I've been writing since 2005, or at least posting things I wrote since then. My goal was not to repeat things. I tried to describe things differently and have different plots and different characters.
Recently, though, I've gotten some mail that complains I'm repeating myself, in terms of plot.
So I decided to reflect on this. I sat back and plugged in my earbuds and pushed "play" on my I-pod, and started thinking. A while later I realized that two songs in a row were about the same thing - love. Sure, they were different songs by different people, but the theme was the same - love. I pulled up my playlist in the computer and saw something interesting. A hundred different artists ... all writing love songs. And I like them all.
This does not mean I think things should be repeated. But some themes are produced in many different ways.
Take for instance the old, tried and true, guy living next door to two hot teen twins, with an equally hot mother, and he's part of their daily lives. You know what's going to happen. And even if two different authors wrote it, you'd still know what was going to happen.
For me, the fun is in seeing how it unfolds. That part should be different.
But don't be surprised if you read something of mine in the future, and realize it's a similar plot to one I wrote last year.
Thus is presented the metaphor for my next offering, which will be about a guy who lives next to two hot teen girls, who have an equally hot mom.
It's totally by accident, folks. This time it's about ice fishing, and a reader came up with the plot. It was his idea, not mine.
I just liked it.
See you in a few weeks. And if you're one of the ones who feel like I'm repeating myself, then pass this one up.
Bob