Originality often seems futile. Can anything at all be original today? The answer to this question is both “yes,” and, “no.” When you narrow your synopsis down to the bare bones, you will most likely find it is not unique. This is just fine. Do not be disheartened by someone stating, “no idea is truly unique,” because in truth, it isn’t. You make it original by adding your personal ideas and details. When you are secure of your story, hearing this phrase will not affect you at all. This concept is actually to take the pressure off of your imagination. When you accept the fact that everything’s “been done before,” you will find it can open many new doors for you.

For example, we’ll use the bare bones plot line of, “Family/group flees a haunted house.” Now, look at these film examples:

• “13 Ghosts” (original)
• “Poltergeist”
• “Amityville”
• “The Messengers”
• “Rose Red”
• “The Shining”
• “The Haunting of Hill House”

Despite using this precise plot line, are any of these works actually similar? No. They use different characters, settings, tones, atmospheres, and circumstances. This is the stuff of originality.

Now, we’ll use the bare bones plot line of, “Group explores a new world.”

• “Lord of the Rings”
• “The Haunting”
• “Star Wars”
• “Star Trek”
• “13 Ghosts” (either version, family is introduced to supernatural world)
• “Alone in the Dark”
• “Resident Evil” (The Hive)

Again, are any similar? Not really. All have differences and no one ever really considers linking them for any real purpose.

When constructing your story, never fear when another questions originality. As long as there are writers producing material, many similar stories will be created, but due to their details, they will be completely different works.

We’ll explore one final example. The plot line here is, “Man/woman against Massive Corrupt Entity.”

• “DaVinci Code”
• “Stigmata”
• “Luther”
• “The Distinguished Gentleman” (with Eddie Murphy)
• “Erin Brockovich”

Would you ever consider these works similar? No. The first three are all quite anti-Catholic, but the respective stories are widely different. The latter two are both anti-government, but are they similar? Not in the least. They’re different genres, characters, settings, and all else.

Originality does not lie in the story line. It lies in everything else from circumstances to setting to tone and diction.