Same old, same old

[Zenith77]

It's widely accepted that most stuff these days has been 'done before' to some degree or another.

What happens when you write some trope without attempting a new spin on it? A cliche that just happens to be what you want to write, and it's different because it's the first time you've done it?

Have you ever done this? Was it well received? Did any comments you got reflect the fact that there was nothing fresh, or did it go down well anyway?

 

[Voboy]

Does not compute?

Why would you want to write something that's been done before?

I mean, to be fair, almost every story here is some kind of cliche or trope, or a collection of tropes. The fun part is putting your own spin on it. I'd assume that an overly derivative work would get downvoted, though that's just a guess; I wouldn't try to write a piece like that, and I doubt I'd read it any further once I realized it was just the same ol' same ol'. Unless it was exceptionally well-written. I'd just ignore it.

For example, I know I've written several stories that cover the same ground, just within my own repertoire. Age play with teachers and cops? BTDT, many many times. Space opera? Done it, in like 14 chapters or whatever. Wicked, sexy girls laying seductive traps for unsuspecting men? Hell yeah. Bunch of times. College lust? I've written scads. But here's the deal: every time, I've tried to put a fresh spin on it. Or else, I'd choose not to publish. And I do have some of those pieces I don't find special enough to post, despite them being done and dusted and ready to submit.

So, yeah. Does not really compute, to me.

 

[Jmanchu]

I'd imagine if it's something that hasn't been done for a while and can have some nostalgia value(Like writing a story meant to recapture the feel of a classic wild western, or old school pulp fiction sword-and-sorcery, or sci-fi) or has gone a little underground in terms of interest, then maybe. Just like music. You can write a sick guitar lick or a fire hip hop beat, but if similar shit's heard all around all the time then your thing might not stand out. If you write it for you, that's one thing. But for others? Well, if you find people there might be some who'll properly appreciate your piece, but most people want something a little different than what they're used to. Same old, same old can get boring.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I write women with long hair a lot, which is as tropey as you can get. Who cares if it's a trope if it's something that does it for you? There's no need to go into micro-detail about braids and a different type of plait, when a ponytail works just fine. If you want variation, give one character a high pony, the next a low one. This is such a non-problem for me.

But then, people keep leaving comments along the lines of, "This isn't what you usually see around here," so maybe my tropes aren't the usual cliches.

 

[KeithD]

I don't worry about that much. I'm continually thinking about writing something new, yes, but then I just let it write itself and don't obsess over such issues. I think reusing motifs in different settings is just fine.

 

[Duleigh]

I tried an original spin on the oft remade A Christmas Carole but it didn't get the reaction I was expecting. I guess my readers were hoping for something closer to the original.

 

[Bramblethorn]

It's widely accepted that most stuff these days has been 'done before' to some degree or another.

What happens when you write some trope without attempting a new spin on it? A cliche that just happens to be what you want to write, and it's different because it's the first time you've done it?

Have you ever done this? Was it well received? Did any comments you got reflect the fact that there was nothing fresh, or did it go down well anyway?

My first story here probably fits that bill. It's a fairly conventional romance; it's between two women, which makes it slightly less conventional, but still there'd have been hundreds of romances in the Lesbian category here at the time when I posted it.

I don't recall any complaints about that aspect of it. People are often reading for comfort, and tropes can be comfortable; as long as it's executed well, the fact that it's been done before might not matter at all to them. (My partner has a cake she makes a couple of times a year, and I still love it even though I've had it dozens of times.)

If anything, I'm more likely to strain my readers when I try to avoid those tropes. Probably the most pushback I've had (most of it still polite and gentle!) was in another story which began like a romance but didn't end like one; I still view it as a positive ending but the two MCs don't end up together, and clearly some of my readers were hoping they would.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think it makes much of a difference. You can write a story whose plot is totally derivative of stuff that's come before, but if it's well written it probably will do fine at Literotica.

 

[Paul_Chance]

I don't think it makes any difference. Fiction is sorted into genres by the authors, publishers, and readers for a reason. Tropes exist for a reason. There are plenty of readers that's exactly what they're looking for - in erotica, in science fiction, in mystery, in horror. For every groundbreaking thing that gets published there are a hundred that don't break any new ground, but get published and do well in the markets.

 

[TxRad]

A fuck is a fuck but are they all the same? Not even close. Diferent people, different positions, different points of view. Subtle differences can make a world of difference.

 

[alohadave]

You can write a story whose plot is totally derivative of stuff that's come before, but if it's well written it probably will do fine at Literotica.

Doesn't even need to be that well written.

 

[Bazzle]

It's widely accepted that most stuff these days has been 'done before' to some degree or another.

What happens when you write some trope without attempting a new spin on it? A cliche that just happens to be what you want to write, and it's different because it's the first time you've done it?

Have you ever done this? Was it well received? Did any comments you got reflect the fact that there was nothing fresh, or did it go down well anyway?

It is said that there are only 7 stories our there?

 

[TheRedChamber]

It is said that there are only 7 stories our there?

1. Shy girl finally loses virginity.
2. I walked in on a family member masturbating
3. My wife has a lover and I will get my revenge
4. My wife has a lover and I love it.
5. I was mistaken for a prostitute but when I heard the actual monetary offer I got thoughtful.
6. I'd never looked at another woman that way, until I did.
7. Oh look! A tentacle monster.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

1. Shy girl finally loses virginity.
2. I walked in on a family member masturbating
3. My wife has a lover and I will get my revenge
4. My wife has a lover and I love it.
5. I was mistaken for a prostitute but when I heard the actual monetary offer I got thoughtful.
6. I'd never looked at another woman that way, until I did.
7. Oh look! A tentacle monster.

Not even close

 

[Zenith77]

Not even close

He got 6 out of 7. Wasn't a bad effort.

 

[TheRedChamber]

He got 6 out of 7. Wasn't a bad effort.

Come on, don't leave me hanging - which one did I get wrong?

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I could write a story with a basic plot that some might recognize as a derivative of a classic story that they are familiar with but the characters, locales, conflict, resolution, and everything else would remain uniquely my creation.

 

[oneagainst]

It's widely accepted that most stuff these days has been 'done before' to some degree or another.

What happens when you write some trope without attempting a new spin on it? A cliche that just happens to be what you want to write, and it's different because it's the first time you've done it?

@Bramblethorn - agree. Some people read for comfort. They want what they like, same formula with slight permutations. Gets them there.

But as writers, it's a different job, I think: to tune out the noise and do something out of the usual. As @MediocreAuthor just said in comments on one of my stories, this game is all about presenting new things that readers might then discover they're in to.

I'm in final editing of The Light Between The Trees, due to start rolling out in May, and it's unlike anything I've ever attempted before, and unlike anything I've ever come across on Lit. It might just bomb completely but then what's the point of any of this if we don't at least take the shot?

 

[Duleigh]

Come on, don't leave me hanging - which one did I get wrong?

You missed: Hot elf/bunny girl/pixie turned out to be a guy.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

He got 6 out of 7. Wasn't a bad effort.

There are many more tropes even in the so called mainstream categories here. In the more fetish oriented ones there are dozens of them.

 

[TheRedChamber]

There are many more tropes even in the so called mainstream categories here. In the more fetish oriented ones there are dozens of them.

Alright, alright...

8. I thought his fetish was weird, but it turns out it's weird and hot. Who knew?

 

[Bramblethorn]

@Bramblethorn - agree. Some people read for comfort. They want what they like, same formula with slight permutations. Gets them there.

But as writers, it's a different job, I think: to tune out the noise and do something out of the usual. As @MediocreAuthor just said in comments on one of my stories, this game is all about presenting new things that readers might then discover they're in to.

That's my preference for writing, but I don't know that it's an imperative on writers.

 

[SimonDoom]

I encourage writers to take a varied approach to their craft. Don't feel you have to follow one particular way of doing things. Sometimes my story ideas are completely different, like Penis Fish. Other times they are inspired by stories others have written, and I tell myself, "I'd like to see what I can do with that idea." My Mailgirl story is like that. The mailgirl concept is unoriginal, but my story is my own personal spin on it.

If you focus on writing to the best of your ability, then it is likely you WILL put your own personal stamp on your story regardless of the subject matter or plot concept. That's plenty to be proud of.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Stories appear in my head and I write them. I don't really worry too much about the originality or new spin on a story. I write my story. I make sure it's interesting and sexy and as well-written as I can. When I finish, I make sure that I like it. Those are my only concerns. So far my work has been well received. In other creative hobbies that I have done or do, originality is VERY important to me. Originality counts. But I knew when I started writing erotica I knew that there probably aren't a million ways to "My Best-Friend's Mom". I did my version and people like it. Mama's Beach House.

 

[KeithD]

He got 6 out of 7. Wasn't a bad effort.

Well, no he didn't. It was a myopic attempt.