MOW: Originality

[DjHamHam411]

Its funny how my forensic piece is about originality in movies and how almost every movie suffers from the lack of it. Movies go so far as to take books and turn them into movies aka cough cough the help. So thanks for supporting the originality stuff even though they may be in different medias they still both need wake up calls.

[Sing4ever9]

I freakin' LOVE The Historian!

[Ishta5]

research existing stories makes them original? lol thats the definition of not original

[kwanarchive]

Speaking of originality, I've been thinking about writing a TV drama.

It's about a quirky character who solves crimes, mysteries and health issues with his quirkiness. He's also appears a bit misanthropic at times, but it's actually because he's unconventional in an original way and that just makes him redeemable. It might take place in a hospital, but it's original because it's a different hospital.

[CarFox6]

I don't get why people dislike nightmares. They're like movies, but they're completely original so that you can use them for book ideas.

[Zukosbaby13]

You want original and well written? Check out The Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman. It's an urban fantasy series set in New York, and that's literally all I can tell you without spoiling it. This series is one of, if not the most original I've ever had the great pleasure of reading, and it's so well written. I'd love to hear your thoughts, or maybe even a review on them. The first one is called Nightlife.

[OtakuASSEMBLE]

Oh Melina, have I got a story for you, LOL. Whenever you get the chance, hit me up and let's chat.

[paladindragoongirl18]

Get this, original doesn't mean it's going to be well written. There are four categories:

Cliche and poorly written: There are plenty of these.

Cliche and well-written: People will read it as long as it is well-written and if there's creativity.

Original and poorly written: Just because it's original doesn't mean people will like it.

Original AND well-written: This is rare nowadays.

[paladindragoongirl18]

I think that sometimes we may think we're original but then realize that there's another story like that already.

[Lythya]

Seriously do that Henry the eighth incubus thing!!!!

[cherub4eva2]

Originality is one of my biggest problems. I write about ten pages and really think 'this is too much like burned or going bovine or hush, hush'. I'm really sure of they are or if they are just follwing the same sort of guidelines, but that thought makes me put that story aside. It really snnoyms me; it feels sometimes that all the original ideas have been taken. :(

[karleksvenska]

Can I just say...all of your videos are legit. All I can do is sit here, nod at my computer screen and agree with you silently.

[Aslara]

Really, you are one of the smartest teenagers, I have ever seen!

[FantasmaLuna]

It's funny you should mention the idea of Anne Boleyn as a witch 'cause a few months ago I was at the Harry Potter exhibit and it had portraits of historical figures like Lord Byron, Paracelsus, etc. to indicate they had all gone to Hogwarts and Anne Boleyn was among them!

By the way, that idea of Henry being an incubus and Catherine being an exorcist sounded really clever! 

[ZeroMyHero99]

@FantasmaLuna

Her picture was also in the movie. When the trio are on the changing stairs and go to the forbidden corridor. Right beside the door.

[TomMSTie1138]

Melina needs to research Joseph Campbell and Lord Raglan's HERO PATTERN.

[Panzarkunst]

What is that poster in the back about, the one with the white background that seems to have a bunch of cartoon women on it?

[kickyc]

A succubus Henry VIII

XD

The most original book I've read is The Toxic Toadburger Conspiracy.

[XDreamingX]

These are some great tips. I'm actually writing a story (not sure if I want to publish it) about anthropomorphic characters, as well as elves, dwarves, even dragons. Maybe I should ask you for a critique sometime :)

[KielaNychelle]

your Lame Shut Up!!!!

Damn!

[MelinaPendulum]

@KielaNychelle Thanks

[ElenaTheMonster]

@KielaNychelle You  shut up

[ccrstarpanda]

i'm trying to write a story that came to me during tenth grade when me and three friends created out own characters, which i liked so much i'm trying to make a story about them. a great adventure

The plot right now's all over the place, but in general I've gone with a video game atmosphere and created my own world. (i made a map in paint to stay on track)

the enemies are demons, but it's deeper than just that, and there's a whole lot of character developement.

what do you think?

[SilentlyScreams]

@ccrstarpanda Sounds very interesting.

[EmpressJudge13]

That's a fairly hopeful assertion, about originality not being dead, just in hibernation. I like it.

[ahzria]

do you have a facebook?

[silentArtist00]

your advice has helped improve my creativity

[Bobio1138]

I agree that a lot of forms of media have a vast group of copiers. But there are still people out there that have original stories. The first one that comes to mind for me is the Assasins Creed game series. there is no other game that plays exactly like it or has a story like it. The Half-Life series is a great example of taken a old idea (alien invasion) and adding enough new elements and great characters. That its more fascinating then ever before.

[CarFox6]

@Bobio1138 The Silent Hill series is also remarkably original.

[Bobio1138]

@CarFox6 There use of camera angles is great. But I hardly played the game.

[CarFox6]

@Bobio1138 They're frustrating as hell to play, and not scary in the least, but the story is really great. There's nothing quite like it.

[Bobio1138]

@CarFox6 I dont like frustrating. But I believe you about the story.

[homersimpson091]

You are really intelligent. I always watch your videos because I am very afraid of what people think of my writing but when I hear what you say I always get ideas on how to make my own ideas better. I hear you're writing a book too? Well, I would love to buy and read it when or if you publish it ^.^

[whitehousesvc729]

Those are really great tips. I always found it hard to come up with different ideas for stories sometimes because I'm so inspired by novels that I read. Thanks, you just gave me a really great idea for a short story. (I don't want to start with novels. Baby steps, lol)

[EGLchan]

I thought having a supernatural girl with a normal guy wouldn't change anything, since it would still be the same concept. I've had that thought, though.

I've had lots of ideas for RPG Maker games, comics and such, but I'm too lazy to start working on them. Stupid me.

[allwhitestar]

Oh I love the Libbra Bray novels. She wrote them so well; sometimes it's harder to relate to different time periods, but Libba Bray did an amazing job with it.

[ToyletGnome]

What you said about originality is so true. If you strip down to the basic plot of the 1st Harry Potter and the original Star Wars, they are pretty much identical, however, the surrounding universe is so vastly different and there are so many sub-plots and details that each is completely and original. The basic plot is so easy to build onto there's probably thousands of books and movies that use it, yet each is so different most people fail to notice how close they are. Now that's originality.

[Nades129]

My vampire drinks chocolate

[MelinaPendulum]

how observant,

[persnikity12345]

@pgf95 dude, grow up.

[ReverieAvenue]

How about having a fantasy story about something other than vampires? Maybe a little more werewolves. Or fairies. I read this pretty good one about changelings (fairies) once. Ever heard of 'The Stolen Child' by Keith Donohue? Inspired by a poem of the same name by W.B. Yeats.

[AceOfSpades066]

Finally a teenager speaks about something important to the literary world.

Thank you!

[Tprinces]

hey, have you ever seen the movie "Let the Right One In"? It's what Twilight should have been and it's fucking awesome.

[blkeydfu8er]

YES! You're 1000% correct! The book is also 346456435643245643 million times better than Twilight!

[TheSteveTheSecond]

You are the shining ray of hope left for humanity, I swear.

An actually smart teenager who's willing to analyze what they see--it's a miracle.

This is a great series of videos, btw. I'll definately be watching the others. =3

[pgf95]

@TheSteveTheSecond yeah,but theres no way a black person would be "the shining ray of hope left for humanity".

[darknesstherentmore]

The MOW series is one of the best damn things on Youtube, it encourages analyzing, reseach, originality, exploration, in one word - Thinking. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Melina.

[rabbitsrock07]

I try to steer away from such reused "recycling plots." As a writer who really loves my hobby, I think that it's so, so important to have a plot that people can't predict. :) Most people that are original don't get that many reviews on their stories online, and I don't understand why when the stories are so exciting and away from the norm. D:

I've loved your series of MOW videos, and will continue to watch them! :]

[evinessioc]

The vampires in my current series are in a world where humans are obsessed with fictional vampires (basically Twilight-type vampires, but not said in the books.)

[EmpressJudge13]

I really respect what you're doing here. Your ideas about originality are spot-on and very articulate. I'm an unpublished author myself and honestly, your MOW series is one of the best things on YouTube.

[SarahLoGirl]

I think the Blue Bloods by Melissa DeLaCruz novals are pretty orginal. It's Historical and Biblical. It's about Vampires who are really angels that went against God and asked for forgiveness and they renicarnate every so often into diffrent Humans. When the vampires are 16 they get begin to get their memory back about their past lives which can be an easy or painful thing.

[TurkeyMayor]

Another good way to think of an original idea is to think about what you'd like to read. If you can't find it in any book, there could be an idea there. I struggled to find any romance stories featuring soldiers in a positive light, so I'm writing my own.

You've got some great ideas. :)

[MelinaPendulum]

I love that book, I got it ages ago ^^

[kblixt]

You are smart,funny, and have great points.

P.S. You are beautiful also.

[flare765]

awesome good tips!!

[DarkKendall]

I love Vampire Academy, but my friend Emi scorns me about it even though she hasn't read it. She's a little sick of the vampire-romance genre right now.

[WickedFairyEssence]

How original do you think is the idea of the main character in a book slowly becoming murderously crazy? Like, something horrible happened to the character in their lifetime and they create a plan to get revenge on whoever caused that horrible thing and then they become crazily obsessed with it.

That's basically the plot of a book I plan to finish and get published.

[MelinaPendulum]

IT's not 100% original, but no book I have seen at the moment has that...also which genre are you doing it for? YA or A?

[WickedFairyEssence]

Well, I'm hoping to do it for YA, but I don't know how graphic it'll turn out to be just yet.

[PyromanicMisfit27]

@WickedFairyEssence sounds a lot like the shining to me, but as the video here says, little things make all the difference. give it a twist you've never seen yet, make the characters into unique people. that's what being a writer is all about ^.^

[xXLyraHeartXx]

Or how about supernatrual guy and normal guy just throwing something on the thought pot XD I think that you are giving really sound advice.

[kaibaslave91]

i agree with u

its hard for me to write cause i want to be too Original when i wanna write a Fantasy story

(lol allergic to pee)

thats y i stay with real life story's things that happen or stuff that deals with things that happen in the mafia(lots of freaking research)

[Rischan789]

It's so hard to be original when you're read so many books. I mean, the novel I'm writing is about zombies. And you're right. I've done a lot of research on Voodoo and Hoodoo religion and the origins of zombies, and that's made a WORLD of difference.

But I'm having problems with the flow. XD It's getting better know that I'm getting more organized. Basically, my novel was just a random array of scenes. But now that I'm filling in plotholes, they're being connected in ways I didn't expect.

[otasnake]

Do you practice what you preach? Jesus did.

[MelinaPendulum]

Yes, I try to be original in my own writing.

[ForkMySocket]

There is no more originality--it's called post-modernity. Everything has already been done.

[MelinaPendulum]

I don't think so, I think if people attempted to do it, we could get a wide range of different stories.

[LucySanchez90]

I'd love to hear more about the series your writing. You have very good veiws on originality, so I'm sure it'll be very good!

P.S. How about supernatural girl, supernatural guy?

[MelinaPendulum]

Go for it ^_^

That's what happens in my book ^_~

[sparrowhawkspupil]

This reminded me of the Pendragon series. The books have a lot of originality in how the different worlds are connected and the overall plot of the series, but once I started watching more sci fi movies I realized that almost all of the worlds are based off of a sci fi movie. It's really obviously done too!

I still like the books, but part of me feels like they're a rip off. Oh well, guilty pleasures.

[UnfortunateSmile]

Research is a key part to writing literature and keeping yourself from looking like a total idiot...and heck...you get to learn something too! XD 5/5!

[lemondropeseverus]

I wholly agree with your point on originality... one point though ... what you said about Romanian mythology it is not true.

In Romanian Mythology vampires hardly appear if at all... all the kinds of "Romanian vampires" she uses are in fact the same thing they only are different names for the same creature.

Furthermore, the Romanian terms that she uses to define her vampires are in fact equivalent to what you could call "zombies" in English.

[MelinaPendulum]

Oh yes, silly me *smacks head*

Sorry about that.

[lemondropeseverus]

no problem! still your ideas about originality are really good! and you are right when you are saying that nowadays there are too many unoriginal books published because they sell well! Literature is not supposed to sell but to be of good quality...

[kabbybooks]

(continued) and many times when they do research, people still end up saying, this is exactly like yada yada. and I disagree that writing standards have gone low because right now the publishing industry is really tough authors are being paid less books aren't being sold as much and they get less money (my mom is an author, I know) and in the publishing process, many publishers look to see if it is "plagarising" and if they see if it's in any way like that, and if it is it won't get published

[MelinaPendulum]

I think that it is low just based on what I see getting, put out in the YA section (which is really where my videos are being directed . I am not as well versed on the adult section. Although from what I have seen. Their fantasy books are just as poorly thought up as the YA ones).

Also, I see alot of books that have nearly the exact same story with just different names or things added and taken away. It may not be plagerism, but imo, it comes very close.

[MelinaPendulum]

Also, this is all just my opinion, I don't pretend to know facts lol ^_^;;

[kabbybooks]

I disagree in a way. I think there are many popular books that have the similar genre of paranormal romance because that's what people (teens) are interested in. I don't think many authors are just looking at a book and re writing something because they like it. You said that people are buying books that are the same just to say somethig good about them, but really, I think people are buying the same stuff just to say how it's EXACTLY like another book (*cough* Twilight) and authors DO research

[MelinaPendulum]

I know most writers do research, but I have been seeing less and less of it in the books I am reading and yet these are the books that are NYT best sellers.

I also understand that the teens are into this type of book. However, that doesn't mean that every paranormal book needs to be same and right now alot, if not most, are.

[MelinaPendulum]

Agreed, but I think at the end of a story (or series) it should be clear what was red herring and what was foreshadowing.

[MelinaPendulum]

Oh the Henry VIII thing?

lol I came up with that when I was practicing this video before filming ^^;;

[angryazngirl]

¡That idea was brilliant! I'd totally read a novel like that!

[lookinglass123]

Haha. Originality.

It really is in hibernation. Writers just want to be a hit, sell their books, make their names, make money.

You really are original though - supernatural girl/ordinary guy. That's sounds so good :)

[KGnoMoM]

There's a references to vampire lore in Konstantinos's book 'Vampires: The Occult Truth' it's concise as well. Just something I should throw in.

[SouthCentralTV]

Who are your parents and how did you get so smart ????

[FantasmaLuna]

Have you read/seen Let the Right One In? 'Cause that one has a normal boy befriending a vampire girl and I think you'd like that.

I love your passion for literature and the things you have to say about it. You rock, girl! Keep rockin'!

[DivineGrief]

I love Let the Right One In!!! It was sooo good!!

[satanicwatermelon]

I keep coming up with characters, but I need a plot, a theme, a direction. I'm not rushing it though, luckily I'm not a professional who needs to worry about deadlines. o_O

Originality is most definitely a priority. ^_^

Excellent vid.

[katharinethequene]

I totally agree, writing standards have gone way downhill. Melina! You are always a voice of sense, and very interesting to listen to!

[disneyjasmine01]

You are so logical about this stuff.

Seriously I swear ever since I started watching these videos my writing has improved a hell of a lot because I always remember what you say.

[TsumeCrazy]

I'm working on a vampire story but I don't know if I want to get it published after I finish, because there so popular thanks to Twilight.

And, in my opinion, it's a lot different from most vampire stories nowadays. I'm still iffy about getting it published though.

[MelinaPendulum]

If you think its is good give it a try!

[LaurasBookBlog]

I really want to read that Henry-as-an-incubus story now.

[MelinaPendulum]

lol. Maybe I'll write it someday.

[bookwormfaeriegirl]

Would you recommend The Historian? How do you feel about Rose/Dimitri? How would you feel about other fantasy creatures getting a time in the limelight, and how do you feel about strong friendships in books?

[MelinaPendulum]

I HIGHLY recommend The Historian.

Um. Rose/Dimitri, I was iffy about it in the 1st book. She thought of him a little too highly. In the 2nd and especially the 3rd one I think their relationship became more human. In Shadow Kiss she realized he is not god and I was like THANK YOU.

Other fantasy creature NEED limelight. Especially non-humanoid ones.

Strong friendships don't exist anymore. Only in Gemma Doyle and HP do I see real friendship.

[bookwormfaeriegirl]

I read this great interview with an author that said that you ought to have realistic elements in your fantasy novel, and continuity, so that the world feels real and the readers are willing to suspend disbelief. About the VA series, are you a Dimitri fan? I love the Gemma Doyle books. I might read The Historian, now.

[MelinaPendulum]

I adore Dimitri. I felt sad at the end of the 3rd book. The Gemma Doyle Books are some of the best YA Lit around.

[goblingirl13]

Great to see you explaining these things in the video. I like all the points in the video. You've helped a lot. I once made a story in 8th grade about Anastasia becoming a vampire, and that's why she disappeared. I should dig that up.

Did you get the message I sent you a while ago with my specific questions? I assume you haven't had the time, with writing your own stuff. <3

[MelinaPendulum]

I thought I sent you a response?

*hits my head*

Bad Melina. I will send it to you before the night is over.

P.S

That is a cool idea!

[ForeverACharmedOne]

I really love watching your blogs, because even if there's something I'm already aware of, you broaden the horizon for it. Btw, Henry VIII as an incubus is a funny thought. If someone were to write a story like that, it could definitely make sense. XD Thanks for another enlightening video!

P.S. I read an article where an author was giving the advice that even if you think the idea is the worst thing ever, write it anyway b/c it's from the heart and that's better than writing just for money.

[VampTramp123]

You gave me hope for a brighter future!

All the things you said remind me of a quote that Anne Rice once said

"To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself."

That's why I've researched for 7 years now about my vampire story.(I have no life) :)

If you want to read a original YA book pick up Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. it sounds like a shallow book, but It's acually really good.

[HellDevil75]

Very entertaining video. You've made very good points, and examples. Maybe I should help by making a book about fire-breathing dogs who eat ice cream, and talk on cell phones! So orignal! Right? =D

[MelinaPendulum]

That's cool. What kind of ice cream?

[HellDevil75]

An alian ice cream from the planet....uhh...Erakiua! lol. =D

[MelinaPendulum]

I smell a best seller!

[HellDevil75]

No. It'd have to be written by someone as awesome as you. =]

[MelinaPendulum]

lol I'm not awesome