HELP - In need of advice

[donutsweeper]

My bigbang is nearing the 11,000 word mark and I was about to begin to drop hints to what the alien menace was, except now I have a problem.  I just read the Torchwood book  Another Life, and while it's not exactly the alien storyline I was going for there are plenty of similarities.  I don't know what to do.  Should I:

1- Write it the way I planned and hope no one notices the similarities or accuses me of copying the book's premise?

2- Try to figure out a way to rewrite the alien menace to limit the similarities as much as possible?

3- Give up, since there is no way to alter the story to the point that there aren't some basic similarities or assumptions?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

I say continue as you've begun, because this is Who-verse and if we had to do something different from *anything* that's been done, we couldn't write. Seriously. It's all been done somewhere in some obscure audio somewhere, if no where else.

You can put a disclaimer on it if you like, saying that you know there are similarities, but they're coincidental. Which they are.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I guess you do have a point. Between TV and books and audios every story has been done. And it's not like TW seemed to care that "Adam" had some basic similarities to "Border Princes."

It's just... *sigh* and *very big sigh*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

Yeah, I know. It's discouraging when you have this nice shiny idea and somebody else has written it first. But yours will be different enough, I bet!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

have you read "another life"?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

No, I haven't read any of the TW books, or the new school Who ones. ::winces:: Is it really, really similar?

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

And it's not like TW seemed to care that "Adam" had some basic similarities to "Border Princes."

Exactly what I was thinking. If people worried about basic premise/plot similarities, we would have no more sci fi, ever again. I agree with others - it's what you do with it that makes it unique.

I know it's disappointing initially, though. I've been worrying since KKBB that my Jack mpreg epic adventure plot was going to be done on the show. I think I'm safe, now, but there was that panic.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

panic can take over your brain though. Glad that you appear to be safe!

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Don't let it! Your story is going to be *good*, and *yours*, whether or not there is another story out there with some things that are similar.

And 11,000 words. Wow. Good job!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I agree with _medley_ - all sci fi stories have basic similarities with each other. It's what you do with them that counts, and I know you'll write something that's you. Besides, if it's good enough for the series (Adam=Border Princes), it's good enough for us!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

:) good point. The alien aspect of my story is more of a subplot with characterization and the like more important so I suppose it's not as bad as it could have been. Quite frustrating though!

[k-haldane.livejournal.com]

Do it as you intended. *You* know it wasn't plagarism. If you and they had a similar idea, it just means it was a good idea. ; )

Besides, what if you spent weeks making alterations, only to have another book come out, which matches the new storyline?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I could see that happening too. I think some minor alterations might make a big difference, I'll have to see what I can do within reason

[chatona.livejournal.com]

I'd just write it the way you planned. After all, you didn't copy the book's premise, you came up with the idea yourself and if people don't see that, they're the ones who're wrong, aren't they?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*hugs* you guys are great

[matsujo9.livejournal.com]

I agree with the others, write as you intended!

If you're worried about people thinking you copied, put in a disclaimer that you had this idea before you even read the book.

Also, if it helps, even the producers and creators of the show take their ideas from other shows.

I'm pretty sure it was the special effects guy who created Mary's alien form in "Greeks", that kept referring to the movie "The Abyss" and saying "and we wanted it to look like that alien. That's a great movie. Everyone should see it. I loved that alien."

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I guess I'll see how it turns out and how close the final product is to the book. That's pretty true though- people are always borrowing ideas

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

I haven't read anyone else's comments on this yet, so forgive me if I am just repeating anything already said.

I personally think that no one could be expected to read and see every single thing that is associated with a fandom. If you've read the book after you started the fiction than you didn't copy the alien, even if it is similar. Having read Another Life, as well, I imagine you're going to do a much better job with it than that author did, anyway. If you're really worried about it, just put a disclaimer on the chapter where the menace starts to become similar saying that you realize there are similarities but they are unintentional, blah, blah, blah.

With the entire history of Doctor Who, I'm sure most anything anyone comes up with is similar to something that's already happened. It's no different, in my mind, than writing that Rose's birthday is July 19th or whatever and then having a later episode set it out in stone as a different date. You couldn't be expected to know.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

thanks- I'll probably wind up doing that then- if it turns out similar enough

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I basically agree with what everyone else here said (I know, hardly helpful). That being said, I can't wait to read this.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

no it IS helpful. I was in complete panic mode and it's great when people say the obligatory 'chill out you're freaking over nothing'

I still have no idea if I'll ever finish it. I gotta get my head in the game

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Well, glad I could help, then.

...why do I suddenly have a Disney song stuck in my head?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

because your caffeine intake is too low to fight against it?

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

The world is determined to drive me back to caffeine. Disney songs are pretty damn convincing.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

*pets you and sends chocolate*
That's a pain.

I'm with _medley_ on this one carry on regardless and disclaim/acknowledge as appropriate when you post. *smooshes you*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*gladly takes chocolate* thanks