Ever been compared to

popmuze · Jul 9, 2007

A famous and/or published writer when you started out or at any time since?

As I said somewhere else, a teacher once compared a few sentences of mine to Bernard Malamud, which made me feel great, until he ripped the rest of the page to shreds.

Later someone in a workshop said my stuff reminded them of Morris Renek. I said, "Who?" Then I picked up his books for a nickel apiece on the internet. Wow, I only wish I could write like him.

When I first did YA novels I was gunning for "the next Paul Zindel," but never got close.

reenkam · Jul 9, 2007

I had a teacher tell me my stories reminded her of Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings...

Personally, I didn't see it at all and I don't think I write like either author and the story wasn't remotely similar to either except that they're all fantasy...but I think she was trying to be nice. :Shrug:

Another time I had someone tell me that they could tell that I was trying to write like Tolkien and they could see all of the references to the books in my short story...awkward part is that I've only read one Tolkien (The Hobbit) and I had only seen the first movie, at the time. Oh, and my story took place in 16th century England. Apparently my place names were "totally from The Lord of the Rings." It was odd...because all my place names were actual cities in England at the time (and now, too).

Basically, I hate being compared to anyone...because it never makes sense.

JEMcGee · Jul 9, 2007

I have yet to describe my novel to anyone and not have them tell me it reminds them of something they have read - usually something different than others have said and most times someone I have never even heard of.

At first it really bothered me because I felt like the comparison was indicating a suspicion that I was copying others, but now I just ignore it because everything has been done before, and since this is futuristic sci-fi it's not unusual to predict something is going to happen that someone else has already predicted since we are all relying on the same past and present.

As for my writing style - nobody has compared me to anyone. I don't know if that's good or bad. *L*

WordGypsy · Jul 9, 2007

My mom is dead set I'll be the "female version of Stephen King."

Gotta love mom!

BlueTexas · Jul 9, 2007

I was compared once, but now that you ask, I'll be damned if I can remember who it was. The comparison was made by my FIL though, so take that FWIW.

Alexandra Little · Jul 9, 2007

When I first tried a writer's critique board, someone commented, "I've never read Lord of the Rings fanfic on here before" and I was like (in a growly voice): "It. Isn't. Fanfic. It's mine, I wrote it, it came to me!"

So I really dont like comparisons anymore. They're usually wrong or unflattering in my case.

christinex · Jul 9, 2007

My original stuff, not so much. But several people have compared my Star Wars fanfic to Timothy Zahn's work, who is definitely the best of the profic writers as far as I'm concerned. So that made me feel good.

Azraelsbane · Jul 9, 2007

A friend's pastor that served as a beta reader for my first novel said I reminded him of Kurt Vonnegut.

I've also been told that I write like Tolkien on a drug trip... I'm really not sure how the two mesh, although admittedly the comparisons were based on different genres.

I basically think both people were just out of their minds. I don't think I write anywhere near well enough to be compared to those two.

maestrowork · Jul 9, 2007

Elmer Fudd.

elisabeth · Jul 9, 2007

Not writing, but one of my art teachers said my painting looked like one of Cezanne's!

johnrobison · Jul 9, 2007

I've written about my experience interviewing publishers for Look Me in the Eye. One of the questions I asked was, "Can you show me some examples of books you've done that you'd compare to mine?"

As you can imagine, that produced a flurry of comparisons, with each publisher choosing their own set.

I read every one of the books they handed me, and I saw something of my own writing in each one.

The moral: You can find some basis to compare your self to almost any other writer, given 300+ pages to study. In some cases I agreed about the comparisons, while others seemed a stretch.

BlueBadger · Jul 9, 2007

I've been compared to Neil Gaiman, whom I've never read (save for "Coraline," which was excellent. I should be lucky enough to write that well) and Douglas Adams, whom I've never really liked.

johnzakour · Jul 9, 2007

Douglas Adams by cinescape:

http://www.mania.com/31296.html

Simon R Green by Barnes and Noble:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=38RDES4IA5&isbn=0756400902&itm=1

There have been others, as every reviewer has their own take on my voice.

I much rather have people be compared to me though.

JoNightshade · Jul 9, 2007

My mom, who is no expert on the subject thank goodness, compared me once to Francine Rivers. She has not made that mistake again.

(Actually I've never read anything of hers so I shouldn't be so offended, but... Christian women's fiction? How good can it be? I don't like Christian fiction or women's fiction, despite being a member of both groups!)

My creative writing teacher compared me to a couple of people I cannot remember since I had not heard of them. But basically she really liked the spareness of my prose, and the subtle way I approach sensitive issues. (Incest, disability, etc.)

People have compared me personally to Louisa May Alcott, which is not too bad I guess. Not my writing style, though, just my personality.

Lyra Jean · Jul 9, 2007

I was told that all my stories sound like episodes of Twilight Zone. The old one.

Which is nice cause that's what I was going for.

Okay I confess. It was my mom who said that.

triceretops · Jul 9, 2007

When I was writing for the magazine markets I must have gone through at least 300 submission/rejections. I got to know several publishers and editors personally as a result of this frequency. One compared me to King, and I hadn't read anything at all by King during the time. But when I did, I said, "Yep, that's me--verbose with run-ons all over the place."

Another comparison was to Roald Dahl, and I had NO idea who this was until I looked it up. Charlie and the Chocolate factory, sez I? Ummm...couldn't quite figure it. But there it is.

Tri

megan_d · Jul 10, 2007

I get a lot of Neil Gaimen comparisons, but I suspect that's more because I write urban fantasy and less because I'm as awesome a writer as he is.

gingerwoman · Jul 10, 2007

I just get. "I've never read anything like it." lol

Inkdaub · Jul 10, 2007

I was compared to Camus by a crazy guy that began calling me at home to tell me how great I was. He didn't have even a slight grasp of the plot and soon began referring to me by my protagonist's name. I don't put my phone number on my title pages anymore.

Xx|e|ph|e|me|r|al|xX · Jul 10, 2007

Xx|I don't know if this comparison is something of which to be proud, but it made me feel pretty good...
On a site on which I posted my story (well, just the first 6 chapters), one girl (who, let me say, was not a friend at the time, just an acquaintance) said that "as a die-hard fan of Anne Rice", she liked my story "as much as...no, maybe more than any of her stories".

But other than that, I've got nothing. My mom's said I'm better than the authors she's read recently (she's not a big reader, so that's only one or two XD). But still, that's my mom.

I really haven't gotten enough feedback, especially from real readers/writers, so I just don't have much to go by, much less comparisons.

|xX

David I · Jul 10, 2007

A professor who liked my work said it reminded him of Graham Greene, but other people have said John Barth...

Go figure.

Nakhlasmoke · Jul 10, 2007

Graham Greene? Niiiiice.

My sister said David Gemmell meets Neil Gaiman, which was sweet, but er...no.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 10, 2007

In college, one of my writing instructors said I sounded like Raymond Carver, but I never saw that.

More recently someone said I sounded like Nelson DeMille, which seems more likely to me.

Unfortunately, even if I sound like Carver or DeMille it hasn't helped me get published.

Bartholomew · Jul 10, 2007

I've been compared to "A writhing chipmunk wallowing across the keyboard in it's death throws." Probably my proudest moment.

Spiny Norman · Jul 10, 2007

I've been compared to Douglas Adams and Dave Barry when I'm feeling funny, Hunter S and Salinger when I wasn't. Although it's undeniable that they've all made an impact on me, I still would prefer to be my own thing.

I think it's possible that A. They just picked famous names or B. the curriculum of literature my readers stick to is pretty limited.

Still, you take what you can get.

Ever been compared to

Last of a Dying Breed

aka cupcake

Back from self-exile land.

What a desolation.

Agony is defeat

Fear the Death Ray

A Free Range Aspergian

Knows notebooks can kill.

Dangerous with a Keyboard

has finally arrived

Two years old now.

Falling in the milk

wrapped in plastic

Bored Fanatic

yes

Court Jester

Comic guy