Writerly Wranglings
by Kym on May 1, 2010
Sometimes I feel like the stories bouncing around in my head, clamouring to be written, have all been written before. Literary history is replete with ordinary people suddenly made heroes. With shy glances and the sudden blossoming of love. With spectacles and wonders. With worlds that exist only in the confines of human imagination.
The fabric of human ingenuity has been recycled countless times. As I piece together the quilt of ideas that is my tale, I recognize the faded colours and worn edges and I begin to feel weary. Useless. I find myself yearning for something new. Something that is uniquely my own. I want to spin new thread, deftly weave it on the loom of my storytelling. I want to create the fabric that other stories will be cut from.
And I smile, and shake my head a little at my grand dreams. And I write again. Piece my quilt. See how the colours and textures of it come together to make something new. Not shiny and glittering new, but new enough. And then I laugh as I write about a radioactive toilet plunger bestowing super powers. Old fabric used in new ways. Yes. That will do.
17 comments
Love that-its what I do.
by David J. West on May 1, 2010 at 3:39 pm. #
I’ve been ruminating on the very same thing! I love that quote… it comforts and pushes one forward.
“Oh great and powerful toilet plunger… What do you want?”
by Krista on May 1, 2010 at 4:07 pm. #
Maybe every story has already been written, but not by you yet. Make that quilt, girl!
by Kazzy on May 1, 2010 at 5:45 pm. #
I agree with Kazzy. Although some stories may sound familiar, each author (like yourself) provides their own spin to it. For example, I love mysteries. I especially adore Mary Higgins Clark. After reading about 5 of her books (I was young okay!), I began to figure out her plot with each successive book a few chapters in. Yet, I still buy her books and read them over and over. Her writing captivates me. The same story, but a different twist. That is like you, my friend. As soon as your books come out, I will be devouring them! (Not that your plots will all be similar…)
by Amber on May 1, 2010 at 6:03 pm. #
That’s it. Even Mr. Shakespeare reworked used plots. But we each do it with our own voice, through our own filters, and with our own absurdities – and that is what makes our stories Ours. Keep piecing.
by Becca on May 1, 2010 at 6:48 pm. #
I found some quotes about this that I really appreciated. Here, partake.
“Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another. The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbors, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes property of all.” –attr. to Voltaire
“The original style is not the style which never borrows of anyone, but that which no other person is capable of reproducing.” –Francois Rene
“If you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism. If you steal from two, it’s research.” –Wilson Mizner
Even if the idea flares up excitingly and fizzles into cliche shame, be comforted that your imagination is reaching and expanding and trying to make those connections! If the thought doesn’t turn into something publishable, at least it can make you smile. And if you’re smiling, a lot of other people are too.
by emilyf on May 1, 2010 at 7:21 pm. #
Radioactive toilet plunger! Brilliant! Sounds like something from Capt Underpants but better!
At SCBWI conference earlier this year, an agent said everything had already been written. While I’ve heard it countless times, I don’t believe it. I Just Don’t. There are endless variations of thought, combined & molded into new things. Most writers employ bricolage, that’s just a given. It’s the combining of different elements that makes an entirely new recipe.
Happy May, Kim. I can’t believe it’s nearly summertime!!
by Terresa Wellborn on May 1, 2010 at 8:24 pm. #
Yearning – that word has been on my mind a lot lately!
I can’t wait to see the beautiful fabric masterpiece YOU create :) !!
by An Ordinary Mom on May 2, 2010 at 9:51 am. #
This is fantastic. I feel that same feeling, sometimes, that every great story has already been written 1000 times.
But your humor and new take on things always keeps me surprised, laughing, and reading. I can’t ever get enough. :)
by Sarah on May 2, 2010 at 2:56 pm. #
I get this post completely! Sometimes I see how Solomon could write that there is nothing new under the sun. And I long to believe that there really could be something new under the sun, that it’s not just recycled and repurposed for new generations. I guess I want to know that the Creator is still into creating.
by Inkling on May 2, 2010 at 3:10 pm. #
I ditto Kazzy. Love her comment. It was the response in my head while reading this.
Keep on keepin’ on, friend. You got it. You know, IT. You do!
by Heather of the EO on May 2, 2010 at 4:39 pm. #
Radioactive toilet plunger. Love it!
I know exactly what you’re talking about. The only thing is you say it more eloquently than I ever could!
by Rebecca on May 2, 2010 at 5:02 pm. #
Although…I think Mr. Terry Pratchett comes up with pretty new stuff. Whatever he was smoking when he wrote Soul Music? I want some of THAT.
by Rebecca on May 2, 2010 at 5:19 pm. #
Don’t let doubt assail you! Write what feels true, and it will read new.
by Luisa Perkins on May 3, 2010 at 7:43 am. #
I completely relate to this post. Every single word. Beautifully written.
by mckenzie on May 4, 2010 at 10:26 am. #
As my moderator said at Storymakers, write what’s in your bones. The rest will come. And I love reading her work because I can tell she wrote what was in her bones.
I’ll ponder this as I go hang with my son.
by Eowyn on May 5, 2010 at 11:25 am. #
This reminds me of a great Sean Penn quote my hubby uses in his screenwriting classes: “Poisonous art is not so much a function of counterproductive messages as it is a creation of the inauthentic messenger.” I struggle to imagine you writing anything inauthentic. Authenticity runs to your core.
by charrette on May 5, 2010 at 9:21 pm. #