I’ve been thinking about writing, though. Go figure, ne? I’ve been thinking about new ideas. Genres. Markets overrun with angel stories, stories about Greek gods, and sob-inducing photos of what Loki will look like in the upcoming ‘Thor’ movie. (I’m not going to link pictures because, well, sob-inducing.)
But I’ve been wondering about the concept of ‘new’. If there are truly only six stories in the world, and every other story is a variation on it, how does one make something new? How does a person look at a fantasy story and construct something extending beyond elves, dwarfs, vampires, zombies, steampunk, etc. How do you send people to new planets and galaxies and make it fresh? How do you plop a set of characters in the middle of life-changing existentialism and have them make discoveries about themselves that other characters haven’t made millions of times.
Is it the author’s ability to place something beyond a cardboard character in an age-old situation? That certainly wasn’t the case for Star Wars, but the background sure was pretty and distinct for its genre. Is it a writer’s knack for redefining an age-old stereo-type? Look where that got Stephanie Meyer (you know, beyond massive movie and merchandise rights and an epic three-book, six-figure deal as a debut author).
What makes the old new again? What makes a story stand out? How do we accomplish ‘different, but not too different’? How do we create ‘new’?
I don’t have answers. I’m betting y’all have some thoughts on the matter, though.
It’s about finding an emotional connection with the reader. Sure, the stories are the same, but finding a way for your reader to see your characters in a way that makes them feel something will go a long way. I’ve forgiven some pretty tired stories in my time, just because the way they were written was so vibrant and electric it made me care.
The thing is that the so called “seven basic plots” are so incredibly rudimentary and vague. (I mean, “The Quest”? Come on.) Saying there are only seven plots is like saying that everything in the world is composed of atoms. It’s totally true, but it certainly doesn’t mean what it seems to imply. As always, it’s how you use it that counts.
The journey may be the same, its how we get there. You raised a very valid point but I think the thing is every story is new because the voice telling it is different. Love your blog and I am looking forward to doing some snooping here 🙂
Some tough questions in this one. I think it depends in part on what we consider a story. Because there is so much to an overall novel than the “six” known stories. This is one of the topics where I just don’t worry over it because I don’t have the answer. I can still write and I will write whatever I want. Sure, I chose to write Cinder Story on my blog instead of trying to write it for publication because Cinderalla adaptions are pretty much a dime a dozen but for the rest… I think they are distinct enough in character and story that the rest shouldn’t be a concern. But that’s me.
You’ve all got a good point. Maybe my issue isn’t that all the stories are the same, it’s that I’m fixating on that instead of on writing a great tale…something fantastic to consider <3
Sometimes this thought does scare me, but I think, in my humble opinion, if we enjoy what we write and our readers enjoy reading it, then we’ve written a success regradless of how new or unique it might be.
I don’t entirely agree with the idea that there are only six basic plots. If you boil every story down to bare bones, maybe, but you can’t create a story with just bones. Characters, setting, theme, and plot development all radically change a story. Even if you took a story and changed just one element, you can get something new. “Twilight” is a good example. Shakespeare is another. “Romeo and Juliet,” “West Side Story” and “Gnomeo and Juliet” are all the same basic story, but are worlds apart in terms of theme and audience.
I don’t have the answers either. But I think it has to do with taking the foundation or basic story and telling it from a unique perspective, voice, setting, time, and characterization while remaining true to yourself and the reader. How to do this? I have no clue. I just write what I love.
often all it takes for something old to become something new is something small…a little twist or a different point of view or something like that.
This is certainly a subject I’ve given a lot of thought to, as it would be so easy to write a cliched science fiction novel. I don’t think there is any easy answer. But I do believe you need to write what interests you and from that you will find that new something that will make it original.
I wish you the best of luck with your writing and I’m glad to have met you through A to Z.
Ellie Garratt