This article is
about the variety of ways any writer can use to prevent themselves accidentally
becoming a ‘copycat’.
To start with, it
is important to note that copying from others is different from using the
general idea. In fantasy, especially, most ideas have been done, but not every
idea has been done in every way. These ideas are sometimes referred to as
‘genre property’ and include the concepts such as magical schools (Unseen
Academy, Hogwarts), apprentices (Magician, The Magician’s Apprentice) and
trolls, wizards, and pretty much everything else associated with fantasy.
To stop yourself
from becoming just another copy that isn’t quite as good as the original, you
have to become the original. You need to come up with something unique, clever,
and new. I’m not going to lie and say this is easy, it isn’t – especially if
you’re writing something like epic fantasy with dragons and knights. The way
you go about creating something different will vary depending on the sub-genre,
but there is one basic rule for all sub-genres.
Think. Now, this
may seem to be the obvious thing to do, but it is surprising how often it is not
done. If you know your story is going to be about a man who’s been an orphan
since childhood but is going to learn more about his parents’ death through
means of magic then you have a good start. By knowing what your plot is, it is
much easier to make a few changes.
Let’s think about
the first part of that plot; this man is an orphan. That’s definitely been done
before, but comes under genre property. The unique part here has got to be how
he became an orphan and how it has affected him. You would be copying if you
had a dark wizard kill them and this caused you’re character to be the chosen one
who is the only one who can kill this dark wizard. Perhaps making it an
accident that killed the parents, but an unknown one. This helps with the
second plot element and enhances the first one.
So, your character
is going to find out about the death of his parents. This is more generic and
so safer from you accidentally copying someone else. From the first plot
element, you have created a unique death… or perhaps a unique known death.
Maybe they’re not dead. If so, why did people think they were? Be adventurous
here. Don’t have characters think the father’s death was caused by them falling
off a cliff and then have the dad come back and explain how he climbed down the
cliff face and had rocks thrown at him by an assailant but luckily he managed
to escape. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has already done this. If you want to do
something similar then perhaps have it be more dangerous, or maybe have
somebody else save the character.
As you can see,
there are a number of ways to stop yourself from copying and still have the
same plot as you wanted. However, there is the issue of knowing what has been
written. It is impossible to read everything and so you must do your research.
If your plot is good and you haven’t read it before then a quick search on the
internet is all that’s needed to make sure you are being original. Use Google
to look for keywords from your plot. Using our previous plot example typing, ‘fantasy
orphan magic dark wizard’ into Google had Harry Potter as the second result.
Of course, what I
have explained is only the tip of the iceberg. To explain all the ideas under
the sun would require forever and a day. Let your imagination flow from your
pen and by thinking outside the box, you can prevent copying becoming a spanner
in the works.
That paragraph beautifully
flows to the other method of being unique. This is the one I employ most: Embrace the Cliché. That, however, is one for
another day, and another newsletter article.
So, I leave you
with this quote from Terry Pratchett.
Most modern
fantasy just rearranges the furniture in Tolkien’s attic.
Hope this helps,
Matt
B
Also available at Be Younique (WDC)
