Fears about writing

I have a fear when it comes to my writing...and i assume alot of people have this fear.
I am writing a vampire fiction book...and i have been writing this book for years...now it is slowly coming together. my biggest fear right now is that i will be compared to Stephanie Meyers and her books...which personally i hate. Though they arent the same concept, i talk about it with people and instantly her name comes up. how can i seperate myself from her works when all you need to say is 'vampire' and people are instantly saying 'twilight'.

Tags: fear, twilight, vampire, writing

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Willow Tigerflame Ravenkissed on April 24, 2009 at 11:55am: Maybe it is an even better time to write about vampires because there is such an interest in them....hmmmm...ponder ponder....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by libramoon on April 24, 2009 at 3:18pm: Write totally different stories, characters, perspective.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Willow Tigerflame Ravenkissed on April 24, 2009 at 4:11pm: they are...but the second you say vampire people instantly say "oh like Twilight"...no!!!!!!!!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by goldencougarwolf on April 24, 2009 at 5:58pm: isn't twilight a adolescent book of fiction like Harry Potter? Isn't it also a romance type book. I am sure all who read horror and write horror compare everything to Stephen King and then Anne Rice came along. The idea is to let it be there and let it stand on its own. If it is a vampire mystery say so. Tell them what it is. Tell them what it is about and don't worry about the rest.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nerissa on April 24, 2009 at 7:09pm: I wouldn't focus on the comparisons. There are so many types of vampire books out there, that I think it's unfair to compare any of them. Dracula, Blade, The Vampire Lestat, The Lost Boys, and Twilight are all very different, and that's just the few I can think of off the top of my head.

Write your novel and let it speak for itself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Willow Tigerflame Ravenkissed on April 25, 2009 at 12:07am: thats what i am hoping for...Thanks!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SilverClaw on April 30, 2009 at 3:52pm: I have been working on a Vampire story for over the past 4 years and I do have the same fear that you expressed. I just try to focus and write my story, and not worry about the comparisons or the critics.

I wish you all the best :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Studio Raziel on May 2, 2009 at 12:17pm: What's to fear? Write it with your unique voice. As long as you are not imitating someone else's voice, who cares who they compare you to? Besides, it's far better to be compared to a best-selling and successful author who's work you like as opposed to being compared to someone no ones' ever heard of or whom you absolutely detest. Also, people *need* to compare your work to whatever is already out there, it's in human nature to make such comparisons...and frankly, the sales-people who rep your book and the buyer at B&N who is considering your book also will compare your work to what's already on the shelf. That's part of the business. Don't let it get you scared. Think of ways to turn it to your advantage. Any time someone reads your work and says that something reminded them of another author's stuff, take a good hard look at it and think up three ways to make it different, to play off of their stuff, or to satirize/make fun of their stuff...whatever works best for you and your stuff.

Don't let the comparison thing get you down. We all get compared to one another all the time. focus instead on getting compared to the sorts of people who make you look good, get your stuff read, or make someone take a chance on you. Good luck with the writing.
Be Well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by goldencougarwolf on May 2, 2009 at 12:36pm: Has anyone ever put some of their work up here to let others read it?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alison Patricia Browning on May 4, 2009 at 10:21am: i know the feeling, I like writing magical stories and usually about Arthurian characetrs or magical people and then worry people will think I am trying to copy Harry Potter Lord of the rings or the mists of Avalon.

I don`t like Twighlight at all, I am what I call "old school" vampires, coffins and crypts and Gothic.

When anyone says vampires i always thought of Anne Rice books which are ok and better than twighlight i guess.

Good luck and best wishes Ali; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Declan on May 5, 2009 at 8:52pm: The proof is in the pudding, as the saying goes. Let your published work speak for itself. Finish it and get it off to a publisher or, if you're lucky enough to have one, your agent. Let them worry about whether it is like someone else's work. With so many authors out there churning out formula works (Danielle Steel is said to write the same book over and over but with different characters/conflicts/loves and locations) determining whose work yours does or does not resemble is a matter best left to professionals in the field.

Another thing to consider is that every written work--short story, novella, book length work, young adult, children's, non-fiction etc.--is a mystery. The reader buys the book to find out what happens.

Many years ago when I first began writing I discussed characters and plot lines extensively with people I knew and all it did was kill my interest in MY work. The result was that I felt unable to compete and had no faith in my talent. It has been years since I have written simply because I focused on what others were writing as a way to make my works different and I just lost interest in writing.

So, my best advice is to remember everyone is a critic and that people don't really know what they want until they see the finished product (book cover) and read the blurb. Finish the darn thing and get it out the door!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Moonwillow on September 19, 2009 at 2:33pm: This is wonderful advice.

When you are writing the creative process just takes over. For myself any input from others would interfere with that and what is natural and works for me and the story would not end up being as it was meant to be....mine...it would be an accumulation of others thoughts and opinions.

Everone will always have their own opinions...some will love a book and others will hate it and thats all ok...it makes us all what we are...individuals!

I think it is such a shame that you lost interst in your writing and lost faith...hopefully you will pick it up again one again!

Blessings!; ▶ Reply to This