Friday, November 9, 2012

Feature & Follow (2): Similarities

FF 2012 Feature & Follow #120

Feature & Follow Friday is hosted by both Alison Can Read & Parakunkee’s View. This is a great way to gain blog followers for book bloggers, follow other blogs, and get to know each other. Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we get to answer. You can find more info about this meme here.

Question: Do you mind books with similar ideas to other books? Similar concepts, backgrounds, retellings or pulled-to-publish fanfic?

My on-the-spot answer is, not necessarily. The reality is that there are very few, if any, original ideas out there. I actually enjoy reading an author's twist on a particular subject, myth, etc, or even their version of an old story being retold. I love that when my kids ask me about zombie or vampire stories, for example, (and they do, which is quite funny), and want to know about them, I can say it depends on who is talking about them or who wrote about them. That's the fun of writing and reading fiction. You can create what you want and make it your own. But authors should still make the attempt to be as original as they can and not rip-off someone else's creativity. As for contemporary novels, I guess the same holds true. How many different ways can someone fall in love? Mix around the characters and the settings and you've got a new story. But they are fun to read and get lost in. Now, there are many "bad boys" falling for "virgins" out there, and that story can get a bit old. But if an author can create something fresh or is just an exceptional writer and can put their own personal touch on it, I don't have a problem with a little similarity. I've not read much fan-fiction, so I don't have much of an opinion there. Just don't be a straight-up copycat or plaigarist - that's just not cool or professional.

20 comments:

  1. I like your answer. Well explained!!

    New Follower :)

    My response @ Marilyn's Mystery Blog

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  2. I love reading different people's views on the same story! Great answer. :D

    The Readdicts Feature & Follow Friday post

    New follower here!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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  3. Hopping through. New follower! The bad boy for virgin story is definitely overused. But often I'll still enjoy it despite a few eye rolls.
    My Hop

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  4. New Follower! I like your answer. Your blog background is very pretty!
    http://racingtoread.blogspot.com/2012/11/feature-follow.html

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  5. We think alike. Thanks for visiting. I'm a new follower!

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  6. Ugh, I'm totally over the whole bad boy falling for the virgin bit. In fact, I'm a little sick of bad boys in general, that's why I like Hunger Games, aside from when Peeta was brainwashed, he wasn't a bad boy. It was refreshing :) Anyway, I'm your newest GFC follower, I found you through Parajunkee's FF :)

    -Kate the Book Buff
    Recent Post: Feature and Follow: Whaddya Think of Bookish Copycats and Fanfic?

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  7. Great answer! That's exactly what I was trying to say, but you managed so much better.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  8. Great answer!! Following you back :)

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  9. I also love seeing how imaginative an author can be with his or her take on a fairytale or a story from mythology. I think that the best retellings are memorable in their own right.

    New GFC follower. Our FF

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  10. That is a really well thought out answer! I am a new follower via GFC and twitter!

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  11. Nice answer!

    Thanks for visiting and following my blog! I follow you now too!



    Have a GREAT weekend!

    NEW Follower :D

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  12. Hey Jenny! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier and following, am returning the favor via GFC. Thanks so much! I really like the color scheme of your blog as well. Very pretty. :)

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  13. I don't mind similar ideas, but I don't want blatant copy cats. I like originality in my reading material though I won't say no to a great fairy tale or classic retelling. New follower.

    Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews

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  14. It does happen and it's true that's it's unavailable.

    Thanks for stopping by the blog! :) New follower.

    Louisse @ The Soul Sisters

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  15. i like the way you worded that.. I definitely agree. Thanks for stopping by! Following you back via GFC.

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  16. Yep, I'm with you on this one. I don't mind if the basic storyline is similar to another book as long as a new slant is put on it. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm following back.

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  17. Great answer! I'm now following you via GFC so feel free to visit whenever you get a chance...

    The Scarf Princess

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I love comments, so please feel free to share your thoughts.