Photo Credit: SMLions12

Have you ever watched a movie and thought to yourself  ’Gosh this sounds familiar‘ not in the sense of the dialogue perhaps but the general storyline. Welcome to Hollywood. But we can take this same idea and apply it to the way we write. Everything starts as a book (or a screenplay) these days, after all.

While I am not fond of this method, it is a way to get the ‘methods’ right. Take Nora Roberts as an example. Nothing against Mrs. Roberts and her writing, but she tends to follow the same plan for disaster or ‘romance’ in each of her books. It’s because she has found an equation that works for her and she memorized it well.

Addicted Nora Roberts fans know when they pick up her latest book the way she sets up her stories, the way she writes her characters, and they have come to depend on her steady style. There is nothing wrong with this. But take notice.

If it is your dream to write the next great American novel, you may want to take a step back and look at the success that is already hitting the bestsellers list. Stephen King probably would not be the best example as he likes to vary his style and topics widely, but Nora Roberts and most romance are perfect cookie-cutter-examples.

In the event that you model after a great story, not neccessarily a romance but a great story in general; be it mythology and legend, lore, romeo and juliet, alice in wonderland, etc., you have to be aware of what you are giving up.

While you may attempt to keep the integrity of your voice, your perspective, you have to remember to follow the method of the proven madness. Is it a sure fire winner? No. The only thing that is guaranteed in life is Death and Taxes.

Then again, there have been many a writer to make it off a classically themed story; taking a different perspective on a classic/traditional tale. If nothing else it is a great creative outlet. Go ahead and try to rewrite Romeo and Juliet. Many have tried, many have failed, but just try to change one aspect or take a different angle. Perhaps it is set in the 21st century or maybe there is a steampunk revolution going on? Steampunk is big right now…so thats food for thought! Hope this helped.

Would love to hear how you view stories of old translated, changed in terms of perspective, altered in small or even big details. Can you think of a story that doesn’t have a classical root to its storyline in some way?

Thanks again for reading!

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