The Art of Originality Editor: Kit 
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What's been your most unusual idea for a story or poem?
It's not always easy to be truly original. That doesn't mean it's impossible.
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about the new and the unique.
Kit |
It's not easy to be original. Want to write an action/adventure piece? The reader will have certain expectations. And whatever you have in mind, there's a good chance that it's already been done in one form or another.
That's not to say that it's impossible. Every type of story has its original thinker behind it. The first space adventure, the first car chase. As technology evolves, so will stories involving that technology. Sometimes inventions are even dreamed up by fiction writers before they become reality. You may, then, come up with an idea that's never been done before. But it's difficult.
There are a few main themes in literature that can roughly be summed up as: man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. technology, man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. reality, man vs. God, man vs. no God and man vs. author, with the word 'man' here standing in for whatever gender or species your main character might be. When reading older works that main character is usually, indeed, a human man, and whilst that may have changed with time, the main themes remain the same.
It makes sense. Our species has always tried to make sense of the world around it. We try to figure out our place in it. The meaning of life, the meaning of existence. And, unfortunately, we are as a species quite prone to conflict. Most of us believe ourselves to be on the side of good, and need to feel as though, in the end, evil will be defeated - whether that evil is external or internal.
So many of us love to read about heroes who battle evil. In The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings we follow a diverse bunch of characters on their journey, and as we get to know them we may just learn a little bit about ourselves. What would we do if we were Bilbo, or Frodo? Would we be able to see the journey through to its end? There are humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, and each has their own strengths and weaknesses. It's only by working together that they can overcome the obstacles ahead of them, and complete their goal. Books like the DragonLance novels follow in those footsteps - and they are wonderful in their own right. I do very much love dragons.
Some popular themes at the moment involve groups of young people who must compete against the other in order to survive, save their kingdom, or secure a very necessary prize. The main character is usually at a distinct disadvantage, and has a secret that must not be revealed. Or, the story is set at a cut-throat academy where, again, the main character is up against people far more powerful and has a real struggle ahead to succeed/survive... but they are special in their own way, even if they may not know it yet.
Sports-based novels are doing well right now. They're often centered around romance, but depending on the series there is plenty of action as well. It's not that easy to be original when it comes to sports. The underdog team battling to make it to the finals; the former star athlete overcoming illness/injuries/setback and getting their final chance at success; the former star athlete working with the underdog to help them to succeed. It is, after all, harder to write an interesting story about a successful athlete who keeps on being successful throughout than it is to write about someone who has to overcome obstacles in order to finally earn their trophy.
Which ties back into there being expectations. If we're going to invest our time in an action/adventure novel, or movie, there has to be some kind of excitement. There has to be some kind of tension. Action/adventure is a broad genre, of course. But you know what you're getting if you go to see an Indiana Jones movie, or buddy cops, if there are pirates, or if there's a hero who must rescue a family member, or finds themselves on the run. To change things up is risky. Subverting expectations can be a major success... or leave your audience exceedingly disappointed.
There is a desire, though, for the original. When everything's the same old story it gets, well, old. To succeed in bringing something new to the table, there are a few key requirements: make it make sense, avoid plot holes, know your audience, don't try to shock your audience just for the sake of it, and don't add twists that are essentially meaningless. Game of Thrones' Daenerys losing a dragon because she forgot about the iron fleet may shock the audience, but it makes no sense because they'd discussed the iron fleet earlier on in the episode. Also, hiding the most vulnerable people in a crypt when you're facing creatures that are known for awakening and controlling the dead is definitely not the kind of move you'd think your most intelligent characters would make. Just to name a few examples.
Being original is good. As long as you're smart about it. It's tricky, but it can be a lot of fun.
Have you written something totally original? Let us know, and you may well see it featured in a future newsletter.
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
Kit
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Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team
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Action/Adventure: August 12, 2026 Issue [#13895]
