Are There Any Original Writing Ideas Left?
Do you have any original writing ideas?
A lot of artists struggle with originality. Of course we all want to be original, but is it possible? Is there anything new under the sun?
Some say there are no new stories, just remixed and rehashed versions of stories we’re all familiar with. Often, when someone calls a piece of work original, a close examination will reveal that it has roots in creative works that preceded it.
Most of us writers have had ideas that we shunned because we thought they were too similar to other stories. But just because your story idea is similar to another story, perhaps a famous one, should you give up on it?
Writing ideas come and go. If it’s true that originality is nothing more than putting together old writing ideas in new ways, then instead of giving up on a project that you think has been done before, you can simply make it your own.
A Little Guessing Game
Look at this way: everything already exists. The ideas, plots, characters — they’re already out there in someone else’s story. Originality isn’t a matter of coming up with something new, it’s a matter of using your imagination to take old concepts and put them together in new ways.
To test this theory, see if you can guess the following famous story:
A young orphan who is being raised by his aunt and uncle receives a mysterious message from a stranger, which leads him on a series of great adventures. Early on, he must receive training to learn skills that are seemingly superhuman. Along the way he befriends loyal helpers, specifically a guy and a gal who end up falling for each other. Our young hero is also helped by a number of non-human creatures. His adventures lead him to a dark and evil villain who is terrorizing everyone and everything that our hero knows and loves — the same villain who killed his parents.
If you guessed that this synopsis outlines Harry Potter, then you guessed right. But if you guessed that it was Star Wars, you’re also right.
This shows how two stories that are extremely different from one another can share many similarities, including the basic plot structure and character relationships, and it proves that writing ideas will manifest in different ways when executed by two different writers. You could probably take the story above and write your own piece, and it will turn out to be pretty unique even though two of the most famous tales from the last few decades are based on the same ideas.
Recycled Writing Ideas
I’m not advocating for writers to go out and dissect popular stories and then rewrite them with a new twist (although that’s not a bad idea). What I am advocating is seeing writing ideas through instead of casting them aside because they have something in common with a story you’ve read or seen on film or television.
Creative writing is about discovery, imagination, and sharing your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with readers. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had several writing ideas that seemed brilliant at first but later just seemed like a retelling of some old story that everyone already knew.
But lately I’ve been seeing stories in a new light. When I read a great novel or watch a mesmerizing movie, I often realize upon reflection that these works have common elements with lots of other stories. I don’t know if J.K. Rowling ever realized that Harry Potter had so much in common with Luke Skywalker. Whether she did or not, the lesson we can all take away is that she forged ahead and believed in the story that she wanted to tell.
So I’ve come to realize that creativity isn’t always coming up with something new; often, it’s simply finding new connections, perspectives, and combinations of elements. Letting go of your ideals regarding originality and reshaping them with this new understanding will send you soaring into less inhibited and better writing experiences.
Do you ever discard writing ideas that you feel have been done before? Do you find yourself on a constant quest for a story that is new and original? Share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment.
Melissa Donovan is a website designer and copywriter. She writes fiction and poetry and is the founder and editor of Writing Forward, a blog packed with creative writing tips and ideas.
Great article — I agree with it wholly. Everything you want to write in fiction has already been done before, and it’s the truth. I had to come face to face with that fact once when I’d written a story, and later discovered that it was too much similar to someone else’s when I wasn’t even aware of it! That’s why hunting for ideas is such a useless job, when there are so many better ones to do.
You might want to check the article I wrote on this subject two months ago: Why Hunting for Plots is Worthless http://www.writerstreasure.com/plot-hunting-worthless/
Thanks for the great post.
I think that it’s one of the many secrets that successful authors have unlocked. One of the biggest challenges in creativity is the removal of imaginary barriers and limitations — and this is just one of many. Thanks Idrees.
This was a great post. The search for an original writing idea drives me insane. I find myself constantly passing on ideas out of fear that I’ll be seen as a copycat. Your post has given me renewed hope that people will be able to see my stories not for how they are similar to other stories, but for the way I make them my own. Thanks for the morale boost!
You’re welcome Megan. Keep the faith and keep on writing!
Strive to be excellent. That is always rare enough to be its own kind of originality.
Originality for its own sake is almost always a failure. It may get an artist a little peer attention but the general public just shakes its head, if they even notice. Some would like to claim that this is because the masses are ignorant of aesthetics. I think it is because the masses responds to excellence foremost and only recognizes originality when it is good enough to be enjoyed despite its earth shattering uniquety.
Yes, I know uniquety is not a word. Failing to be excellent, I have no recourse but to attempt originality.
Great response, Mikel. Yes, I think one’s time is much better invested in striving toward excellence. Sometimes I wonder if originality ever did exist or everything single thing is just some new and improved version of something else. Even a light bulb, surely one of the most important inventions in the last 1000 years, is based on the sun.
Plato said there are no new ideas, but I think he ripped it off.
Ha! Your comment gave me a good laugh. Thanks
Yup, I think he ripped it off from King Solomon, Ecclesiastes…”There is nothing new under the sun.”
Ah, yes, seems that he might have done just that.
(Shame on me, I had this page open and comment ready but forgot to hit submit!)
I really enjoyed this post. It felt a little comforting knowing that original ideas are difficult if not impossible to come by. I recently had a conversation with a friend about how come up with ideas. I told her the story about when I was younger, I came up with an idea for a superhero who basically controlled electricity and traveled by a hover board, similar to what was in Back to the Future 2. On top of all of that, he was a black kid with some funky hair, so basically it was me. A couple years later I’m watching Kids WB and they are airing a new action cartoon called Static Shock… which I later researched was based on a comic book and it was almost the same exact character I created. So had I tried to sell this idea, I’d definitely come into some trouble.
Today, my ideas come from life experiences. I know people have gone through whatever I’m trying to explain, but I think it’s how I tell my story that may make it sound fresh and new. I’m also interested in retelling historical stories that aren’t as popular or well known. But I can go on all day about this topic so I’ll save it for a future blog post. Thanks for inspiring me yet again!
Many years ago, I outlined a story that was about a kid who went off to magic school. It was eerily similar to a novel that came out later — Harry Potter. And when I outlined my idea, I had thought, “Nobody’s going to read this; it’s silly.” Turns out I’m the one who’s silly. Still, I just looked over those old notes a few weeks ago and realized that though the basic premise was similar to Harry Potter, my story would have been vastly different (female lead character, based more in sci-fi than fantasy). Yeah, original ideas are impossible. But I’m definitely hooked on the notion of combining things in new ways. So, how about a school for vampires? Hehee.
I cosign that idea of vampire school. Surely vampires have to go somwhere to learn all about their history and proper vampire manners.
With all this hype over vampires and werewolves, I feel kinda bad about mummies and Frankenstein’s monster (and his bride). Surely they could have a revival.
I know! Many monsters are getting neglected. What about the beasts that aren’t monsters, like unicorns? Nobody says anything about them!
I wonder what kind of twist can be plotted using unicorns as the driver.
Or winged horses… Adult versions of children’s fairytales.
Love it!
I agree with Megan.
I often think my ideas have sprung from some of my favorite stories or movies and have scrapped them before I have started.
Its great to know im not going crazy and am very much not alone ! Thanks !
I think all my ideas come from my favorite stories. Right now, I’m really into Lost (yes, I’m way late on that bus). I would say that it comes across as perhaps the most original show/book/movie I have ever seen. But if I take it apart, I find out that it’s just a new way of combining and retelling a bunch of old characters and stories. In some cases, the show even references its own sources! White rabbits and “going down the rabbit hole” galore!
Much of the pleasure in reading is the recognition of a well-disguised plot. If what what we read is similar to what we have read, it is an easier read – less the challenge and more the gratification. The more original a work is, the less popular it will be – sadly.
I couldn’t agree more. I’m not a lazy reader, so I definitely appreciate plots and characters that present a decent mental challenge. Some people like to read (or watch TV and movies) just to relax and tune out. That’s fine once in a while, but mostly, I like art that makes me think.
I wrote a piece of flash fiction called Sherry’s Last stand, someone who commented on it said it reminded her of a movie were people were turned into wax figures. Ah I said, House of Wax 1953 Vincent Price! LOL – I never thought about my Sherry’s Last stand being similar, but I guess it is a new twist on an old idea… and that’s it really isn’t it ? Giving new and original twists to old ideas even if we didn’t realise it was an old idea in the first place! :O)
I think this happens to writers all the time. I’ve heard countless, woeful stories from writers who thought they’d created something original only to discover there were similar stories already in existence. I think the trick is not to try so hard to be original but to be brave enough to put your own story out there even if it does share similarities with other, (often more famous) works. I think the key is to combine different story elements in unique ways rather than try to come up with something that nobody has ever thought of before.
Well I think you are absolutely right, and really from what I’ve seen there is very little that has not already been written about, but that in itself should not stop us. I never occurred to me Whether Sherry was an original story or not, it was just a story I had to tell.
I think the value of storytelling is not in originality but in emotional content, but that’s just me
According to the Bible, “there’s nothing new under the sun.” If there was nothing new way back when that passage was written, how could there possibly be anything more than variations on themes today?
I discovered when I was reading Ray Bradbury’s bio on Wikipedia. He wrote a short story or book — I can’t remember which — about black people who colonize another planet, Mars, I think. They refuse to allow whites to join them at first, then through the course of the story they come to realize that discrimination is wrong, regardless of who’s doing it. When I read that, I decided to toss my idea. What could I do that would be significantly different from what Ray Bradbury did, even with having never read the story?
Reference: Ecclesiastes 1:9
” What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.”