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Originally Posted by Mithalwen
I don't hate you but I couldn't disagree with you more on this. Basically as far as ideas go "there is nothing new under the sun" - you can reduce all stories to a combination of certain elements. Everything has been done before. Shakespeare was not original in his stories, Tolkien was not original in his stories but they are far more read than Kalevala and Holinshed. The writing is everything - how they structure the plot, how they handle character, dialogue and so forth. Their use of language. So I would rather read something derivative (and what isn't?) and well written than something allegedly original and poorly written. I have got to the stage in life where I won't waste any of it reading stuff that is badly written. Good writing gives more pleasure each time you read it not less.
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I do get your point, but I think you misunderstood what I meant by a story that has been written before. I mean not just an intertextual relationship or use of the same cliches/themes - for this is inavoidable - but an actual near-copy of something that has been written before. See, of course it is not so that after Tolkien wrote about Elves, nobody should write about them ever again. But if these Elves are wise, silvery-haired creatures that came to (insert Middle-Earthy name here) over the sea, I feel slightly annoyed. More so if the hero's name is Bobo and he's a Loppit (no, never saw this really happen).
Take Jane Austen again, for example (I happen to be a huge fan, despite me not being English). With Pride and Prejudice, she actually set the tone for all current much beloved romances: the arrogant, slightly evil and totally not sociable male first constantly fights with the heroine but manages to seduce her in the end - well, you know the story. I don't know if you ever read Bridget Jones' Diary, but it is very much inspired by Pride and Prejudice: the same story in the present time. Still, it is a delightful read and the author gives such an interesting twist to the story, nobody minds it is not an actual original idea.
Maybe it is because I spend a good deal of my time critiquing stories written by children. You cannot really expect them to write perfectly yet. I always find, though, there are two types of aspiring writers among kids. Some take their favorite stories and try to tell them in their own words - most of the time these become literal copies, while others try to come up with a somewhat new and original idea. I always find the latter more promising (even though they mix up evil stepmother with evil debtmother, which is extremely strange and confusing.
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I agree though, I may have judged Eragon too quickly.