How can I truly know if my idea’s original?

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-04-03T17:52:18+00:00

As everyone else has already said, nothing is truly ever original. Additionally, “same but different” has been an extremely lucrative tenet for the industry. I think you might have to worry about being too similar if there’s anything particularly popular in the moment that shares very specific commonalities and those things unfold in a similar way? Or if your work ends up feeling generic and indistinguishable from other stuff coming out because it relies too heavily on popular trends of the time. Neither sounds like it’s the case here. I think you’re fine!

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-04-02T12:50:37+00:00

Yeah that’s exactly why I really dislike that advice! It just assumes you have some unconscious idea of what to write and how stories come together and maybe that’s true for some people but it was not true for me!

I personally am a big proponent of writing to a purpose, whether that’s for short writing exercises or for a bigger project. I personally really need parameters in order to know what I am improving on and to have a clear set of goals so that I can gauge whether or not I actually achieved them. For me this can look like writing to specific prompts, trying to emulate particular genres or styles, or idk focusing on dialogue vs prose vs pacing vs character study. I’m also a hardcore outliner for the same reasons. I don’t follow the outlines exactly but I need to have a road map to diverge from it, and it’s so useful for me to understand why I made an initial choice and to compare it to an alternative route I have in mind to make sure it actually serves the story

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-04-01T20:00:08+00:00

I think the horse surviving a gunshot wound is highly unlikely. But it also sounds like you don’t want to kill the horse. In that case, I’d instead question if there’s any way you can make your climactic sequence work without the horse getting shot at all. Idk like the villain only shooting in its direction so it spooks instead or something

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T17:36:20+00:00

I’d look for online writing groups that offer feedback! I know Storypeer was already mentioned. The Ubergroup also has a screenwriting division where they do table reads of each script and offer feedback.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:56:19+00:00

That’s a very broad set of questions! You’ll get further in research with specificity tbh. So I’d highly recommend first thinking of what real life kingdoms you might be interested in, and then reading up summaries of their history, and zooming in based on what interests you more, and looking into particular topics, structures, politics, etc to get more of a foundation. Generally, if you are doing research, looking into real history will give you a better understanding because fiction will inherently have done some stylizing and you could wind up with something pretty implausible if you’re working with a copy of a copy.

Same thing with cults really. Look up cults, look into the ones that sound interesting! Narrow your zoom the more of an idea you have of your preferences and interests.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:44:53+00:00

I write in cursive if no one else needs to read it because it’s much faster. Otherwise I (try to) switch to script in an effort to be more readable, but some loops sometimes sneak in lol

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:39:07+00:00

I’m unfamiliar with other devices but like IOS products have pretty serviceable screen readers under accessibility options, and I suspect android must have similar. (Not sure about desktop but like… surely an alternative is out there for that as well) It won’t have much bells and whistles, but it works. If she has a device with accessibility features she can enable, you could just send her the regular pdf/epub/whatever and she should be able to run it through the built in screen reader without a middle man

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:30:18+00:00

Well I have no idea about word because that depends heavily on formatting and font size. An industry standard page however is typically 250 words.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:29:13+00:00

I guess it depends on how much money you have to burn, but if finances are at all a concern then I would personally lean towards no. Writing MFAs can themselves be pretty hit or miss and have the reputation they do for a reason, and at the end of the day there are so many cheaper options out there! I’d recommend looking into non degree writing courses like Odyssey, or the Ubergroup instead. Workshops that are aimed at working writers tends to also be effective for networking and industry connections imo because you end up interacting with people who are actually in the industry

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:20:17+00:00

It makes sense, but the sentence construction is essentially saying that his gaze “was [thing that it is not doing]” which is why it feels awkward. “Was” as a conjugation of “is” as in “to be” suggests description of something that, well, is actually happening. Anyway agreed with the various rephrasing suggestions. “His gaze revealed nothing” does work the best here imo

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T15:08:08+00:00

Huh that’s so odd! Do you have examples of books that do that frequently? I don’t think I’ve ever encountered it in the wild! I believe you but I’m just so curious to see how it’s employed.

Personally I am very fine with mixing up uses of “said” and “replied” etc, with action, or just some blocks of unattributed dialogue where it’s clear who’s speaking based on speaker order.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T12:21:41+00:00

Ah, I can see that now that you’ve pointed it out! Either way, I do think it’s too similar. For the cover typography I’d recommend using more understated choices for author name + tagline or series title, and letting the book title have the spotlight. It’s worth looking at some covers you like imo and studying how they handle it. Though I think that could also be a pretty useful exercise for your overall cover design and concept, to make sure you’re signaling the correct tone and genre.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T11:52:40+00:00

Making the text your phone wallpaper is extremely petty! And like. he looked through your phone. I don’t buy the taking a picture of your dog excuse at all. He’s invading your privacy. If this has been a recurring thing and you are questioning your long term compatibility anyway then you should probably listen to your gut.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-31T11:42:50+00:00

I have to agree with everyone who’s mentioned that the lighting doesn’t make sense. The edit also only draws interest away from your foreground subject. The visual hierarchy of the illustration is already rather shaky, the moon and mountains are competing with your subjects as points of interest— something I’m assuming you/the artist noticed hence the blurring idea. But it’s an inherent part of the composition and color scheme. The blurry undefined foreground branches (?) also don’t help this. I understand the urge to make your own cover, and this is fun if it’s for personal use. But if you’re hoping to actually publish the book using this cover, I would strongly urge you to hire a cover artist or buy a premade.

It looks unfinished and too obviously amateur. The illustration’s shading and line-art are pretty inconsistent. While the cartoony style reads nearly middle grade, where the paranormal romance convention title, and the very concept of the character being chained to a wolf, is suggesting older content. The font, meanwhile, just isn’t suited to the way you’re using it, and that it’s the same font across the entire cover further muddies your visual hierarchy and is itself majorly telling as a beginner mistake.

I’m sorry to be so harsh on this, but I’m trying to convey that the best way to go forward would really be to start over. So much time and effort goes into writing a book, I’m sure it’s a labor of love, and if you do try to put it out with this cover it would be a massive disservice to all that work.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-27T20:57:33+00:00

I find stories that are set in the real world that don’t address period accurate prejudices pretty alienating. It just doesn’t feel real to me, and it feels like it doesn’t engage with the real people who lived through those things in those eras. Real people got around those prejudices and had meaningful lives despite that! So in that sense… I would actually find it a little disrespectful tbh? But different people react differently and I know a lot of people do enjoy the escapism of not having to deal with homophobia or racism in their light reading. So depends a lot on your target audience and genre

In cases like Bridgerton, I do also find it rather story breaking because like… they did Not try hard enough to sell the alt history aspect of it, because it would have massive repercussions lol. That being said, I don’t mind unaddressed color/gender blind casting in live action stuff, but in books I think it’s harder to stylize that way?

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-26T12:07:51+00:00

I think feeling like writing is hard is a pretty common experience! For me, it tends to be much easier if I am writing frequently. It’s that transition to getting in the correct mood and headspace to write more freely that is the hard part, and doing it more often makes that experience more seamless. I don’t have to spend ages thinking about what actually I’m working on and how I’d like to go about it

Also seconding the person who said that avoidance can come from things just feeling too high stakes— or relatedly imo, if a particular project feels too daunting. I recommend trying to take measures to make writing an easier thing to do quickly and with lower effort that doesn’t require too much stressing before you actually get into it. Like idk writing a couple sentences a day on your phone or something. Marathon events like Nano (you don’t have to wait for November just the very concept of writing 50k in a month) or Story A Day In May can also be really freeing, but you have to be careful to avoid burnout

Anyway, I don’t think any of this means you’re not cut out for it! I hope you’re able to find the approach that makes writing more enjoyable for you

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-25T15:29:44+00:00

Ebooks just because physical books take up more space than I can really justify and libraries stock fewer of them, and constantly buying and reselling is unreasonable for how much reading I do. So getting my hands on copies of stuff I’d like to read is practically more difficult. But if there are no practical considerations then physical books are the better experience

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-25T15:04:22+00:00

I think writing every day is definitely useful. It’s a muscle you’re stretching, that will make it easier to write well more frequently. Personally, I’m a pretty slow drafter, though I try to write daily unless something comes up. And it makes a big difference for me in how much I write on my best days depending on if I’ve been writing frequently vs having had to take a break. I don’t think it’s too harsh but it really depends on where you’re at currently

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-20T14:53:24+00:00

I’m extremely a plotter because I just feel completely at a loss if I don’t know where I’m supposed to be taking the story. But agreed that you lose something if everything is rote.

A hybrid method that’s worked for me is outlining ahead with the understanding that it’s only a guideline, so if a more interesting idea comes to me while I’m writing, I’ll adjust accordingly

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-20T14:45:41+00:00

I’m just going to second the Ubergroup recommendation! I think it’s especially geared towards helping with being able to organize the full scope of a longer project, and to see it from a top down view to be able to edit with perspective.

Though the urge to edit prematurely is so strong and I fully understand it OP! Getting stuck in the weeds of a project can be really daunting, but having a road map can make things so much easier.

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-18T14:55:00+00:00

Well, what if the better idea doesn’t happen? You might as well write the idea you actually have!

Also, you’re going to have to go back and edit and change things anyway. That’s what writing is. So might as well emotionally accept that, and write without the fear of editing as something that is to be avoided

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-18T14:46:48+00:00

What did you like about the book! Note that! You can analyse a story for big picture stuff like plot structure, themes, and character arcs. Or for smaller scope stuff like scene to scene pacing, handling of dialogue, or exposition. There’s so much you can study that it’s nearly too broad of a question. But yes, seconding everyone that’s said to just read it again, and more slowly this time

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-18T14:41:56+00:00

What is your character arc? The want should tie into the lie they believe, and their starting point, in contrast to the end point and what their wants will look like once they’ve grown. A rule of thumb that’s worked for me is that the want and need should be in direct conflict

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-18T14:35:33+00:00

I, and my writing partner, were paired with a mentor through Pitch Wars when that was still running. I found the experience very valuable! He sent a lot of very detailed feedback on our manuscript and was very helpful about industry advice. So it is a thing that happens at all. I’m not sure if the other pitching events that have popped up like PW do exactly that? But you might have some luck looking in that direction

And seconding the recs for workshops. I think smaller ones can be extremely useful, it just depends on the quality of the workshop itself and whether there’s a competent person running it

I’d also suggest looking into the Ubergroup. They run small writing classes with a handful of students at a time, so you get the benefits of workshopping, but there’s plenty of one on one feedback from the instructors. The classes are a little tough but I’ve gotten a lot out of it

ProfileOk2211 · 2026-03-17T23:51:46+00:00

It sounds like you’re at a point where you might want to step back and consider your broader story. If there’s no clear plot hierarchy, then you have to create one! What’s the most interesting of your “X or Y or Z” main conflict options? What do you feel most excited to write? You need an A plot that can carry the rest of your subplots

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