Writing and the Uncanny Valley

[AlexanderSen]

Recently I found another author release a book, which has the uncanny similarity to the premise which I have been working on approximately the last two years. It is in the zone of Uncanny Valley which makes me feel so much hate. I can't help but to hate the guy as it's like having something you love stolen from you.

Uncanny valley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What to do about such a thing?

 

[Ursa major]

A number of points:

• It isn't really like something has been stolen from you; this other author wrote and got their story published before you did.
• Given the above, why would you hate this author? They haven't done anything remotely hateful.
• And there's no point in transferring the hate to yourself, as this is a case of happenstance: no-one is to blame.
• As has been said many times, here and elsewhere, we (including the authors of best-sellers and/or literary masterpieces) rarely if ever get the chance to work with a completely unique idea, which means that, in all but a handful of cases, any originality comes from how the story is told.

As for what you can do... If you haven't done so already, read this other author's book. You may find that while the premise of your story is similar to theirs, the treatment (the plot, the characters, the setting, the impact of the "uncanny valley" on all of those) could be completely different. (And if others know of the Uncanny Valley - and anyone following your link will - they too might be writing something based on the idea.)

 

[alchemist]

By the time you get your book out, the other one may be long forgotten and, as Ursa says, yours may be very different. To some extent, this occurs to all of us. A recent episode of Sherlock had one of my plot devices -- mine was probably written first, but I like it so I'll keep it. However, for all I know, it's already been done a hundred times only I haven't seen it (or I did see it, forgot it, but sub-consciously dragged it up). I just hope nobody will link mine to Sherlock's.

 

[AlexanderSen]

Thanks for the tips I don't feel so angry now. I guess I want to be original in my writings. As having something too close to you is like when kids play doppelganger and mimic each other. Kids always say "Don't mimic me!" and the other one copying saying "Don't mimic me!"

It is REALLY annoying some reason.

I regards to the doppelganger effect I found this article:
Dueling Movies: Two Films About the Same Thing at the Same Time

 

[tinkerdan]

Every idea has to come from somewhere and, unless you are on the cutting edge of the field it comes from, it's likely other people with put the idea to use.

I rely on my specific plot direction and character development to give the freshness to any idea. That's why it's much easier to just write within any plot idea than it is to obsess over finding the plot idea that is so new.

It's not the idea its the treatment. Some of us take years to pound out the first novel so it's a given that whatever new idea we start with might not be so new a year to maybe five years from now.

About the best we can do is keep up on those who use the same plot and keep track of all the things you hate most about those novels and try to stay away from those plot mistakes.

 

[Locrian]

I once thought I had original ideas, then I read some Asimov. Those were good times while they lasted.

 

[tinkerdan]

I would be more comfortable around thinking that it was mere coincidence that these things like the movie doppelgangers happen if not for the several years of sliders where their episodes paralleled recent movies. This begs more the notion that someone shares a bit too much sometimes.

To take that to a different level think of the number of anthologies that often take a what if and then ask writers to submit material around that. I think that that alone is the strongest evidence that its not the idea as much as the execution and perhaps even in some cases the writers voice that counts.

And in a small way the challenges here are much like that.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I just had a similar experience this week. I got a breakthrough idea on a story I have been working on, and two hours later I ran across another Chronite's books that looked as if they might have that very thing. I asked, and it turns out it's not as close as I thought it might be from the excerpts.

I've had it other times, as well -- and, as tinkerdan points out, we can all start with the same idea and write 40 or 50 different stories. It's more in how you tell yours than in what it's about.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

The Uncanny Valley has been known about for quite some time now - it's impossible to be original, and mad to assume you ever will be. Just write your work in a way nobody else has before.

 

[Toby Frost]

Ironically enough, that's just what I was about to write!

There's no point worrying about the concept - it's the execution that counts. Besides, it's such a vague concept that you could do a huge amount with it. It's also the sort of thing that is going to come up in a lot of stories involving androids and automata anyhow.

For what it's worth, ten years ago I write a fantasy novel about assassins in the Renaissance. Then some other novels, films, computer games and probably novelty teapots used a similar idea. But I still think my version is worthy of print, because nobody else has said the things that I wanted to say in the way that I've said them.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I've always been intrigued when beta readers have said such and such is original when actually I know where the idea came from. My MC became a falcon because I loved The Sorceress from He Man and his archenemy became a Great Skua after I watched one attack Bill Oddie.

Seriously just write it. What those other authors have done is not given a hoot about what other people have written and instead parked their backsides and done the graft.

My first story is a scruffy, rebellious prince becomes a beloved king which is hardly original. So far not one reader or agent has referred to it as generic.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Seriously just write it. What those other authors have done is not given a hoot about what other people have written and instead parked their backsides and done the graft.

I may have taken this principle too far however in Hairy London