[jeff p]

hello,

I have an idea for a story. Its based on a fairly common theme, but with a unique twist.
I'm concerned that it may have been done before, and so have conducted internet searches to look for similarities. So far I haven't found any, but i know my searches shouldn't be limited to general key words alone.

I'm wondering if there is a website or directory of sorts, which lists all published novels/short stories and summaries?


Where would you recommend I search?


Thanks

Jeff

[KatG]

I recommend that you not worry about it and just write your story.

[kmtolan]

I recommend that you not worry about it and just write your story.

What she said. Another fyi - it is the depth of the characters that tend to sell a book, so don't forget them.

Kerry

[MrBF1V3]

Something like an online masterplots?

EVERYTHING has been done before in some way. Listen to the peanut gallery and write what you want to.

B5

[jeff p]

Not sure i agree with the comments.

I would agree that broad humanistic themes have all been retold over again, but duplicating plot ideas seem to fall under more scrutiny.


Since there's no response to my directory question, i can assume nothing exists.... a pity. :-(

Jeff

[Lucanus]

I do agree with the broad comments. The chances of you exactly repeating something someone else did whether intentionally or otherwise is pretty slim. Everything has been done. Now if you are thinking of writing a about a boy wizard named Barry Cotter at the Pigfreckles school for the magically inclined I think we may have hit an impasse. The general concept of "copying" from other works always reminds me of the line from the song The Fly. "Every artist is a cannibal. Every poet is a thief. All kill for inspiration and sing about the grief." In other words, you are going to borrow no matter what you do and if you are racking your brain trying to remember where an idea came from to no success or searching really diligently to find your story's twin out there in the ether somewhere and you can't find it, it's pretty safe to assume that you're, well...safe. Start writing. Having said that goodbye internet. Time for me to go follow that advice and slash away at my own writing. :D

[KatG]

Not sure i agree with the comments.

I would agree that broad humanistic themes have all been retold over again, but duplicating plot ideas seem to fall under more scrutiny.


Since there's no response to my directory question, i can assume nothing exists.... a pity. :-(

Jeff

Not really. It's not the plots, which are usually some form of suspense story; it's the details, the character portrayals, the themes the author is exploring and more importantly how the author tackles them; the dialogue and the author's own writing style and use of language that has the impact. And we're talking about thousands of stories over decades, often with vastly different narrative structures. Your twist has likely been done. Doesn't mean that it wouldn't be interesting for you to do or that you won't surprise any readers with it.

And no, there is no directory of plots. Even if there were, though, and you tried very hard to make sure yours was nothing like anything major, you'll still get accused of being a pale rip-off artist imitation of some major name by some readers if you're fantasy, and of not being sufficiently scientific if it's SF.

[Lucanus]

you'll still get accused of being a pale rip-off artist imitation of some major name by some readers if you're fantasy, and of not being sufficiently scientific if it's SF.

Cheerful thought. :eek:

[jeff p]

I agree with whats been said... However in my case, my initial question was in reference to a short story I had in mind.. not much room for character development and details. The central plot is pretty much the story itself... It would be a shame if it had already been told before.

Either way, I've done all i can in terms of searching.


Jeff

[Expendable]

You could try The "Basic" Plots in Literature (http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html) or TVTropes.org (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage)?


jeff p, did you see "Red Riding Hood" at the movies? Wanna guess what it's about?

Wanna guess how many 'boys who discover they have a special destiny' stories I've read?

It really doesn't matter if it's been done before - what makes a difference is how you tell the story.