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Has every possible story already been told?
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H.
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Feb 05, 2021 09:19AM
Literary analysts have pointed out that every work of fiction consists of a set of parts and patterns sequenced in one of a limited number of ways. It seems the only differences are a few names and other trivialities. Has every possible story already been told?
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Emotional involvement with a character is what most readers of fiction are seeking. Never gets old. Every character's story is his own.
I think the possibilities of storytelling are limitless, just as the particles of the imagination are limitless. Our thoughts will combine and recombine different elements to produce a newness that will compound itself. Take a rock and a pond. You can throw that rock to skip it on the water--a simple story--or you can analyze the rock to determine its origins. The possibilities are endless. And the truth of the matter depends on how you relate (narrate) that experience to life.
History doesn't repeat itself, but it does echo. Likewise, our stories.
Every conceivable subject matter has been explored in story telling, beginning with the first legends and exploits shared in caves by primitive humans to the present. That said; eclectic tastes and preferences of avid readers have inspired unending, inventive variations and approaches to every subject imaginable and will continue to do so ad-infinitum.
Many similarities and themes but endless ways to retell them. Always a little different and new to learn, such as this unique story where I try to illustrate the great question of mankind, why does God allow evil, pain, suffering: https://www.theoriginofgod.com/monkey...
History is much like an endless waltz.That's a quote from Gundam Wing's OVA, but it holds true today.
Furthermore, it doesn't mean that the waltz is any less beautiful or terrible.
Every person has their own unique story within them. Question is whether or not they want to share it... stories emerge every day just like our experiences do.... I don't believe every story has already been told.... what would be the point then of exploring ? wishing ?
Billions of people are presently living on this planet, each of them with their own personalities, ideas, hopes, challenges and beliefs. Billions more lived and died during the past decades and centuries. There is no way that every possible story was told. In fact, I believe that we will never be able to tell all the stories which could be said. One person's way to say 'I love you' to another person is not the same as another 'I love you' just because the same words were used. It is the passion and feelings behind the words which make a story.
Michel wrote: "Billions of people are presently living on this planet, each of them with their own personalities, ideas, hopes, challenges and beliefs. Billions more lived and died during the past decades and cen..."While I am not sure that I agree with the premise, but judging from the romance novel industry, you may be onto something.
That said, I think people crave stories that take them beyond their own life experiences, at least a little, if not a lot. While each individual represents a unique story, I think there are common elements that create a compelling story.
Some people live exciting and daring lives while others drudge through a tedious mediocrity. I would prefer to think that there are only so many stories worth reading in a short life.
They say there are only seven basic plots:The plots:
Overcoming the Monster.
Rags to Riches.
The Quest.
Voyage and Return.
Comedy.
Tragedy.
Rebirth.
Some say there are two more - Mystery and Rebellion, but others say that both of these can be included in the above. A mystery is also a quest; a rebellion story is also one about overcoming a monster.
Obviously, they can be interpreted either literally or figuratively.
Davida wrote: "They say there are only seven basic plots:The plots:
Overcoming the Monster.
Rags to Riches.
The Quest.
Voyage and Return.
Comedy.
Tragedy.
Rebirth.
Some say there are two more - Mystery a..."
I like to think there are combinations and variations, but essentially I agree. The nuance for the author becomes the creativity in how to layout those classic stories, and the characters or voices through which you breath life into the lines.
I write realistic techno-thrillers where there is always an AI technical threat layer, within a political/ church corruption layer, that sits over an end-time prophecy layer. Rich characters, fascinating locations, complex moral themes and (as one reviewer wrote) - pulse pounding, grab you by the throat thriller action that contains elements of comedy and romance.
What can say - over achiever? Crazy? It keeps me busy.
Are you kidding me? 2020 could not have been foretold. And 2021 is not taking it's foot off the pedal. We've already seen an insurrection at the Capitol and a former President impeached for a historic 2nd time. If writers can't find new things to write about after the past 13 months, they should take up a different job.
As a writer, where a particular character in a story takes you is limitless. It is like a building block. You start initially to construct a two- storey building and unintentionally keep on adding more floors until one ends up with a skyscraper but is still not finished for there is no end point to character development. No fictional story is ever completed in the real sense for it can be developed further and further, depending on what the narrative is all about.
I think on must add creation stories. I don't mean world creation (Genesis) necessarily. Many stories are about creating something from nothing or creating a different form (Pygmalion). I see these as distinct from rags to riches stories. This of course leads to protection stories and the combination, that is creation and protection.
Bruce wrote: "I think on must add creation stories. I don't mean world creation (Genesis) necessarily. Many stories are about creating something from nothing or creating a different form (Pygmalion). I see these..."
I would say that creation stories would be mostly about creating characters and then building them up in front of the eyes of the readers.
I would say that creation stories would be mostly about creating characters and then building them up in front of the eyes of the readers.
The old saying "there is nothing new under the sun" is my philosophy. With that being said, people should not stop writing stories so we can just read the classics. Though the story may have been told before, it has not been told by a particular author. What separates stories from one another is the voice of the author, character, and setting. A story told in eighteenth century Spain is much different from the same story told in modern day Spain. Just like a story written by a female American author who moved to Japan would sound very different from one written by a male African author who spent their senior college year in Australia. Stories are the same as much as they are different.
There have been and probably always will be variations, circumstances, and approaches to various subject matter utilized by writers to tell a story. That said; diligent research and investigation will undoubtedly reveal that the subject matter has previously been touched upon in some story in some manner at some time or other.Originality in story telling dwells not in the subject matter itself, but in the mind, imagination, and skillset of the writer who creates a nuanced approach or variation regarding the subject matter.
I could agree that every plot has been done, but not every story. There is a difference.There are stories I still want to read. Who was the very first vampire, and how did he become that way? I'd love to read that story. The same goes for witches or zombies or werewolves. There are a lot of "origin" stories that haven't been done or at least not well.
So for me, there are plenty of possible stories left even though the basic plot has been done over and over.
I've been wondering about this for some time and your points of view are all very interesting.I agree that when writing a characters story, anything can come from it. My favourite phrase is "My characters aren't behaving." Sometimes I see this as a set back and other times I have more patience and allow them to roam. We can try and force them into our plots but once they're developed enough they really do take on a life of their own. If you can allow that to happen then the possibilities are endless, as said before.
We can start off with an age old plot line hut by the end something whole and new is created.
Davida wrote: "They say there are only seven basic plots:The plots:
Overcoming the Monster.
Rags to Riches.
The Quest.
Voyage and Return.
Comedy.
Tragedy.
Rebirth.
Some say there are two more - Mystery a..."
So all comedies are the same story???
