IT'S YOUR STORY // how similar stories still have their own impact

Last week I told y'all that I recently watched/read The Hunger Games for the first time, and I shared all the uncanny similarities I noticed between them and the Out of Time series . In case you missed my post last week: 

- MC Girl goes to Scary Thing and has to figure out how to survive

-Girl's journey is broadcast across the country

-Potential love interest in Scary Place with her

-But other guy who is also possible love interest is back home watching her journey unfold

-Attacked by wolves

-Somebody loses a limb (book only, in THG's case)

-There's a little sidekick girl

-MC comes back at the end triumphant and super famous

(there were things throughout all three books of each trilogy, but the most similarities were in the first books.)

Crazy, huh? When I was watching the first THG movie, I was just floored by all the little details and bigger elements alike that the two books had in common. And these were all besides the obvious fact that they're both YA dystopians, too. 

So, yeah, the two books/series are ridiculously similar in some ways, almost enough that it could have been on purpose. But you know what struck me about this?

Both stories are still vastly different.

Even with so many aspects that these books shared, did I feel like I was experiencing the same story when I was watching THG? Not at all. Sure, it's a dystopian about a teenage girl rising above the odds to survive and eventually change her world. Sure, there were scary similarities. But still, A Time to Die was in no way a repeat of The Hunger Games! 

So, what does this mean, exactly? What point am I making? 

Even though two stories may be similar, they are still different stories written by different people. And because of that, they each matter in their own ways. They will hit the hearts of readers in different ways. They will do different things. Though the overall idea of the stories might be the same, and though they might share a crazy amount of similarities, they bring different things to the table. 

Writer, if you're worrying about your story being too similar to someone else's- stop. Especially if you're in the early stages of writing it. Chances are, it's not too similar to really matter. And even if it has as many similarities as ATTD and THG, or even more... you don't need to worry about that right now. 

Someday you might need to. Maybe when you're in the publishing process and your editor says that X concept needs to be tweaked because it's too close to something in a story that's already famous. But for right now, just write your story. Maybe that element that will need to change later is necessary right now to make your story what it will eventually become. Or maybe it will stay exactly the same and will forever bear a parallel to another well-established story. That's okay. That other story is not yours, and your story has something the other one doesn't. 

(obviously there are exception. if you're planning on naming your character katniss... I can tell you right now that's not going to work out. xD)

And I think that goes for similarities between your own stories, too. Everyone always talks about elements and tropes they tend to weave into their books, and... my characters are always in hiding, from either the villain or the authorities. xD I don't know why. It's certainly not intentional. But for whatever reason, my cast is always either outrunning whatever is that storyworld-equivalent of the cops, or hiding from the villain. I've wondered before if that's a problem- surely it's something people would notice one day if all my stories are published and out in the world- but I don't need to worry about that. Maybe eventually I'll need to rethink it, maybe I won't. But even if I didn't change them at all, they are all still very different stories. 

So, if you're discouraged because you don't think your story is original enough, or you think it's too similar to a famous movie or book- take heart. Keep writing. Whatever your story is meant to be, it will become that if you don't give up on it. Imagine if Nadine Brandes had noticed all the similarities between her story and The Hunger Games, and given up on writing it. A lot of people's lives would be different, because her books have impacted SO many lives in ways The Hunger Games hasn't. (And the other way around!) 

Write that story, friend. It's your story. The world needs it. And only you can write it the way you do. ♥

I MAKE MY RETURN // what I've been up to on hiatus!

Hiii everyone! I'm officially back from hiatus! *makes grand entrance*

So, I was gone a little longer than I said I would be. I only planned to be away for the month of April. Then the first Saturday in May came along and I realized I hadn't written my blog post. xD SO, I decided then and there to go ahead and extend my break a couple more weeks. That way I could finish out the semester with minimal stress. 

And I'm glad I did! I'm so thankful that these last few weeks of school have been (mostly) relaxed and easy... but also SUPER thankful they're over. ;) 

Since I've been gone for a little while, I thought I'd share some of what I've been up to these past couples months! (going back to March, since I didn't do a monthly recap for it) So, buckle in for longwinded randomness. xD (it's been a while, guys. I've got to catch up.)

So many great books, guys!! 

I finally read the Ravenwood Saga by Morgan Busse! I've been dying to read these for a while, especially since I received a signed set this past Christmas. And what a delightful adventure they were! Such beautiful fantasy stories with one of my favorite representations of the Light that I've ever seen. 

I finally got around to reading the third Havok anthology, Bingeworthy! These anthologies must just keep getting better, because I think I enjoy each one a little bit more! 

I read The Hunger Games! More on that later, though, because I only read the books after I watched the movies and I have Things to Say.

I'm also currently in the middle of a few books that I'm really enjoying! I'm reading Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck, an ARC of Shadow by Kara Swanson, and the Warriors Against the Storm anthology. I don't even know what I'm doing with all these books. Don't ask. xD 

Oh, speaking of books and not knowing what to do with them. I bought... an exorbitant amount of books on hiatus. Just take a peek up at the photo for this blog post and... yeah. xD That's not even all of them. #oops

I won Camp NaNoWriMo! 

And my experience was quite predictably Emily-like. Meaning, I went (sort of) strong for a little while, then dropped off partway through the month, then got to the last week (or, like, two days in this case) and panic-finished. But hey, it worked. xD

Not only did I reach my Camp goal of editing 25k, but I also finished my second draft!! Roots to Claim has now been very roughly edited, and my next step is another read-through with some major planning and figuring out what needs to change because let me tell you, there is a LOT. In fact, I started wondering during Camp if maybe this needed to be a duology. *facepalm* I'm pretty sure it wouldn't need to go further than that (though I DO love trilogies...), but I think there might just be too much I'm wanting to unpack to just be one story. This will hopefully be determined when I go through it a third time and take notes of what needs to be done. 

Something writerly I did that was very exciting but also extremely nervewracking was: I sent the first ten pages of Once Upon (Trentley and Jynnia's story!) off for my paid critique at Realm Makers! I'm looking forward to it, but also am lowkey panicking about having to sit down for thirty minutes with somebody and talk about my story. xD (That's every writer's dream AND worst nightmare, am I wrong??) Before sending them, I went back through and touched them up a bit, and HELLO. I am still VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH TRENTLEY AND JYNNIA AND I ADORE THEM AND WANT TO ADOPT THEM. I'm planning on getting back to their story over the summer, and I am so excited because I love it so much. (I had my sister read over the beginning, which she'd never read before, and she said she already wants to see Trentley and Jynnia married. So, y'know. I'm doing something right.)

Aaand also related to writing, something huge happened in April, which was that the Realm Awards finalists were announced and I saw my name on the list. But I've already done no small amount of shrieking about that here, so if you're interested in me shrieking and haven't read it yet, go read that. xD

March 18- my birthday! I turned 23, with no shortage of sadness about aging out of my Taylor Swift year. Yes, I'm still sad about it. xD 

I posted a video on my YouTube channel!

We randomly got some snow? Like, 4 inchs?? On April 20th?? What even?? It only lasted a day and it didn't even get that cold, but let me tell you I was BAMBOOZLED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SPRING. (y'all know I LOVE me some snow but. come on. xD)

I slipped on my stairs and landed like an anvil and I'm 98% sure I bruised my tailbone. TMI? I don't care. Y'all gotta suffer with me. xD (did you know it can take up to 4 weeks for a bruised tailbone to heal? eheheh. still feeling it not gonna lie.)

One day when I was driving home, I saw a coyote run across my driveway! Where I live, we hear coyotes howling some nights, but we haven't actually seen one since we moved in close to twenty years ago. So, yeah, I was pretty surprised when one ran out in front of my car and fled across our field. xD

There was a Starbucks opened near me!! Before this past week, I'd literally had Starbucks once in my life, in a mall, and let me tell you I was EXCITED for this. I have a goal to try everything on the menu. (which isn't going so great since I went there yesterday and they were out of cake pops. not cool, dude.) 

I finished my second semester of college! So VERY glad to be done with that, although honestly this semester wasn't too bad. Still, I'm very happy to have the whole summer off. 

I watched the 2003 Peter Pan movie for the first! It was so fun! :D Very much would like to go on an adventure to Neverland now. 

The cuties!!

And speaking of watching things for the first time...

-PLEASE HOLD FOR THIS BRIEF HUNGER GAMES INTERMISSION-

(lol don't hold your breath on that "brief" thing)

SO. Like I mentioned, I watched The Hunger Games for the first time! This was SO overdue, as I've been wanting to watch these movies FOREVER. I finally watched them all with my brother (who had already seen them), and whew. What a journey. Soon after, I read the books for the first time, too, which was good because I was sad to be done with the movies and I missed all the characters. Then I finished the books and got major book hangover. xD

*Peeta throws burnt bread to Katniss* 

Me: "He's a bad baker. He can only make pita bread."

Also, can we just pause to talk about all the uncanny similarities between THG and the Out of Time series?! Because I thought of a bunch after the first movie it kind of blew my mind. There were a few later on, too (was I reaching for them at that point? yes). This is all BESIDES just the general dystopian vibes. Allow me to share: (beware, spoilers for both trilogies ahead)

Book 1: 

- MC Girl goes to Scary Thing and has to figure out how to survive

-Girl's journey is broadcast across the country

-Potential love interest in Scary Place with her

-But other guy who is also possible love interest is back home watching her journey unfold

-Attacked by wolves

-Somebody loses a limb (book only, in THG's case)

-There's a little sidekick girl

-MC comes back at the end triumphant and super famous

Book 2:

-There's snow 

-I SAW A BOWL OF POTATOES IN CATCHING FIRE (look, I told you I was reaching)

-A group of people work together to survive in the wilderness

-HER HOMETOWN IS LITERALLY BLOWN UP. That was the real kicker. UNITY VILLAGE. DISTRICT 12. GONE.

Book 3:

-There's an underground community

-In the Mockingjay movie, THEY LITERALLY USE THE TERM "RADICALS" for the rebels

-Scary Thing that Girl faced in Book 1 is done away with

??? Anybody else seeing this??? Because I was astounded. xD

And how about another mind-blowing revelation- PEETA MELLARK SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR MASCOT IN 2020. Why? Allow me to explain. 

-We felt like we were living in a YA dystopian

-Buying ramen noodles and toilet paper was like making a run for the Cornucopia

-And everyone learned how to bake bread??? And that's what everyone did all year??? THEREFORE. PEETA MELLARK 2020. TELL ME I'M WRONG. YOU CAN'T, BECAUSE I'M A GENIUS. 

The precious bread boy < 3

Aaand I think that's about all I've been up to lately! It's been quite a lovely break, but I missed posting and I'm glad to be back now! I'm working on my plans for this summer (mostly writing-related), and I can't wait to read ALLL the books.

I'm also planning to get back to making videos on my YouTube channel, so look for that as well! Until next week! ♥ 

HIII GUYS! What have you all been up to? Any big plans for the summer? And tell me I'm not the only one who sees the Hunger Games/Out of Time thing, because I'm still in awe. xD