View RSS Feed

Comic relief

Gut Shot

Rate this Entry
5 Comments
by
kater
, May 6th, 2010 at 05:11 AM (542 Views)
I know this happens to writers, I've heard several talented people bemoan just such a situation but I was never really sympathetic because it hadn't happened to me. Now it has.

For the last ten days solid I've been writing script for a webcomic idea that's got me by the short and curlies. I've poured in more of myself than I would like and come to really enjoy writing the protagonist, to the point where I'm madly laughing at some of the dialogue I've written (I know, right)

Anyway the base for the whole story is a single idea, that I didn't expect to be new, but I thought was rare enough that it would seem fresh should I manage to attract an artist willing to work on it. Between looking for an artist on various sites yesterday I surfed to a few of my favourite writers websites.

Right there on Warren Ellis's site was a small post with link about this wonderful one-panel a week story by one of the most talented, but slow, artists of recent times, Travis Charest. I mean it's a gorgeous piece of art and so I start reading. Just before the very last update of the story I get this sinking feeling and sure enough BANG. The last panel shows exactly the same idea I'd been basing my story on, except it's drawn by a stupidly talented artist.

Now I am stuck, in my head, with the 'Oh you borrowed from Charest' voice. Sure I can still write it but damned if all the excitement hasn't bled out.

Submit "Gut Shot" to Digg Submit "Gut Shot" to del.icio.us Submit "Gut Shot" to StumbleUpon Submit "Gut Shot" to Google Submit "Gut Shot" to Facebook

Tags: None Add / Edit Tags
Categories
Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Holbrook's Avatar
    I feel for you!!!

    Been there done that! The week I finished the first draft of Hand of Glory I saw Ben Elton's The First Casualty in a book shop. Which guess what, its about a murder in the trenches on the Western Front, 1917, Third Battle of Ypres!!!

    All of which is the beginning of HOG!

    Thankfully his story is a straight murder thriller!
  2. tmso's Avatar
    Ah, dude, that just sucks. I feel for you, too. That sort of happened to me when I read The Road. It's almost exactly like a story I've had running around in my head for years. Then this awesome writer not only writes it, but wins a Pulitzer.

    Put is aside and come back to it later, you bonded with the protag, that is uniquely you. Hopefully, with some time away from it, you can approach it again with fresh eyes and fall in love with the project again.
  3. kater's Avatar
    Thanks guys, it was just this insane sinking feeling reading the penultimate page and going 'yep, I know what happens next, ah !&*!$$'.

    Rationally I know common idea space means there will always be overlap with someone, somewhere's work. But did it really have to be such a talent who absolutely nails the reveal/moneyshot? I am so not done sulking
  4. expatrie's Avatar
    That happened to William Gibson while writing Neuromancer. Blade Runner came out. And look how that turned out for Bill. He won the triple crown. I'd keep riding that horse even if it kicked you.
  5. kater's Avatar
    heh, funny story, it didn't turn out to be exactly what I thought it was going to be. The new update after what I'd read from Mr Charest's webcomic had a significant deviation from what I thought I'd seen. It is similar, but there is a distinct and important difference. So, lesson there about counting your chickens and all that.