A while ago, Layla and I decided to collaborate on a story. Well, we just recently got around to figuring out some of the details, and here's what we've figured out so far!

Premise: In a land divided by a massive mountain range, dwell two groups of people: the magic users, and the non-magic users. Each race dwells on one side of the mountains, which are nearly uncrossable, besides a single pass. In years past, the two nations were at war, because the magic users believed they should rule over everyone else. However, the mountain range prevented anyone from winning, and the two nations formed a sort of truce: as long as the non-magic people sent 10 children to them every 10 years, as tribute, they would not attack. The non-magic people, not in a position to refuse, agreed.

The story takes place many, many years later, during a Selection. My MC, Arden, is selected, and must cross the mountains and enter the unknown land on the other side. Layla's MC, Kandace, is the daughter of one of the selectors.

Characters: Layla and I will each have an MC, and we plan on alternating chapters from the two girl's POVs. Other than that, there will be the other 9 selected, and anyone else who might come into the story. We're working on the characters right now.

Setting: This is the other we're working a lot on. I'm developing the non-magic world, and Layla has the primary setting of the magic world.

Anyway, we'll be posting our work as we go, so feel free to give your opinions! And we're both really new at the co-writing thing, so bear with us.

Why do they want children and how are the children selected?

No offense, Lady Abigail, but this sounds a little too much like the Hunger Games. Maybe you should at least call the tributes something else. Even if your story is nothing like the hunger games, people will see similarities like that and assume you are plagiarizing or at least not coming up with your ideas by your own originality. Again, no offense, I don't know what your story's like, but with the hunger games being the #1 book and movie in the world at the moment, you may want to consider a few changes.

None taken.

Actually, I've thought about that a couple times. The premise I gave up there is really the only similarity, though, and it doesn't really form the main plot of the book - just the background. (and the word tribute... which I would definitely change. ) And the differences are pretty big: it's not dystopian, it's not first person, the main character is nothing like Katniss, the tributes won't be fighting each other at all (they're separated and sold as slaves, basically), and there isn't a love triangle (yet... ).

If Layla and I were already done with the book, I would be worried about it... but since we haven't even finished the development stage, I'm not too concerned. It's going to be quite a while before we finish this thing... if we ever finish it. Both of us are super busy, so this kinda took the back burner.

ahh ok. just trying to help. wouldn't want your hard work going to waste if it was a "knockoff", as it were.
One of the books I wrote is rather similar to the movie The Art of Getting By, except mine is The Art of Escape. And my MC draws just like the MC in the movie. And it's romantic, well in parts. I don't know if this is enough, or if the movie is popular enough, for my book to be called a knockoff.
Also, another book I started is set in a world similar to Panem, in that it is set far in the future, in the new civilization after wars that wiped out pretty much everything, and it's also first-person present tense. I hadn't even read the hunger games yet, just so you know I'm not being a hypocrite about the knockoff thing. And I'm wondering if people will think my ideas unoriginal because of that.

I hadn't read the Hunger Games yet, either... though Layla was the one came up with most of the premise. And I don't think people will think your work is unoriginal! There are lots of post-apocalyptic type novels out there... it's what you do with that setting that makes your work unique.



I know. I was more thinking out loud in the last post than anything else. But the premise does have a lot of similarities to Hunger Games, so it was good that you forced me to think it over.

ah ok. you're welcome, hahaha

I haven't read the Hunger Games either, and I've only skimmed the thread, but I'm going to throw my opinion out anyway...

The premise of paying human tribute predates the Hunger Games by several thousand years. The idea originates with the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Greece had been conquered by Crete, and part of the terms of their submission was that every seven years they had to send seven youths and seven maidens to be fed to the Minotaur, kept in a great labyrinth by king of Crete.

So, as long as that's applicable, no fear of plagarism there, because the idea goes way back.

Maybe not plagiarism, but people would think she was being unoriginal. Even people who know about the human tribute thing you just said. Because the HG is so popular.

I don't think it sounds like The Hunger Games, because they're not fighting each other etc. So it's a completely different idea, and not copying at all. From the sounds of it, the idea is completely different from The Hunger Games. The differences are massive really,and not remotely alike, in my opinion, anyway.

So do they just want the children as slaves, full stop? Or are they wanting use of their magic powers - or am I totally getting mixed up there.

Co-Writing must be really fun! Plus you have each other to spare one another on.

Let us know how it goes!

The story itself sounds very original, I was just pointing out a few things that may need changing if she doesn't want people to think of the Hunger Games, like the "tribute" thing. Being the #1 book, movie, and album in the world right now, I think that the first thing most people think of when they see the word "tribute" is the Hunger Games. I was just sayin.

That's a good point; even if your story is entirely original, sometimes a term or a simple thing that happens to be a lot like a big hit can make people think "Oh, it's just a _____ ripoff" and you wouldn't want them to discount your book because of it. I've faced that issue with the Firmament books, and was careful to change some positions and terms just to differentiate it from Star Trek, even though the stories are way different.

Thanks, Lady Amaris They were ganging up on me for a while there... LOL