Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Twin Talk Tuesday

We've all been there. You're going along, thinking you have the bestest WiP EVER. Then, you see it. Your idea. Sitting on the shelves in Barnes and Noble. Written by someone else. Or maybe it's a movie coming out this year. Or a T.V. show you just saw. The point is, we've all been there. We've all felt the despair that our brilliant, one-of-a-kind idea has been snatched up and sold by someone else.

Never fear, my friends. We could spend a whole post telling you that ideas, while important, are only as good as their execution. That even similar sounding stories will be completely different in the end. But you guys know this already. And besides, it's much funner to SHOW you.

Renee: Today we are going to illustrate how execution is everything. We're going to take the exact same idea and each write our own synopses for it.

Diana-Now realize that we are identical twins. We grew up in the exact same house. We read the same books. Saw the same movies.

Renee: Have a creepy, psychic connection. . .

Diana: Exactly. So if there were ever two people who could potentially write identical stories, it would be us.

Renee: I'm very interested to see how it turns out, actually.

Diana: I hope we don't disprove our whole point.

Renee: Only one way to find out. Okay, so we need an idea.

Diana: Hmm. *thinking*

Renee: *brainstorming*

Diana: I know! How about a girl who can turn herself into Jello?

Renee: Pure genius.

Diana: I try.

Renee: Perfect. That's our idea. A girl who can turn herself into Jello. Go forth and write your synopsis. Meet you back here in a bit. In the meantime, enjoy this visual inspiration.

*TIME PASSES*

Renee: Okay, I'm ready! VERY interested to see what we came up with. Here's mine:

Hello, Jello

In a family where everyone has special powers, Matilda Waters got the short end of the stick. Her brother can fly. Her sister walks through walls. Matilda? She can turn into strawberry jello.

When her family is captured by a secret government agency, Matilda is left behind. Apparently she’s not the only one who sees her power as useless. Distraught, Matilda seeks out the help of the Hinklesons, a fellow power-wielding family. But they’ve been captured as well. Only Andrew Hinkleson, their dark, dangerous foster child, is left. Matilda fears all is lost, until Andrew reveals that he also has a special power. He can turn himself into a corn dog.

Together, Matilda and Andrew form a mock catering company, and manage to land a job catering the secret government agency’s annual summer picnic. On the menu—corn dogs and jello, baby. Revenge never tasted so sweet.

Diana: Brilliant.

Renee: *bashful shrug* Aww, come on. Let's hear yours.

Diana: Cursed

For Alice Mint, having a mother who is a beautiful enchantress has many perks. She always has whatever she wants, lives in a beautiful home, and has lots of “help” with her schoolwork at the mortal high school she attends. Life seems perfect.

Then, one day, one of her mother’s jilted lovers puts a powerful curse on Alice so that she won't become like her mother. He curses Alice that if she makes a boy fall in love with her, she will turn into Jell-o. Literally. That poses an interesting problem for Alice, who is an enchantress-in-training.

Alice teams up with Jake, a handsome young Lifter (someone who steals powers from Warlocks), to find the Warlock who put the spell on her and break the curse. The only problem is Alice is falling fast for Jake and she can see in his eyes that his feelings are growing. Can she break the curse in time? Or will she spend the rest of her life as a tasty dessert?

Renee: HA! That's really good, actually. WRITE IT.

Diana: Maybe I should, maybe I should.

Renee: Well, we've proved our point! Look how different those two stories are. And they both came from the exact same, very specific story idea.

Diana: It really should put any fears to rest. The stories WILL be different. It's all about execution.

Renee: Amen, sister.

So there you have it. Nothing to worry about. Just ignore that book/movie/T.V. show, and keep working on your brilliant idea.

20 comments:

Josin L. McQuein said...

LoL. A few months ago, I had a mid-level hissy fit over the Red Riding Hood movie that's about to hit theaters.

First there was Sisters Red, then Red Riding Hood, it seemed like "reimaginings" for RRH were everywhere! (Yes, 2 instances qualifies as everywhere in my mind when it's high on hissy fit fumes.)

Granted, neither Sisters Red, nor the film have anything in common with my story, other than the source material, and there's not a werewolf to be seen in mine, but still... the fit was thrown.

:-P

Tere Kirkland said...

LOL, this was lots of fun! Just goes to show you how important execution, and giving your writing your own unique twists, really is.

Thanks, ladies!

Ruth Josse said...

Someday those stories will be on bookshelves. Get to work ladies! I was wandering through Barnes and Noble the day and the teen section was littered with vampire books. Apparently that idea is endless.

Kasie West said...

Well there goes my story idea. I had a jello plot in my WIP. Oh wait! It's completely different. :) That was funny, guys. Loved it.

Candice said...

Oh the powers of tasty food transformation! I'm laughing and laughing and laughing here. I honestly don't think anyone has come close to writing either one of those books. I think you have a potential MG comedy on your hands.

Renee Collins said...

Josin-Believe me, I've thrown my share of hissy fits. At least one a year, actually. It just shocking at first, when you come across an idea that sounds so similar, especially when you feel you have a small niche. We've all been there. :)

(P.S. I think a re-imagining of Red Riding Hood sounds awesome. :) )

Tere-Exactly! Everyone will bring something unique to a story idea.

R.S.J-haha, thanks! I think Diana's story has more potential. Though I would love to explore the inner workings of Corn Dog Boy's mind. No doubt it would be interesting.

Kasie-Stick with your Jello subplot! It will be your own. Besides, I think Jello stories are going to be the next big thing. *fingers crossed*

Candice-You know, it really might have potential. Who doesn't want to be food from time to time? To turn into some nice, fresh Jello? YUM. Every kid's dream. ;)

Chantele Sedgwick said...

Oh my gosh! Jello and a corndog. What a brilliant couple! LOL

So funny. It is true though. Sometimes we see one of our ideas on a bookshelf, but the story itself is very very different from ours.

Great post guys. :)

Anonymous said...

This was a great post!

Miriam Forster said...

Don't mind me, I'll just be over here dying of laughter... *dies*

Sage Ravenwood said...

Hilarious! Loved both versions. I truly believe if you stay true to yourself, you'll have a book as unique as your personality. (Hugs)Indigo

Phoebe North said...

This is stunningly brilliant. Really love both the queries, as in, I'd read either of these. ^_^

Unknown said...

That is too, too funny! There is nothing I love more than someone making a valid point using jell-o.

That being said, if I read about a book deal on PM involving either of these ideas and that book deal does NOT have either of your names attached -- I'll know you been robbed.

Renee Collins said...

Chantele-Indeed, Jello Girl and Corn Dog Boy are a match made in heaven. :)

Nkrell-Thanks!

Miriam-I'm glad we aren't the only ones who find our ridiculous conversations amusing. :)

Indigo-Very true! I love that distinction. If you try and write to the trends, you may well disappear in the sea of imitators. Staying true to yourself is the key.

Phoebe-hehe, thanks! Maybe we'll pave the way for the Jello trend. :)

Kristen-I'm going to be watching PM very closely now. If anyone is going to milk the Jello market, it will be ME.

ali cross said...

What an awesome fun way to meet you guys! I came over from Chantele's blog, and I can't wait to read more of your blog!

Aleeza said...

what a way to prove a point. ha! love this! :)

Renee Collins said...

Ali-Welcome! Thanks for coming by. :)

Aleeza-Thanks :)

Jessie Oliveros said...

Wow, I loved them both. And it REALLY puts me in the mood for red jello. Although now that seems a little cannibalistic. Great, now you've ruined one of my favorite deserts. Just don't mess with pudding.

Renee Collins said...

Jessie-lol, but Pudding Girl is the planned sequel! It will be brilliant and sad. The kind of book to never leave you.

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