This week has been a real up and down week for me as an author.
First of all, I realised afresh just how difficult it can be to find an original idea. Another friend has seen the trailer for the upcoming movie by the Wachowksis, Jupiter Ascending, and instantly recognised its similarity to The Heir. I knew all about it, of course, but now that it’s soon to be released, it hit me afresh that they may well have massive success with an idea that I thought would work pretty well, especially as a movie. There’s no suggestion, of course, that they stole the idea from me. That the Wachowskis would even know of The Heir‘s existence is unlikely. They received the first draft of this movie while I was writing the first draft of The Heir and pre-production began two months before The Heir was published. It’s all above board. We just happened on the same idea around the same time and one of us has a big studio and a huge publicity machine and one of us … doesn’t.
The most difficult thing to deal with about this is the fact that most people who are introduced to my books in the future and compare it with Jupiter Ascending won’t even think to check the publication date. They’ll just assume I copied the movie, especially since I’m the ‘little guy’. That’s what bothers me most about it. I don’t want to be seen as the one who copied them. I didn’t do that. I had an idea and I used it to create what I believe is a wonderful story, spanning over three different books. But I know that won’t be what most people see. I wish I could stamp ‘published in June 2013’ on the front of the book, just so everyone is clear on that.
After a day of reflection on all this, I continued reading over my new manuscript, tentatively titled How Far Forgive. I was pleased to note that I really enjoyed it. That may seem a strange thing to say if you’re a reader; wouldn’t I be expected to like my own book? Why would I write it if I didn’t like it? But authors a strange, emotive creatures. We go from loving our story to despising it sometimes within a few hours. And there I was, enjoying what I’d written. It was a good sign.
By the end of the read-through, I was happy enough with it that I think my work is done on it … for the moment. We’ll see what happens in the next leg of the journey – submission. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
Lynne – I totally get what you’re saying (and feeling) about Jupiter. I have felt that way when I see something that’s only slightly related to my book!I also understand what you mean by being surprised that you like your new book. We writers are much too involved in all the little details sometimes to be able to see it in its whole. Congrats on finishing it!!
Thanks, Susie. There’s no doubt authors are emotional creatures and these ups and downs are par for the course.
Oh Lynne, that would have been so frustrating. But hopefully people will look at the publication date. And you never know … you might get more readers because word will spread that it’s another story along those lines. Looking forward to your next book being made into a blockbuster 🙂
Wouldn’t that be nice! 🙂 I am hoping there might be a flow on effect if people enjoy the movie and are looking for other stories in a similar vein.
Lynne, this is so annoying and frustrating. I have to admit that this problem had never occurred to me; probably because even though I am an avid writer, I have never been published (something I hope to change in the next couple of years). I know there are oodles of ideas out there just waiting to be grasped, but it is logical that with so many writers (artists) out there as well, to assume that more than one person could come up with an identical or near identical idea. I will share your post because I feel that people should know the truth on this matter; also isn’t it sad that people would check the publishing date of your book, and be so cynical? I look forward to reading your books (when I get some free time) ….and as Nola said “I look forward to your next book being made into a blockbuster”. You never know, perhaps you will be the next J K Rowling, but with a christian spin on things.
That would be nice but I’m not pinning my hopes on it. 🙂 Yes, as my publisher is fond of saying, there are only about seven ideas out there anyway and every story we encounter is a variation on one of those seven, just with different elements added. If we get an idea it’s reasonable to assume that someone else can get it too, or at least, something similar. That’s why plagarism and copyright has to be specific enough that you can see massively clear similarities (like exactly the same wording, same character names, etc) before a lawsuit can be launched. As King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, ‘There’s nothing new under the sun.’