Seriously. I've spent 2 years planning and writing a novel (I mostly work in short stories, this has been a huge undertaking, not that my experience in unique) to learn that it already exists. "Captive" by Gabrielle Estres is the story. It isn't published quite yet, but I was doing some research on stories involving a more non-fictional Vlad Tepes and found this and I'm so sad right now. I've never felt ready to write a novel, but got the idea and took this on when I became friends with a 1st generation Romanian (I'm 2nd) and it has been such a fun project. I've been reading a ton on Vlad's Wallachia and talking myth and folklore with Romanian relatives. This project has been my baby, is all I'm saying. A snippet of the"Captive" blurb: "Tempted by power and blinded by his burning need for vengeance, the Prince devices a diabolical plan which will have devastating consequences for both the innocent and the guilty. But when this terrible, merciless tyrant sets eyes on the innocent girl he has chosen as the unwitting instrument of his vengeance, he will finally learn what it means to love. Torn between power, vengeance and love, he will drag her into his world, driven to possess her heart and soul." Mine is different in that the main character, instead of Vlad's slave, is a mythical creature who is also Vlad's favorite spy/assassin. I also have a much different host of characters, but the general plot is similar. How do you all deal with this? Am I overreacting? I know rationally that I'm being silly. For all I know, this project will end up in the "unfinished" bin. I think it's because it's felt like such an authentic endeavor.
Okay, so Gabrielle Estres has written a historical fiction/romance involving Vlad the Impaler, whom we all know and love, and you're writing a historical fantasy (a mystical assassin in service of Vlad). I don't think you'll have much of a problem. Just my opinion, mind you, but first, any story involving a historical figure is going to be somewhat similar to any other story involving the same historical figure, unless it goes severely off the rails (Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter). Second, the one sounds like a pure bodice-ripping romance, while yours involves some sort of magic. Knowing only what I read above, I don't even see much of a crossover audience for the two stories, unless there's a legion of Vlad-heads out there who will read each and every line written about the man. I had a similar problem when I read Terry Pratchett's Eric. The opening bit concerns a kid summoning something that he thinks is a demon, but isn't, which is exactly the crucial initial moment in a story I was working on. Put it away for about a year and said fuckit, I came up with the idea independently, and the rest of the story is different enough that worst-case, I can call the scene an Easter Egg.
Oops, I deleted the post before realizing there was a reply. I reasoned myself through it :'D Thank you for your words. I just got done reading the first chapter. It opened with a white dress femme fatale and there was, indeed, bodice ripping. I was in shock for a minute. I've done things similar to other authors - that's normal and expected, but the blurb for that story sounded like I could've written it. There's a first time for everything. Nice! I'm sure that as I continue to write, changes will be made, perhaps a few eggs will be laid.
They don't like it sometimes. Other times, they seem to be fine with it. I can see how someone might get confused...
I could have sworn there was a rule about not deleting posts, but when I went looking one time I sure couldn't find it. Maybe it got deleted.
I thought there was a rule as well. But I've reported deleted posts in the past and nothing's been done about it, so maybe you and I shared the same hallucination? I wish we'd find something more dramatic than "rules for an internet forum" to dream about!
Hey, I just came across your post and actually signed up so I could reply to you. I completely understand the frustration of finding that your story has already been written, but I don‘t think you should worry to much. I‘ve read the book when it was published on Wattpad: It is a historical / fantasy, heavy on history and comperatively light on romance (the romance you get in that book is pretty dark, but pretty far away from the graphic descriptions of the „clssic bodice ripper“). The focus was more on the themes of vengance and power, which was pretty nicely set in the historical context of the war between the Ottoman Empire and the Christian West. So if your going more down the fantasy Instead of the history road, you will be fine.
I wouldn't worry about it. When you actually start writing your story, don't be afraid to take things in an unexpected directions. While writing you are going to have tons of opportunities to make your story unique. The other thing is that you haven't actually written this novel so even in the planning stage you still have a chance to switch things up.
