Inadvertently Butchered

[jethrien]

I've got one story, an urban fantasy piece, making the rounds that has gotten comments that it's a bit too like the Dresden Files. Another one, a classic fantasy, just got rejected with the note that the sidekick is too similar to Bob the Skull.

The really annoying thing? I wrote both of these before I ever read a Jim Butcher book!

Comments

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Tiger Boy has a similar (non-)relationship with Jasper Fforde. Drives him absolutely batshit.

[firynze.livejournal.com]

I'm just WAITING for someone to tell me this, or to tell me I'm too Pratchett. Even though I've been writing in both modes since well before I'd read either author. Sigh.

Personally, I think there's room out there for more Dresden-ish stuff. I WANT more occult detectives, damnit!

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Impressive on his part--I've always been rather dazzled by the breadth of Fforde's imagination.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

It's a fine line to walk. People definitely want more of things they like, but you don't want to be too derivative.

I'd like to write more with this particular character, but I'd kind of like to get this particular story sold first before I write another one. That, and I now have two stories that need revising, a halfway completed novel, a novel I've mostly given up on revising, and, oh yeah, a novella to write. So there's a bit of a backlog.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Great minds...?

[firynze.livejournal.com]

True, but at the same time, I feel as though sometimes editors are looking for a reason to just blow through and keep going. Some things ARE too derivative; other times, they seem to want an excuse for why they don't like a piece.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

I've actually never yet read any Fforde -- I had only vaguely heard of him before, and then it was such a sore subject that I always felt it would be disloyal. :-} I should put some on the library list.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

That may give me more credit than I deserve.

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

Um. Aside from suggesting that you should post your stories on LJ for our enjoyment as soon as you feel like you can, I'm afraid I don't have much else to suggest.

Mm, more Butchered stories ...

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's going to happen.

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

Oh well. Worth a try :) You will let us know when you get them published, yes? :)

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Of course.