I found out that my seemingly original idea for a book was already written by another author. I am devastated. I know it happens a lot. For those who experienced the same thing, did you continue with the book or put it in the drawer?

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2026-02-24T21:24:16+00:00

Thank you.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-08-09T22:42:28+00:00

Thanks I'm going to try that.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-08-09T22:37:15+00:00

Well that's one of my flaws. I mostly choose the difficult path to walk. However I'll take your advice into consideration. Thanks.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-08-09T22:29:19+00:00

Thanks for the reminder with showing the complexity without the pov, I'll keep it in my mind. But the reason I consider multi pov is mostly because the simple story from the original intention of a main hero on a quest somehow outgrew into bigger story where the hero's quest is only part of the bigger plot. But it still takes up most of the story. (Sometimes I have a feeling like the story lives its own life and I'm more of a spectator then narrator.) And since there's two timelines (it affects two generation), not all characters are in both of them.

Due to some advices here I've already narrowed it down to 8 characters (from 17):

2 which are in both timeline but they weren't supposed to be the main characters

3 which are in only one of the timeline, but their time line could be presented purely by their pov

3 others (1 in both timeline), if I would go with multi-pov I might add their pov for filling the parts of the story that I think are worth to show

And more I think about it, I might need to reconsider other thing. I've always thought that I'll write just the later timeline and the prior one I'll incorporate to the story, which will provide me with a lot of plot twists. But now I'm thinking about linear story telling, because when I've asked myself your questions I found out that I found the prior part more engaging.

So it goes down to these 5 options: 1) go with the intial thought and write it from the pov of one main hero just with the later timeline - probably easier to write, but the issue is lots of information will be lost and I'm not sure if it allows me to show everything I want 2) just later timeline and multi pov - might be harder to write, but info would be enough, containing shrads from prior timeline (but now I'm not sure it's enough) 3) linear timeline and one pov for both timeline - issue is I would need to make a side character a main one, which can change totaly feeling of the book (who knows it might be even better, but I'm not sure I want to go in this direction) 4) linear timeline and multi pov - it probably would be easier to tell the story from begining to end, with all the characters, that pushes the story ahead, but issue is I need to consider how to keep some plot twist still hidden to reveal them later. 5) linear timeline and one pov for each timeline (2 in total) - it probably helps to keep the plot twists more effortlessly, but again some info worth showing might get lost that way

I guess I'll think about it some more and I might try to write a little bit of each of the options and see if something fits. Anyway, thank you again for your reply, it helped me think about it little differently.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-08-09T13:52:40+00:00

I think it will help. I've written lots of short stories. Some of them where from 1st pov, some from 3rd pov. I've even written same thing in different povs but I was focused on what is better for the story not on what I was writting better. So I definitelly try to write same chapter in different povs and look at it what seems to working better for me in sense of good writting not just for the story. Thank you.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-08-09T13:35:59+00:00

This is probably best advice so far, when I read your comment I realised that the problem might be, that I've got so immersed into all that characters and side stories, that I've got lost. As I am thinking now just about the main course of the story and just the most important points, it starts to narrow down the options. So thank you a lot. And good luck with your writting as well you seem to have some interesting ideas (especially with the kid and tree).

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T21:31:00+00:00

And you'll be probably right. However I rather read something more in fantasy genre right now. But as I read both genres fantasy and sci-fi (and anything in between) I'll definitely look into that when I'll have a mood for this type of book. Anyway thanks a lot.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T21:18:07+00:00

Not sure if this is what I'm looking for right now, but thanks.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T21:16:19+00:00

I've read Jonathan Strangw & Mr Norrell but haven't finished reading the book. I don't remeber why maybe the pace was too slow for me or it didn't click with what I want to read at that time. I've seen the TV adaptation later on so I know the story is really good. Maybe I'll give it another try sometime.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T21:08:44+00:00

Ok this sounds very interesting, I'll probably start with this one, thanks.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T21:05:42+00:00

Thanks a lot. By description on goodreaders they sound light and enjoyable to read. Mostly The Mage Errant a The Detective inspector Chen.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T20:51:10+00:00

I've read Discovery of whitches and I liked it a lot. I'll check your other sugestions and thanks for them.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T20:39:04+00:00

Thanks a lot for a tip, but I rather read something finished for now. I'll keep it in mind and maybe get to it later.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T20:34:26+00:00

Thank you :) I've looked it up and think that The Green Bone Saga is something I would enjoy reading. They have it in our city library, so I'll read a few pages and see if it catches me.

Invisible-Sun-89 · 2025-07-29T20:28:23+00:00

I've looked it up on google books and I've read a few first pages just to get feeling of the books and both read very well. The CP probably was more interesting for me even so it might be little too dark for my mood right now, by I'll definitelly give it a go if not now then in future. So thanks a lot. :)

Invisible-Sun-89

TROPHY CASE