I also recall seeing a TV show or movie or series where someone in a pool transports elsewhere. I could Google it and then I'd know if I'm recalling something I've seen or just think I am recalling it.

Isn't there some line of thought that there are something like 7 basic plots in all of literature? Or maybe just one - some kind of Hero's Journey? It's a normal day, then something happens to change the world of the protagonist, then they have to take action to overcome this. I guess people find it entertaining because they see themselves in it. Everyone continually has this plot in their own life.

As far as originality, we're seen the same issue in music. Someone borrows a riff or a lyric and builds it into their own song. The borrowee and the public then decide if the new tune is original enough.

If it's true that there is one general plot line, then there's bound to be similarities in stories. Writers bring the context of their entire lives to their stories, blending things that happened to them with things they heard others talk about either person to person or reader/watcher to writer/movie maker.

And now, we have ChatGPT who seems to have read quite a bit of everything everyone has written and with that context and the understanding of language has been able to create "original" stories. But for sure we know in this case that it is ALL borrowed and just rearranged in a unique way.

So on a continuum from totally unique to totally borrowed, there's probably a sweet spot where it's borrowed enough from general human experience to be relatable yet random/new enough to be surprising and entertaining. I hope your writings find this spot to your, and your readers' satisfaction!

Just my rambling thoughts inspired by your nice original Post. Have a nice day! :)

ChatGPT is a horror story in and of itself.

It is the bane of every current author’s existence. You will now find authors that recoil in fear at the thought of it. I am one of them. We spent a great deal of time writing.

This is this especially difficult for me because I have to use a special voice program and it gets many things wrong. My hands don't work very well. So, I have to rewrite what is written and it is very difficult for me to write long form now.

Therefore, it takes me a great deal of time to get anything written.

The fact that program is able to do it quickly and in a way that is easily able to fool people means that it is going to screw up a lot of people's lives. Especially when their livelihood comes from earning money from books that they write.

Having said that, you could look at Aliens and Starship Troopers and suggest that they have a similar story. However, they are quite different apart from surface issues.

You could also say that the boy in the pool that transports isn't the main idea of the story. Perhaps the main idea of the story is some secondary thing.

The secondary thing is really the main thing.

So, I think almost all of it is subjective aside from a direct rip. Some stories directly rip from others. Some songs too.

However, I think it's pretty obvious when that happens.

I appreciate the long reply.

I think, when it comes to entertainment, there are very few truly original ideas left. Most of what is popular is just rehashed from other times/generations and adapted to modern times.

I was thinking that too. I think the boy that transports is from an old black and white movie. Things that were happening in that time would be very different than things that are happening now.

Always good to hear from you.

So many modern stories are adapted from ancient stories as well. Thank you, it's good to have you back here!

It's cool you remember your stories. I forget in a flash, if I haven't put it down.

I don't think any story is new under the sun. They've all been done already, in some form, and I think a lot of writers actually get themselves caught in this folly of trying to create something that hasn't been done before. 100% new? Sounds impossible.

I think it was Hemingway who said you need to learn and read, because the stories have been done already. You just need to figure out what's been done, and how you can do it better (aka in a way we ain't seen before) ;)

Cool post.

I my experience writing more academic articles, all we academics do is read a bunch of other people's work and paraphrase it into our own original words and cite sources. There's really no originality unless you were the first person to discover something. As for fiction, it's not often I see original scenarios but the characters and stories can be different. That's why I can watch ever post-apocalyptic world TV show and movie and still be entertained. I've been gone a long time and it's nice to see you are still writing stories. Just dropping it to say hi and visit old friends posts.

Sorry for the late reply. I somehow got logged out. I'm glad to hear that you were doing OK despite the difficulties. I think things have become more difficult for everyone. I'm glad to hear that you have a comfortable place like a farm. I really do hope that things are working out well for you.

Heya! Kenny sent me your way awhile back, but I've been away. Getting back to Hive myself.

I'd say that technically, every story has been written in some sense— the 7 plots theory and whatnot?

I think the important thing is just to write. Without judgement or parameters, freely. When we worry and make rules, sometimes we just don't write at all (at least in my experience). The big thing in my book is not to use AI, I think that is wrong, for many reasons.

I hope my musings on this help you take it easy on yourself and enjoy the creative process more. Will go check out some of your more recent stuff! 😁