORE YOU DESTROY THE WORLD!!

Marlowe · Oct 31, 2006

Doctor Shifty said:
So, you'd better talk a little longer with Kuato.

Well, if he's Peter Cook, I can assume I'm screwed regardless. (Although Cook made such a pleasant devil in his way.) Although I'm not sure how "romantic, passionate relationship" can be misinterpreted as "nun-ish-ness."

NeuroFizz · Oct 31, 2006

What you call the players in your story is not as important as how interesting they are. It is disappointing to pick a name that has real meaning in the story, only to find it is not the best choice at this time because of King's book. But, put your mind to it. I bet you can find an equally good name, possibly one that brings a new twist to the story. Think irony.

Sucky serendipity

Marlowe

Duck of Death

janetbellinger

Carrie in PA

Write All The Words!

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

icerose

Lost in School Work

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

RedMolly

My beat is correct

Marlowe

Duck of Death

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

RedMolly

My beat is correct

kuatolives

Gonzo Journalist

RedMolly

My beat is correct

HorrorWriter

It's a new dawn. It's a new day.

Marlowe

Duck of Death

Doctor Shifty

Press Any Key

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

Marlowe

Duck of Death

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it