Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
Hmm. At some point, perhaps you are ready to emulate so-and-so and stand on that particular giant's shoulder.
I think the trick is KNOWING you're able to do it, and knowing WHY you should, not JUST doing to copy someone.
I don't know if so-and-so themself was inspired to emulate someone he read and admired, or if it was a totally original thing, but either way, if it worked, it worked, and they didn't need permission.
I wouldn't surprised if some editor at first told Dickens "Sorry, kid, I know Chaucer did it, but you ain't no Chaucer," but Dickens was confident enough in his talent to ignore him.
(I've never read Chaucer and have no idea if Dickens did anything he did, it was just the first pre-Dickensian literary giant name to pop into my head. Shakespeare! I should have said Shakespeare!)
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I was actually referring to em dashes and double spaces for dialog as an example. One author thought that was what "Cormac McCarthy" did so he did it too.
I once looked through a CM book and no he didn't.
Another example was Hugh Howey writes serials so I am just copying him.
1. Two different genres. 2. HH did have some resolution. He didn't just throw in more problems.
No, the person in the above example had not actually read any part of Wool.
Oh and I think everyone has copied Shakespeare in one form or other.