Today is the day for sharing. We laugh a little, we cry a little, we whine a lot and we comfort each other. I love this outlet and opportunity called,
Dear Fellow Struggling Writers,
I am diving right in this month. I ask you, How do we maintain originality? Clamped down by the Rules of writing, it can be difficult to express voice - what if my character likes to speak in cliches and mixed metaphors? And I've read that every core story has been done a million times. Will we run out of tales to tell? The number of writers seems to have multiplied so much so that we are all being turned away (it couldn't be that my writing is bad!). It has not always been so, has it? The classics were original. Today it's exponentially harder to come up with a new classic! A new original story! Can it exist?
Sincerely,
Been There, Done That
Now on a more positive note, for Sensational Haiku Wednesday on resolve,
Communication
Open minds and open hearts
Keys to resolving
Melt away the hate
Kind words will always win out
Show them your resolve
Never giving up
Resolve to attainable
Goals you can achieve
Yes it can and you are going to write it!
ReplyDeleteTara -- yes. Originality exists. The envelope can be pushed, and should be at every opportunity.
ReplyDeleteWill the mainstream notice? Will you be successful? That I can't answer.
All I know is that without doubt, and soul-searching, and worry, and psychological distress, and existential crisis... well, without those you're not much of a writer!
So I think you're going to be fine...
Originality does exist and you can do it! :) Keep writing.
ReplyDeletedespite your struggle, the message in your haiku is very positive. keep up the positive attitude.
ReplyDeletethe new classic - only trouble is to be a real classic you'll have to wait 50 years or so - but I'm sure you can do it
ReplyDeleteI don't think the classics were really that original either. Look at Shakespeare. Very unoriginal in terms of story lines but still, the voice, the voice, the voice. You have one. Of this I am certain:)
ReplyDeleteYou're not green, Tara. You're growing. You'll get there! Just keep on keeping on.
ReplyDeleteLuckily variation on the theme is infinite. Enjoyed the haiku.
ReplyDeleteThe haiku is a nice contrast. Yes, you can be original. It's found in the truth, which is never trite and in individuality. Sit back and think about how people (or snowflakes, if you'd rather) or so unique. It's a very hopeful thought.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that there are core themes, and I can't say I've ever read a story that was completely original of these core themes, but you can find originality. It is out there. And if the character speaks in cliches and mixed metaphors, then that's what the character goes. Sometimes you have to be true to them too. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely haiku too!
I love a good haiku! It will be different because you are different than the person who thought of the idea before you. That's why people keep reading! New follower :)
ReplyDeleteEach story is original, because each person is unique and brings an original, creative perspective - even to tales told over and over again. Trust me on this. When my kids were little, my husband's storytelling version of Goldilocks, the Three Bears, and Sleepying Beautpants, was far different than my version of Goldilocks . . he made our kids laugh.
ReplyDeleteTara Tyler...
ReplyDeleteVery positive Haikus
Just like YOU!
Love your haiku, very inspiring! I have the same fears about originality, but I'm going to focus on the message of your haiku and believe we can both find it! Great post. :)
ReplyDeleteYes it's possible to still be original. Maybe not with plot, but with your characters.
ReplyDeleteI came over from Alex's blog and am your newest follower. Nice to "meet" you!
I like the series of haiku using 'resolve' - cleverly put together!
ReplyDeleteJamie
Love the haiku.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the idea of originality, I agree with Christa's comment. Voice saves all.
Looking at the positive is always more refreshing and hopeful till your time to publish comes ... enjoyed your set of Haiku, especially the first! Happy New Year! :-)
ReplyDeleteI struggle with this idea a LOT. And then the insecurities take over: there's no way I could make this unique enough for it not to be a repetitive piece of blah-dee-blah...so why bother? Gotta keep fighting it.
ReplyDeleteNever Giving Up -- that's the key. :)
I think that as long as there are a few original aspects you are good :)
ReplyDeleteI think everyone walks through life seeing things in a way that no one else sees it. If you write honestly from your own perspective, you'll write something original.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be originality because we are each unique. And you, Tara, have a clever mind and a drive that leads to success.
ReplyDeletemom
Awesome haiku for the new year. :)
ReplyDeleteI do believe it's true that there are no truly new ideas, but I also agree w/ lots of others have said here - it's the writer that makes it unique and classic.
I think I'm pretty forgiving about recycled tropes as a reader - they resonate with our core for a reason!
ReplyDeleteYay I'm your 290th follower :D
"Kind words will always win out"
ReplyDeleteYes, they will...but sometimes it seems to take forever!
Resolve to Travel
What? We whine a lot? No, never!
ReplyDeleteAs for originality, it's all in how you tell the tale. Look at the movie Avatar. It's Dances With Wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. Yet it was extolled as being so unique and original. Nah, not so much. But with the all the characters dressed up differently, you barely notice. So just go ahead and tell your story.
Good post, Tara!
Ditto what Sophia said, and nice haiku! :)
ReplyDeleteIf anybody can write a great story, it would have to be you!
ReplyDeleteYou embody originality...
There are no new stories--only old stories told in new ways. That thought makes it a little easier for me when thinking about the millions of books already written. My brains sees things differently than everyone else's, just like yours does, so we can tell a story through our eyes, and hopefully it will be something new!
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
I agree there is competition, but I think you should keep doing what you love doing that is what matters. Many successful artists have been denied for a long time but in the end they become successful.
ReplyDeleteLove the haiku!
ReplyDeleteGreat haiku!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Diary of a Writer in Progress
That rant is spot-on! Writer-Insecurity happens to the best of us!
ReplyDelete:)
Our 'voice' is the only thing that sets us apart from other writers. It's that 'voice' that makes your work original. That makes your characters different. That makes your story different.
ReplyDeleteWith all the rules we still have to stick to our guns.
Remember, agent/publishers don't care if your characters talk in cliches only if you do.
Never give up! Never surrender!
Heather summed it all up. (Darn!)
ReplyDeleteBut she's absolutely right. We're all originals. No one will view our story world exactly like us, and that's why our stories matter. Happy writing!
(new follower)
Excellent haiku - well done!
ReplyDelete