I feel like my book is too similar to famous existing novels? [closed]
Closed by System on Nov 26, 2018 at 13:05
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I won't get into all the details, but my book is about four characters that realise that the universe isn't what it seems. They fight for power against someone who has held a long-standing dictatorship ... much like Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. I think one of my main characters is too similar to Hermoine Granger and Katniss Everdeen. My plotline is similar to that of the Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan and my fantasy world is too much like Matched by Allie Condie. How can I make my book different and stand out from the others on the shelf? I'm afraid I may be called out for plagiarism.
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I'm not familiar with every book you list, and of course I haven't read your manuscript. A lot of the themes of novels, and a lot of characters as well, are fairly universal. Or at least common. It's a lot more of a problem when you're finding your plot, your world, and your characters all seem to come from the same book (or series or author).
Plagiarism involves lifting passages from a book and calling it your own. Intellectual theft would be stealing the ideas. It's unclear to me that you've hit these levels at all. But certainly be cautious about it.
On the flip side is homage. Where you recreate a scene or character from something you loved. It needs to be subtle and your own. Some homages are explicitly credited ("with thanks to..." etc). With others, if the reader is familiar with the work you're referencing, s/he will understand what you're doing. Homage is not accidental or hidden.
In-between is just, well boring. If your work is too much like other stuff out there, it may not be legally an issue, but it won't resonate with your readers as much as a truly original work (or maybe it will...some readers really go for repetitive themes).
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