Not feeling my best

[lokifan_import]

Have you ever planned to write a scenario, or an idea - nothing immensely specific but you knew vaguely what you wanted to do - and someone got there first?

Now on one level, you're very pleased. It's well written and it's cute, it's exactly the sort of thing you would have done but different, and almost certainly better than anything you could have come up with. You're busy, besides, and have other things to get to first; you would have kept rejecting it as too fanon or not urgent for at least another couple of months. She's done it now, and it's great. You're enjoying it a lot. Really.

And still, despite the fact that it's selfish and stupid and makes no sense, you sort of want to sulk because damnit, I had ideas and I wanted to write it myself!

Am I the only one?

Don't get me wrong. The story I'm thinking of is extremely cute and I have faith it will be very well done. I just wanted to do it myself.

Argh. This is probably all misplaced aggression and depression after fighting with my parents. It makes me itchy, though, and uncomfortable with myself. I'm used to righteous rage and this is sulking.

Comments

[blindmouse.livejournal.com]

Have you ever planned to write a scenario, or an idea - nothing immensely specific but you knew vaguely what you wanted to do - and someone got there first?

Mm. No, never, but I have vague and constant paranoia about it. And of course you're going to feel miffed - that's a story that you already owned, in your mind, that you'll never get to write. That's tragic.

(Hm. Actually, JKR did use a minor plot device in Deathly Hallows I'd used in my WIP, which put me out slightly :-) Although I kept it anyway, and just looked unoriginal.)

[iwantasoda.livejournal.com]

-smothers you in love and runs off-

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

OMGoodness, yes! I've had that happen, and it makes me want to kick myself for not writing the idea when I first had it. Aargh! I agree that when it's happened, the other author has done a spectacular job, perhaps better than I would have done myself, but there is always that little pang of envy that I didn't do it when I first thought of, because if I do it now, it will seem like a rip off. Foo.

[soul-bound-8686.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. *is curious about the fic of which you speak*