Originality is overrated.

I think it really is. During my early days in this section of the site, I was keep obsessing over originality. However, after lurking around this site and particularly this section, in addition to studying a bit of mythology, you really can't be that original.

There aren't that many topics you can really touch upon. The methods of EXECUTION, however, are infinite and are the only aspect that truly matters.

That's how I see it.

edited 13th Dec '11 6:22:33 PM by dRoy

I suppose it depends on how you define something as original. How different does something need to be from things that came before it to be considered original?

Well, no, originality of concept isn't necessarily essential, but originality in the execution is a different thing entirely... as you point out yourself, in a way.

Is this a response to the other thread?

And I have a bad feeling about what direction this thread may take...

@JHM - Yup.

@chihuahua - What other thread?

EDIT: Oh, THAT one! Oh no, I haven't even read that thread and I assure you, this is just a coincidence.

edited 13th Dec '11 6:05:46 PM by dRoy

Originality overrated? Fairly.

Methods of execution preferred over "originality"? Excellent.

At times I've been the same way. Then I realized some things I have will not be 100% original. For instance I have humanoid mecha with beam sabres and that part despite my take and twists on it is not 100% original. However that works in the context of execution as I want a good story and good world building from it so that's what I use them for.

Likewise in other instances, I'm not the first to have "elf-like" antagonist species. (That inspiration came from the Abh.) My execution is to do them differently, make a relatable and believable people out of it.

In the end did it work for either? I don't know yet. My gut says yes because when I read the stuff over again as if I had somebody else's book in my hands I find many parts captivating but I don't know too much of others' opinions beyond fixing the typographical. (Mainly because a lot of folks here don't have Space Opera/Military Science Fiction as their forte or interest.)

Magical Healing: Done a thousand times.

Magical Healing that can be deadly and also leads to lots of deaths: Done...only a handful of times.

Execution, my boy.

edited 13th Dec '11 6:20:31 PM by chihuahua0

Originality is probably pointless. There isn't really a way to do anything truly new, and if you do you run the risk of alienating the audience anyhow.

Now, creative use of what has already been done is awesome. That should be the goal, in fact, in addition to believable, well-thought-out characters, a good setting, and a coherent, logical, and interesting plot (none of which are in any particular order of importance). But originality (which is not the same as creativity, to me) is basically an impossibly unrealistic goal that just causes people to give up on perfectly serviceable ideas because "it's been done." Well, so what? Everything has been done.

To my mind, the goal of a story is to make the reader feel something. Originality doesn't matter, especially since there isn't much of anything that is truly original. Everything has been done. The point is that everything hasn't been done in your way.

edited 13th Dec '11 6:28:37 PM by NoirGrimoir

Or...

• The Übermensch: Obvious trope.
• The Ubermensch as The Sociopath: Obvious deconstruction.
• The Ubermensch as The Sociopath as a Puppet of the Unspeakable: Not-so-obvious deconstruction.
• Said Puppet of the Unspeakable as a Pretentious Sculptor: Something completely different.

edited 13th Dec '11 6:28:48 PM by JHM

Amen.

@Major Tom: Where, exactly, can I read your work? I am a Space Opera/Military Science Fiction buff, and I probably would have expressed interest in seeing it for myself if I had known any test-reading was possible.

Although for the record, I don't like Space Elves much.

If you can describe it, it has been done. It has probably even been done the way you want to do it. Forget originality. Write what you want to write. People will still read.

While "it's original" isn't a compliment, per se, saying "it's cliche" totally is.

So originality in a story is important in the same way that spelling words correctly is important. It doesn't add anything to your story, but failure to do so will waste you.

How did you manage to extrapolate that, considering that nearly every response in this thread comprises the idea that it is impossible to be original?

I don't imagine striving for originality for just the sake of being "different" will get you much. I also imagine that the tired argument of "nothing is really new" shouldn't be an excuse to cling into safe territory. Originality in this sense I find a tired way of perceiving writing anyway, and is nothing when you consider what it is you wish to express to others. Whether emotions, food for thought, whatever enters your mind. Ideas and feelings are everywhere, but there's only one of you on this Planet.

Now about "It's been done" - Koestler has described in one book about creativity; it's not just thinking outside the box, but that you have multiple boxes already at hand. You shuffle and string these boxes together in such a way that the more familiar the parts, the more striking your new whole.

edited 13th Dec '11 9:18:17 PM by QQQQQ

Well, anne won the thread, time to pack up and go home.

I think my head is full of fuck.

~explodes~

Relying on quotations can open up the universal locks in people, if you're trapped. It can also undermine what you yourself have to say on the matter, if you've no substance of your own to give the quote a greater meaning.

edited 13th Dec '11 9:53:23 PM by QQQQQ

I'm the king of repetition and I agree with this thread's message.