Should I worry about this when writing a book?

Question

I'm twelve years old and have started my first book. I'm hoping to become a writer in my later years so I'd like some helpful advice. Well, fist off. Let me talk about a short summary of my story.
A female with the name of Darthana Arborshate is a Pixie, an enslaved species of elves. She escapes and starts to lead a life on her own. She soon meets a boy of her age but then finds out he's an Elder, the race that's enslaving the pixies. He's the prince and she's just an average slave. They fall in love while trying to bring equivalence to both races and meet other characters along the way. Darthana later finds out she's the Sage, a Pixie that saves all Elves when something's going wrong (Only shows every few hundred years in a different person each time.)
Well.......... the ending I haven't decided yet, but should I worry about this being like too many other books out there? I don't want to waste my time on a book that nobody will buy becasue it's like others.
Respond!

Answer 1

Hon, 99.9% of the time your first book or two are experimental. They aren't really for publication. If I ever showed anyone my first novel, they would die laughing. The idea is to learn and grow as an author. Consider this your training - your internship. Sure, it is cliche, but YOU work hard to make it your own.

Let me tell you something. I went through about 5 genre until I found the one that truly brought out the great writing in me. Right now you are writing fantasy. Five years from now, odds are you won't be. Growth is an important thing for writers.

I truly believe authors are born - but then you have to hone your skills and train them so that you develop skill and talent. Does a kid who plays the piano play a recital at Lincoln Center the first time he sits down at the keyboard? Heck no - He studies. He makes his mistakes at home where nobody but his teacher hears them. And when he is ready, he goes public. Same with authors. If you do not end up with a drawer full of stuff you wouldn't show anybody- you aren't working and training hard enough.


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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

Like a lot of the other answerers said, it is common for a lot of stories to have similar plots and concepts. Look at how many movies are all the same. Virtually every romantic comedy is the same story over and over again with the same major plot points: A man and a woman meet accidentally and don't get along at first. Then somehow they start to get along and things end up going well. Then something happens and they break up. Then there is a montage scene of them both being depressed while they are apart. Then, in some big dramatic over-the-top way, they get back together right at the end and are assumed to live happily ever after. See? So just write your stories and don't worry too much that they are similar to other things. For more examples, look at the Da Vinci Code. Dan Brown made a zillion dollars from that book and remember how afterward he was almost sued by other publishing companies because his story is actually very similar to other stories that other people wrote before. But who cares? No one. A character you may have heard of, called Batman, was invented with no other purpose than to copy the successful look and theme of Superman, who had been published a year earlier. I'd say Batman has done pretty well. The Beatles, especially during the first half of their career, say that they were basically just imitating all of their musical hero's like Elvis, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan and other people that I don't know. I can't think of titles off the top of my head, but just go to any book store and look in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi section and you'll see dozens of stories that are unmistakably inspired by The Lord Of The Rings. The Lord Of The Rings, itself, was based heavily on themes (like rings of power) and characters from ancient mythology of Northern Europe. Just about all of the movies that Quentin Tarantino writes are entirely based on older movies that he enjoys, as he is a huge film buff. So yeah, that's plenty of examples.

Answer 3

I don't think you should worry about it at all. All stories are similar in lots of different aspects, but it is the way that you write it that makes it unique.
I've loved fantasy since I was around your age and now at age 37 I write fantasy as well as dabble in other genres. Once you find something you like writing about, chances are that you will stick with it later down the line. It doesn't hurt to write in other genres so that you can grow and mature, but you'll always go back to what you know and love.
I think this story sounds really good and more often than not, the words will flow out of you and perhaps somewhere along the way, your ending will have written itself. Good luck to you and don't ever give up. If writing is your passion, then make it work for you!

Answer 4

I have to agree with Chris , Write what you like, if you enjoy the story chances are others will too.
If it is like other stories that might even be more of a plus than a minus, a good majority of the books you see are the same old story told differently.

Elf saves everyone, Races learn to live together, everyone now happy. That describes every fantasy novel I have ever read (OK not always an elf but you get the point)

Cool Spy saves world, no one even knew the world was in danger _ every spy novel.

Something odd is happening _ every Horror story.

Just write what you like, don't try to copy anyone Else's style just develop your own style and have fun writing is a great outlet.
and if it sells the that's a bonus.

Answer 5

When writing, you shouldn't think of publishing at all. Just write and get your thoughts out onto paper first. It doesn't matter if it's too similar to other books! It's great that you want to be a writer, but it's unlikely you will actually publish this exact story someday. So just write and revise, have others read it and if its really, really good, then start thinking about what you can do to make it stand out from other books.
Good luck!

Answer 6

Well, you are only starting now. Go ahead and write it. It may never be publishable material, but because you are a beginner and twelve, you might find it unpublishable quality when you first finish it. But don't let that discourage you. The important thing is to write. You learn by doing it, not by waiting for the right idea. Otherwise, you won't be prepared for the right idea when it comes.

Answer 7

Sounds pretty intresting. At your age I wouldn't worry about publishing it yet. As that one girl said, your first book is always experimental. I am sure writing a book is easier than writing a manga (a japanese comic) (wich is what I am doing) If you want to publish it anywhere it would be best to post your pages online. Don't worry about what people think of your book. It sounds cool, just continue writing and let your family & friends read it. Your parents could point out grammar and other errors, when your friends could just simply telly uo what they think! If they tell you it sucks, don't be discouraged!

Answer 8

Don't worry about it. I write books coated with Vampires as all the main characters and I know there are tons out there. Just make yours special and unique. Remember you're still young, this can be a rough draft to revisit at a later date. It's how I write.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Write, learn and see how it goes - forget worrying, in fact quit thinking about the story's future in the Big Market.
But as Pax C says, the odds, yould be working on anything but fantasy in a few years.

Answer 10

You shouldn't worried, hey your only 12 writing a book at that age is really impressive. Hey there are so many books that are alike, but if the person likes that kind of book, then they will buy it.

Good luck on finishing your book

Congratulations on your accomplishments so far!!!