Well, that's a deep and pondering questions sister! I do believe we pull from all areas when we write. Our life experiences, things we've heard and things we've read. Some of us never grew out of our imagination...it just grew with us. Heeehehehe!
I have pondered this question now that I write a daily blog. How do I keep my thoughts straight from all of the things I have read. How do I not let the years color my mind and my thoughts. I am always afraid of rewriting history. I think this a very good example of how our minds fill in the blanks. I think this will give me pause when next I write again. Thanks!
I guess if you think you've heard those words before you write it, you probably have. But,if you think about it you see basic plots in all stories. Man against man (or woman) Man against nature and so on. I read somewhere that there are no new plots just new stories using those plots.
I'm pretty sure (although not positive) that JK Rowling wasn't the first person to write about wizards or wizard school. Was Twilight the first time we saw young vampires?
All of that said and I didn't really answer your question did I? Yep, I don't know the answer. I continue to write and hope it's my own. :)
Great post, makes one go hmhmhm ! I myself just write what I experiance personaly, I have writen some stories in my past , I did a lot of creative writing as a teen, it is hard to have an all original! what with all that we see, hear and read it takes quite the mind and imagination to make sure it hasnt been writen before. Have a great day !
Another writer friend of mine once told me that all the stories have been written, it's how each writer takes that story and makes it their own that matters.
If I find myself writing something that reminds me of something else, I go and look it up. If it's too similar - actual words and phrases - I start over. If it's just another take on an archetype or on an old story ( boy meets girl, orphaned kid overcomes evil, etc.) I keep going.
All stories have already been told, already shared, already known but it is the individuals passion and flavoring that make whatever the tale their own. It's like when I make a "thing". Somewhere, someone has already had that thought, done that do, I can only hope that I have enough of myself in it that it is authentic. Blah, Blah, Blah, yada, yada, uh-huh. Just do what makes you happy and to h with whatever else there is. XOXO The Olde Bagg
I don't think you have to worry about it as we all are nfluenced by many things, not only what we have read or seen on the TV screen or the movies. As one of the commenters said there are only so many really big topics one can write about--man against nature-- man against man-- and so forth. And what happened to the idea that we are all different even to our fingerprints. Think of your thoughts and writings as your fingerprints---yours and yours alone. Just think of the people you know, the ones you live with--aren't they all different as well as in some ways they are the same? Trust your own thoughts and instincts!
Wow, Gail! Those are some deep thoughts. I'm impressed. I like to think like that a lot and people think I'm weird if I talk about it. I love how freely you share your thoughts, writings and art. Kudos to you!
~Lisa
ps I am loving the way your blog looks and blog description...too cool!
It could be a problem, couldn't it, writing again what has already been written? But don't worry, you give your own words and twists to the story and it will be interesting again and people will gladly read it. Now I wonder about that movement to disarm the citizens...
I find that interesting... I find one blogger accusing another blogger of plagiarism all the time, but it seems to me with only so many options and so many people it is highly conceivable that many have the same exact idea without coping another.
I once had an idea in my head for a costume for a running race, but never did it. And never told anyone. And that summer the same exact costume was in the race. People's thoughts can be their own...and some else's too!
October 21, 2010 at 11:27 AM
The muffled thump-thump of the heli-blades vibrated the ground as it repeated the search pattern, although none of their special devices could detect the location of our carefully constructed shelter. Inside we were quiet as if we could be heard, holding our breaths until the sounds retreated, even then, we spoke in whispers as the group made plans.
We had no defense except our intelligence. Those above had made certain of that during the last days, the mass government movement to disarm the citizens had been successful.
It was down to them against us, "us" wasn't faring so wonderfully but we survived. Knowing how to simply disappear, that was how we survived, the five of us...
Smacks a little of Red Dawn, doesn't it? How do you know, when you write, it's not something you have read and filed away without a marker?
If I wrote a story of a child following an Armadillo down its tunnel, we would immediately think of Alice In Wonderland. If I wrote of three cowboys sons growing up motherless on a large ranch with their father, most would think of Bonanza. If I wrote of one surviving sailor adrift at sea with a dead bird, we remember The Ancient Mariner...so how do you know when it is memory or it is your thoughts???
13 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formWell, that's a deep and pondering questions sister! I do believe we pull from all areas when we write. Our life experiences, things we've heard and things we've read. Some of us never grew out of our imagination...it just grew with us. Heeehehehe!
Have a wonderfully creative day Miss Gail!!!
October 20, 2010 at 5:54 PM
I have pondered this question now that I write a daily blog. How do I keep my thoughts straight from all of the things I have read. How do I not let the years color my mind and my thoughts. I am always afraid of rewriting history. I think this a very good example of how our minds fill in the blanks.
I think this will give me pause when next I write again.
Thanks!
October 20, 2010 at 6:08 PM
I guess if you think you've heard those words before you write it, you probably have. But,if you think about it you see basic plots in all stories. Man against man (or woman) Man against nature and so on. I read somewhere that there are no new plots just new stories using those plots.
I'm pretty sure (although not positive) that JK Rowling wasn't the first person to write about wizards or wizard school. Was Twilight the first time we saw young vampires?
All of that said and I didn't really answer your question did I? Yep, I don't know the answer. I continue to write and hope it's my own. :)
October 20, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Great post, makes one go hmhmhm ! I myself just write what I experiance personaly, I have writen some stories in my past , I did a lot of creative writing as a teen, it is hard to have an all original! what with all that we see, hear and read it takes quite the mind and imagination to make sure it hasnt been writen before. Have a great day !
October 20, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Another writer friend of mine once told me that all the stories have been written, it's how each writer takes that story and makes it their own that matters.
Or something like that.
Have a good Thursday!
October 20, 2010 at 6:57 PM
If I find myself writing something that reminds me of something else, I go and look it up. If it's too similar - actual words and phrases - I start over. If it's just another take on an archetype or on an old story ( boy meets girl, orphaned kid overcomes evil, etc.) I keep going.
October 20, 2010 at 9:37 PM
All stories have already been told, already shared, already known but it is the individuals passion and flavoring that make whatever the tale their own. It's like when I make a "thing". Somewhere, someone has already had that thought, done that do, I can only hope that I have enough of myself in it that it is authentic.
Blah, Blah, Blah, yada, yada, uh-huh. Just do what makes you happy and to h with whatever else there is. XOXO The Olde Bagg
October 20, 2010 at 9:42 PM
I don't think you have to worry about it as we all are nfluenced by many things, not only what we have read or seen on the TV screen or the movies. As one of the commenters said there are only so many really big topics one can write about--man against nature-- man against man-- and so forth. And what happened to the idea that we are all different even to our fingerprints. Think of your thoughts and writings as your fingerprints---yours and yours alone. Just think of the people you know, the ones you live with--aren't they all different as well as in some ways they are the same?
Trust your own thoughts and instincts!
October 20, 2010 at 11:04 PM
Wow, Gail! Those are some deep thoughts. I'm impressed. I like to think like that a lot and people think I'm weird if I talk about it. I love how freely you share your thoughts, writings and art. Kudos to you!
~Lisa
ps I am loving the way your blog looks and blog description...too cool!
October 21, 2010 at 12:14 AM
You just keep writing..it will sort itself out:)
October 21, 2010 at 12:35 AM
It could be a problem, couldn't it, writing again what has already been written? But don't worry, you give your own words and twists to the story and it will be interesting again and people will gladly read it. Now I wonder about that movement to disarm the citizens...
October 21, 2010 at 1:52 AM
Since there are only so many things to write about, it surprising there aren't more plagiarism lawsuits ...
October 21, 2010 at 8:49 AM
I find that interesting... I find one blogger accusing another blogger of plagiarism all the time, but it seems to me with only so many options and so many people it is highly conceivable that many have the same exact idea without coping another.
I once had an idea in my head for a costume for a running race, but never did it. And never told anyone. And that summer the same exact costume was in the race. People's thoughts can be their own...and some else's too!
October 21, 2010 at 11:27 AM