That Awkward Moment When

[stunt_muppet]

You think you've come up with a fun, interesting, and meaty plotline for your Big Huge Crazy AU...

...and it turns out that a similar plotline already cropped up in an RP several months ago. Which means it's probably not as novel/interesting as you think it is.

FFFFFFffffff this is why I at least need to start keeping track of RPs, or at least bigger ones like Wake and CnC - so I don't end up looking like I'm ripping people off. I mean it's not too similar, but do I need to ask for credit or put an inspiration source in the author's notes or what?

Also I need to be addressing these envelopes why am I not doing that right now. Or at least writing if I'm not going to do that. Or any other of the dozen and a half things I've got to do. 

Comments

[artoni.livejournal.com]

...what plot?

Besides, EVERYTHING HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. Feel proud in 'ripping things off' :3

[stunt-muppet.livejournal.com]

TFA!Optimus meeting all the other continuities' Optimuses (Optimi?) and not coping well with the realization that this is who he's "supposed" to/expected to be to get the timeline back in order, especially since he's meant to be Supreme Commander and the last time he tried commanding anybody (the war that sets up the AU) he lost and lost badly. Turns out there was a plotline similar to that in The Wake a while back where TFA!Optimus switched bodies with SG!Optimus or something to that effect and freaked out a bit. I don't know the specifics, I only found it off of like_a_bossbot's HMD, but the similarities were there.

Fair point, especially with the sheer volume of fic this fandom produces. And I'm already stealing obscure plot points and characters, I suppose nipping from an LJRP isn't that much worse.

[justnuts.livejournal.com]

Honestly, if you came up with the idea independently of the RP, you shouldn't have to cite it as a source of inspiration.

TBPH, there is no such thing as an idea that hasn't been done before. What's important is that you do it well and entertaining.

[stunt-muppet.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't even have known to credit it if I hadn't found it, so that seems okay. I just didn't want anyone to think I was running off with their plot/characterization.

[justnuts.livejournal.com]

Cross that bridge when you come to it?

Honestly, you'll most likely be in the clear. There is so much content on the internet and off.

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

Two words: George Lucas.* ;-)

Which is to say - everything either has been done before, in which case one can convince oneself one shouldn't do it again, or it has not been done before, in which case one can convince oneself nobody would be interested. ;P

This is why I am trying harder to give up caring about whether my story ideas have been done before.

*For a not-so-obvious example not referring to LOTR or the Bible... somebody just pointed out to me that Darth Vader is space!Mithras. O_O

[stunt-muppet.livejournal.com]

Pssssh, good point. Although to be fair, all the Biblical references are in the public domain. >__>

And yeah, I'm sure I'm not the first or even the second to use the particular plot in question; the specificity of it was what got to me. Though it is in a completely different context, so...yeah.

I should worry more about writing the thing and less about inconsequential plot plagarism.