The Concept Of Originality

My book is often compared to other dystopian novels such as ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Maze Runner’. Those I speak to seem to believe that my book is a knockoff of those I mentioned previously. Some make comments in jest while others seem to have sincerity behind their words. At first this upset me. A concept that I believed to be original and a concept I worked years on was so quickly dismissed because it bared a resemblance to other novels. I’m sure you have felt this way too.

However, I later realised that the comparison isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s something I could use to my advantage. I could advertise my books to those who liked Maze Runner and The Hunger Games and use it as an opportunity to grow my brand.

As I am writing this, I still don’t believe that Nuts and Bolts is a knockoff to either one of those dystopians I have mentioned. I have worked hard on the plot and focused on originality. I came up with the idea myself and I don’t think they resemble each other in any way, other than the clear class divide. That being said, I know my piece isn’t entirely unique or original and I know people will have opinions on it. I embrace that. Nowadays, originality is a very rare thing. Every book or piece of entertainment is influenced by something in some way, whether that is subconsciously or not.

Of course, copying an idea and refusing to transform it in some way is just plain wrong (unless given permission), but not being original isn’t a bad thing at all. As I said, originality is a rare (or even non-existent) thing. Just because a concept resembles another, that doesn’t mean that the author hasn’t developed the idea to put their own spin on it or make it fit a certain audience. Plucking an idea out of thin air and not relating it to an experience you once had is near impossible. Everything is born from something.

If you have been told your work is like another, please don’t feel ashamed. That is just one person’s opinion. As long as you enjoy the idea and have developed it in your own way, then nothing can take that away from you. See it as a positive and a chance to gain a larger audience. Have confidence in your idea and remember that it is unique to you.

People will always have opinions on things, it’s human nature. This isn’t wrong. It should be something to adore. Opinions are what help us learn and develop. Even if said opinions are upsetting and offensive, transforming them into a positive is such a powerful experience. I have done this and trust me, I felt more confident about my book than ever before. The comments I received were from people who had never read my work and compared my synopsis to other novels. To begin with, I was saddened by these opinions and began to question my idea but when I got home and re-read my outline, I had never felt more confident. Those comments allowed me to see my book in a different light and put a new spin on what I had made. I added new scenes and developed my characters further, using their comments as a drive to make my work more unique. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be upset when your work is compared to another, it means you should use it to take another stance on what you have written. Unless you had rewritten an existing book word for word, I am certain your story is unique in its own way.

Remember, just because one person may believe that your story is like another doesn’t mean someone else will. Everyone is different.