She Stold My Idea!

Have you ever written something so brilliant that you beamed like a lighthouse? Just sure that you had written "the one". Only to happen on a story that is so similar you swear that your idea has been taken. Never mind the copyright for the similar story was given years sometimes decades before you wrote your first word!

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, 1984 Newberry Medal recipient, tells a story of a boy dealing with the separation of his parents through letters to his favorite author. His father, a trucker, used to talk about the shoes he would see on the highway. The family would play a game and make up songs about why the shoe was there.

Now, I haven’t written a story about a boy dealing with the separation of his parents through letters to his favorite author, however, the whole shoe thing was so totally my idea. (Please note the sarcasm in that last statement)

I pondered for days over a story about a boy who ate cinnamon on everything. (Inspired by my own son who insists cinnamon sugar belongs right next to the salt shaker) Surely this was an original idea; after all, how many kids eat cinnamon on their spaghetti? Well to my dismay at least one. While reading through Highlight’s Magazine short story collections I found a story: Cinnamon Spaghetti!

I guess the “moral” of the story is that there are a million stories out there. The chances of something being out there that is similar to yours are very likely. It is what you do to make yours original that will make you stand out above the rest.

Make it your own!

Have A Great Writing Day!