I've found a story so good that I am depressed now.

[TheNovelist2000]

In the meantime the suspense is killing me. What story was it? Don't keep this gem to yourself!

Nah! It is a cuck story, where the cuck is humiliated, just to my liking. But I think it would be considered the psychotic works of a manic monster by a standard LW BTB lover here. It was published in Fetish, but this story, which has been compared to the likes of LOTR and Gothic cathedrals, would probably just receive one-bombs in LW.

 

[TheNovelist2000]

It's also worth pointing out (germane to the edited point, too) that Tolkien didn't get elves, dwarves and dragons from the depths of his own imagination - he 'borrowed' all of it from ancient stories. There are a bunch of Icelandic Sagas, and Irish folktales that form the fundamental basis for everything Tolkien wrote. He just put his own angle on the stories, synthesising them into something else.

Yes, I was trying to be economical with my words. Tolkien's work was beyond just elves, dwarves and dragons. I was implying the unique way he brought everything together across different worlds. But as you said, even that combination likely has echoes in existing mythology and other people’s work.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

You could probably get this very same result by prompting "ChatGPT, write the alphabet."

Ah, but when I do it, it takes months of delightfully painful confusion, disorganization, and pain. The five seconds ChatGPT would take to do it are but a pale, hollow shadow of the artistry of my mess!

 

[MelissaBaby]

Ok. I feel I didn't make my point clear enough in the post. The conundrum I have isn't about reading one good story in one genre and realising that I wouldn't be able to write another good story in that genre. I am talking about the pain the comes from having to omit some good stuff I could possibly be putting in my story simply because someone else thought it first.

I feel politicians can relate to me. Let's say your rival from another party has made a really good point that would absolutely work. For example, needing a tighter control on the border. But because it is a policy from your rival, you can't fully embrace it without being called out for plagiarism. If you change something in that policy to make it your own, you’re taking something perfect and making it less ideal.

Or imagine you are an architect who witnessed another person design the first-ever Gothic cathedral, with its pointed roofs and intricate details. You could take the design and build it exactly as it is, creating a perfect church. But if you make the roofs flat just to call it your own design, what you end up with is no longer the cathedral you admired. The cathedral simply isn’t amazing anymore.

A better analogy would be a performer covering another performer's music. Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" is just about perfect. So is Whitney Houston's. Aretha Franklin's "Respect" doesn't diminish Otis Redding's original, it puts a different spin on it and enhances it.

In your situation, I wouldn't see the other story as an obstacle, so much as a challenge. How do you know you can't write the same theme better until you've tried?

And if we are going to accede particular story elements to specific authors, I call dibs on cunnilingus.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

Nah! It is a cuck story, where the cuck is humiliated, just to my liking. But I think it would be considered the psychotic works of a manic monster by a standard LW BTB lover here. It was published in Fetish, but this story, which has been compared to the likes of LOTR and Gothic cathedrals, would probably just receive one-bombs in LW.

Ah, see... that's how I know it didn't actually move you; it wasn't something I wrote.

 

[nice90sguy]

My advice is to cheer up.

 

[stickygirl]

And if we are going to accede particular story elements to specific authors, I call dibs on cunnilingus.

I normally call la-la-la-la-nom-nom-nom on cunnilingus

 

[SimonDoom]

One of the banes of art is this idea that to have worth as an artist you must be unique and better than your fellow artists. That what you do must spring forth from your brain uninfluenced and totally different from what came before, and better.

No, it doesn't! Just have fun. Appreciate the works that have influenced you, and create your own stuff, and have fun with it. Don't be envious or intimidated.

 

[Dave88ITA]

Can you relate to it?

A few days ago, I came across a story on Lit. I won’t bother you with the details, but it was something I had always wanted to write about. The author also did it far better than I ever could have, even if I had come up with the idea first. How do you deal with this?

Now, even if I want to write a similar story, it would only be a cheap copy, and there would inevitably be elements from the original story, much to my disappointment. It’s like reading the LOTR trilogy and then realising that even if I start writing a fantasy novel about elves, dwarves, and dragons, and even if I do a decent job, the story would never reach the heights of the LOTR series unless I borrow elements incorporated by Tolkien. If I do that too much, it would feel like copying the story. If I don’t, the story would never live up to the series, defeating my purpose of writing a better fantasy story.

Edited (Added later on):

Ok. I feel I didn't make my point clear enough in the post. The conundrum I have isn't about reading one good story in one genre and realising that I wouldn't be able to write another good story in that genre. I am talking about the pain the comes from having to omit some good stuff I could possibly be putting in my story simply because someone else thought it first.

I feel politicians can relate to me. Let's say your rival from another party has made a really good point that would absolutely work. For example, needing a tighter control on the border. But because it is a policy from your rival, you can't fully embrace it without being called out for plagiarism. If you change something in that policy to make it your own, you’re taking something perfect and making it less ideal.

Or imagine you are an architect who witnessed another person design the first-ever Gothic cathedral, with its pointed roofs and intricate details. You could take the design and build it exactly as it is, creating a perfect church. But if you make the roofs flat just to call it your own design, what you end up with is no longer the cathedral you admired. The cathedral simply isn’t amazing anymore.

Couple points from my (inexperienced) side:
1. Write for yourself! Sometimes I write just because I get excited doing it
2. Don't compare yourself to others, you will never be the best but look at others and improve
3. Tell us what story you are talking about

 

[yowser]

Maybe I'm a garage band drummer, competent and careful. But I've been to hear Buddy Rich, Max Roach and Billy Cobham play. Those cats are out of this world good. I'll never touch them but lord I'll remember their drumming and shake my head in awe, I've bathed in genius.

But I like my band, the locals appreciate us, someone gets some enjoyment. I'll keep pounding and get better.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I normally call la-la-la-la-nom-nom-nom on cunnilingus

You’re one of those better to give than receive people, aren’t you?

 

[Dave88ITA]

You’re one of those better to give than receive people, aren’t you?

Not a bad way to be

 

[nice90sguy]

Not a bad way to be

worth the lockjaw and neck cramp imo

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Given that there are only six stories in the world (or is it seven? I never know...)

About the same number of thread topics here.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

About the same number of thread topics here.

1. AI, AI, and more AI
2. Can I post/expand someone else's story if...?
3. How to "fix" the "broken" rating system (I'm angry!!!)
4. A new (data-driven!) superstition about what will get your story through faster
5. How to stroke your ego and put others down: Insult the category where they write
6. Do the rules REALLY apply to me too? What if I justify it with details that don't change anything?
7. Let's have some off-topic fun

(And now I've probably, once again, pissed off everyone, so... bring on the next wave of 1-bombs.)

 

[Andreas_Kreuz]

pissed off everyone

not everyone is pissed off easily. Particularly if your analysis has merits.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm sorry for your dilemma, but don't use that as an excuse to not write a story with the same premise.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Around here, even pissing on people might not piss them off.

 

[Djmac1031]

Ive considered writing a zombie apocalypse story and a vampire story and gone through this conundrum. Because deep down i know whatever I try to write in these genres will be heavily influenced by far better stories that have come before mine and the best I can do is try to borrow elements from them without it feeling like a blatant rip off.

Still, at some point i may still try it.

My biggest and, IMO, best attempt at a Supernatural Fantasy story was heavily influenced by lots of other stories and in some cases I embraced it and of course fully acknowledged the influence.

There's nothing wrong with showing our influences in our work, as long as we aren't plagerizing and make an effort to make it our own.

 

[Statius]

Around here, even pissing on people might not piss them off.

What's more intimidating? Pissing on someone and pissing them off?

Or

Pissing on someone and turning them on?

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

If you really like it, you could be pissing and moaning.

 

[Statius]

Ive considered writing a zombie apocalypse story and a vampire story and gone through this conundrum. Because deep down i know whatever I try to write in these genres will be heavily influenced by far better stories that have come before mine and the best I can do is try to borrow elements from them without it feeling like a blatant rip off.

Still, at some point i may still try it.

My biggest and, IMO, best attempt at a Supernatural Fantasy story was heavily influenced by lots of other stories and in some cases I embraced it and of course fully acknowledged the influence.

There's nothing wrong with showing our influences in our work, as long as we aren't plagerizing and make an effort to make it our own.

Speaking in literary terms, actual literature as art- 2 of the greatest examples in my opinion- Virgil's works we're all based on Greek texts, not just Homer, and Dante's Divine Comedy- not simply influenced by Virgil but other poetic forms that he used for his own ends; in both cases the results were something new and never seem before, and obviously brilliant. Not to compare erotica to these two, but the point is the same.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Speaking in literary terms, actual literature as art- 2 of the greatest examples in my opinion- Virgil's works we're all based on Greek texts, not just Homer, and Dante's Divine Comedy- not simply influenced by Virgil but other poetic forms that he used for his own ends; in both cases the results were something new and never seem before, and obviously brilliant. Not to compare erotica to these two, but the point is the same.

In a pop culture context, John Ford made westerns that Akira Kurosawa transformed into Samurai movies that were a main inspiration for George Lucas in making Star Wars.

 

[MrHereWriting]

Can you relate to it?

“The ugly fact is books are made out of books, the novel depends for its life on the novels that have been written.”

― Cormac McCarthy

 

[Statius]

In a pop culture context, John Ford made westerns that Akira Kurosawa transformed into Samurai movies that were a main inspiration for George Lucas in making Star Wars.

Exactly! 7 samurai from the 7 Against Thebes!