Metareferences and Intertextuality.

[Boromir88]

It's almost as if Tolkien thought "Alright, rings seem to be a good source of storytelling. We'll start with that and see what develops."

In a story I'm working on, there is a small side-plot that was partially inpired by a Japanese Anime called Trigun. This doesn't mean I copied the storyline or characters in any way, or even the basic idea. I simply found something I liked that seems to follow me around and lend itself to my story.

Exactly, there are only two things writers tend to do during a Literary "period." If that style of writing is popular, then they will continue on the trend. If they feel a need for a change, or just want to be different from everyone else, then they will go with the complete opposite of the trend, in hopes to start a new trend.

Hope your story goes well Saraphim .