If, while writing a manuscript, I come upon another piece similar to my own which is already published, should

Question

I walk away from the current project or continue to pursue it in hopes it will be unique enough to stand on it's own and attract a publisher?

Answer 1

Absolutely write it. Many stories carry a similar plot or layout. The difference will show in the writing. Just go with it and GOOD LUCK.

Answer 2

I would stop right where I was and go back to my homework phase. I would work seriously on my character studies and outline and see if I could take it in another direction. Character studies can help you do that a lot. I would not pursue it before I tried to find a way to make it unique--especially if the other book is well know. Generally, it takes a publisher about a page to be able to tell if a book is too close to something existing and reject it. Why would you want to do that anyway? The goal is always to try and become a fresh voice in literature.
----
They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 3

If you had no direct knowledge of the other similarily-written manuscript, I would continue to write it regardless--just how you intended it to.

Even though I don't write for the mainstream, I happened to have become aware of another book project which bore a similar title to the one I've had in play for 13 years.

I contacted the author and we compared notes.

Turns out we were completely different. So no harm was done--and wished each other the best of luck in our respective endeavors. :0)

Answer 4

Continue, but be aware that if the other work is recent, you will be in fairly direct competition.

Consider changing certain aspects of your own work to make sure it differs sufficiently, so it won't seem derivative.

It's not unusual to see multiple books which explore similar concepts, but no two are very much alike, are they?

Answer 5

Keep going. It will be a little more difficult to get your book published, but remeber that you can also learn from the other Auther. Look at their reveiw and make sure to listen to them.