Writing Tip #15: Dare To Be Different

Nobody likes a knock-off. They might be cheaper to produce, but only because they are inferior, tacky, and ultimately useless. This is especially true in writing, and savvy readers will be able to spot a rip-off a mile away. If you simply copy and paste the elves from "The Lord of the Rings" into your fantasy story or have the knights of your universe defend the weak and innocent with "light-rapiers", don't expect people to get in line to read your story. However, if you bring a new and interesting concept to your series, they will be amazed. For example, if you want to create a fantasy series, instead of drawing from Greco-Roman mythology, try Nordic, Assyro-Babylonian, or African mythology. If you're doing sci-fi, flavor your work with deeper science instead of just rehashing "Star Wars" or "Star Trek." Or look at the advanced technology used by earth's ancient civilizations to gain ideas for what direction it would have taken if used on a different planet. Also, don't be afraid of creating fusion. For example, although I primarily write fantasy, I also love organized crime, so I use gangs a lot in my writing. I love biblical history, too, so I use events which involved ancient Israel, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome in order to brainstorm ideas for how history on my world would pan out differently. Make your work new and exciting and you will not only attract new readers; you will keep your old ones as well.