Plagiarism? I call it "the sincerest form of flattery".

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery...

... unless you're writing a book. Then they call it "unoriginal".

They say that there are only seven basic plots in the world. Well, I investigated (*coughsputter* "consulted" the Internet) and found out that it's a lot more complicated than that. 1 plot, 2 plot, red plot, blue plot. Very confuzzling, indeed. I tried time and time again to simplify the information, but here's the fact of the matter:

Plots don't fit perfectly into neat categories, yet most - if not all - plots resemble each other in broad categories.

Chances are, you know this already. Middle Earth isn't 5th century England, but both Lord of the Rings and Beowulf deal with heroes setting out to conquer great evils. Jane Eyre and Harry Potter are both about orphans who go from rags to riches. Then there are the even broader trends, which I have absolutely no intention of describing. Point is, all plots come from some form of conflict, and there are only so many options with what "type" of plot you have.

Why is this important? If we consult my last post, we can see that cliches are generally BAD. But if everything's a cliche, why does it matter!? Calm yourself, my dear reader. I have an answer prepared.

Every writer is faced with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of writing something "original". Yet no matter how "innovative" our story is, it will never truly be a brand spankin' new art form (unless you write something bizarre that makes no sense). However, every writer should aim to make their story distinct and unique. Here's another list of tips!

1. Be a go-getting, trend-setting trailblazer. I just told you that you can't write something that's 100% original. But you can write something that feels like it! You'll notice that there are trends in literature. For example, a 5 minute trip to your local bookstore will reveal that the Y.A. section is currently dominated by Paranormal Romance. (Ew, Twilight!) When I was in middle school, those dark shelves were splashed with lime green and hot pink while chick lit stole center stage. Trend!

I'm not suggesting you ditch your current genre for something more obscure, even though the hipsters will love you for it. I'm suggesting you be choosy with your trends. For example, the brooding hero has made a recent comeback, thanks to Edward Cullen. If you have the best brooding hero planned since Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, then go for it. But be careful that your book isn't also populated with Bella Swans, Katniss Everdeens, Harry Potters, Percy Jacksons, etc. that keep him company. You'll sound like a broken record, repeating the same characters, locations, and quirks.

Hipster Darcy appreciates my love of the under-appreciated genre of historical fiction. I appreciate his face.

* Is Darcy a brooding hero? *shrug* Who cares. He's awesome.

2. Crack open your books and study, study, study. Just as there are general book trends, there are trends within genres. It's probably a good idea to be aware what other people in your field are writing so that you don't become just another title. You want to fit the bill for marketing within your genre, so don't stray too far! Just be careful: No publisher wants to pick up a book and either a) be criticized for selling a "knock-off" version of something else or b) get sued.

3. Consult your fellow bookworms. Speak with friends and family who are well-versed in literature, or better yet, your specific genre. Entrust your precious story to them. If the words "this sounds familiar" come out of their mouths, it's best to take a second look at your manuscript.

4. Take notes... just not very detailed notes... Reading your favorite books over and over again can be a great source of inspiration and a real learning experience. Note what you like about the book, the characters, the description. Absorb this information, adopt it, but never rip it off or try and copy the author's style. For example, in Princess Academy and even Palace of Stone, I love how Shannon Hale describes Peder. Miri associates him with smell, not just sight and sound. Sometimes she catches a whiff of freshly baked bread of his mother's soap. Or in Entwined, Bradford smells good too... Pine, I think? Those descriptions were so vivid and real, I am often tempted to flat out steal them! Especially Peder! Instead, I decided to take a tip from my favorite authoresses: In my last NaNo novel, Anthony smelled like incense from living at the church rectory. I learned how to utilize the sense of smell, but took nothing directly and didn't try to imitate the writing style.

Stick your nose in his cravat, Azalea! You know you want to! YOU SAID SO!

5. Trust your instincts, and let your heart be your guide. Go with your gut. If there is an aspect of your story that simply has to be told that has been done before, and you're passionate about it, you should still go for it. Originality depends a lot on the skill of the writer. If you've got some natural talent and you're determined, you can make it work. See #3 if you want to be doubly sure of your success before letting the world poke it with a stick. Otherwise, listen with your heart (see below).

Now, hit up the comments section, hit "follow" if you haven't already, and best of luck in your own writing endeavors. I myself will be busy sweating what I'm going to do about this 100 for 100 Challenge. Updates soon!