Face the Page

“Imagine how little good music there would be if, for example, a conductor refused to play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on the grounds that his audience may have heard it before.”—A.P. Herbert

“There are only 7 basic story plots.”
“There is only one basic plot and that stems from conflict.”
“There are twenty basic plots.”
(Click here for short description of each of these theories.)

They may argue on the exact number, but to be sure, the number of plots in literature is far less than the number of great stories. Don’t be afraid to explore a common plot or theme. As long as you write honestly your unique combination of personality, experiences, education, voice, and influences will give whatever plot you choose originality. No one else on earth has the same set of circumstances you do, and for that reason alone, no one else can see the world quite like you do.

“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.” --C. S. Lewis