This thread discusses the Content article: Nothing New Under the Sun

I agree totally. I recently had my novel "The 13th Demon: Altar of the Spiral Eye" reviewed by a professional reviewer. The review was mostly very positive. However, at one point, the reviewer talked about one of my characters as the "cliche, the aged mentor". I was instantly upset until I realized that there is a fine line between offensive, trite cliche and familiarity. I deliberately made my character similar in traits to the "aged mentor" because I wanted to connect to the reader. I even talked about this in my blog to those few who read it.

I agree with you that one should not give up just because the story elements are familiar. In 1991, I co-directed a writer's conference and our fiction speaker was Robert Don Hughes, a professor at Southern Theological Seminary. At that time he was a best selling fantasy writer. He told us there were, at best, only 26 stories known to mankind. Every story would fall into one of these categories. But, the strength of the story is not in the structure. The strength is in the characters and the message. The reader will have no problem recognizing the typical plot lines. I can't read a book anymore or watch a movie without predicting what will happen next. My wife can't stand to watch television with me because I pick out the upcoming plot developments. But, the characters! Ah, good characters are what interest me as a reader. Weave them into a well constructed story, no matter how cliche ridden, and I will read it with relish!

Don't let the shadow of cliches eclipse you writing that novel. Write! Write! Write!

Bruce Hennigan
www.13thdemon.com

Too true. I guess there's a reason cliches are cliches. They're popular because they work, but it's the variations and our unique voice that can put a fresh paint of coat on them.
His,
Kris

I agree mostly with what was said. I too think so many great stories never get written and released because either the creators or the publishers are too afraid that it is too much like Story X that everyone will instantly compare it too.

But I think when we deliberately try to make our story different than others out there we can run into the problem of robbing our story of everything it was suppose to be and that is an injustice to all.

On the other hand, I think it is great writing to take an idea that we are all familiar with, and then just take a different spin on it. I love stories that do this!

So I guess the moral of the story is to just simply write. God has given each of us a creative spark. And we should use that creativity to its fullest. There may not be any new stories "under the sun" but the way those stories are told can be new everyday. God demonstrated this to us... all living creatures need to eat and breathe somehow... but discovering how each creature does that is just part of the fun.

Just share your creative gift with the world, allow God to bless it and use it, and don't worry about the rest. Sometimes a story is just different because it comes from YOU. Now that's a thought.

Blessings!