Unconcious plaigerism repost from DW

[threecee.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I get what seems like a good idea for a story, but as I start fleshing it out, it starts to seem very familiar. I will start to feel pretty sure that I have read a similar story at some point even if I can't find it. (I have a pretty good memory for things I've read, so I could easily have read it a couple years ago.)

I don't want to accidentally take over someone else's story, but there are a limited number of possible plots unless you go to AU. For example: Napoleon and Illya are hiding from THRUSH in a deserted cabin and one of them is hurt. Used a lot, but is my variation really different or am I remembering it?

Does this happen to other people? How much do you worry about using a similar situation as long as you (think you have) put your own spin on it?

Added: I have found a term for this! Cryptomnesia

"Cryptomnesia occurs when a forgotten memory returns without it being recognized as such by the subject, who believes it is something new and original. It is a memory bias whereby a person may falsely recall generating a thought, an idea, a tune, or a joke,[1] not deliberately engaging in plagiarism but rather experiencing a memory as if it were a new inspiration." Wikipedia "Cryptomnesia" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomnesia accessed May 13, 2019

Comments

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was accused by one person of plagiarism because I used the trope of a character coming back after people believed he was dead. The accuser said another writer had used that trope about the same character. I mean, you can't win with people who don't actually know what plagiarism consists of, nor that concepts and premises and even general plotlines are not copyrighted, formally or informally.

Sigh.


Edit to add: As for scathing rebuttals, people who make accusations based in ignorance should be grateful to have that ignorance corrected, so they don't make fools of themselves again (well, at least not in that manner).

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

The individual has never shown any signs of being open to correction, is in fact persuaded, it seems, of proprietary entitlement to everything MFU. No matter, she doesn’t exist here 😎

[threecee.livejournal.com]

They were attacking you on behalf of someone else? Someone appointed her the fanfic police?