You Pick Up A Book. You Read. You Come Across Something That's Very Similar To A Bit Of Your WIP

Only one conclusion can be made.

The author stole your idea.

Disregard the fact there's a chance you picked the word up and don't remember where.

Never mind the author died 8 years before you were born.

Surely the fact their book was published 24 years before you even thought of yours doesn't matter.

They must have future-reaching, idea-stealing machines that rip the only brilliant pieces of insight away from innocent writers.

And, obviously, the only thing left to do about this travesty is . . .

Sue their estate
Sigh and do something else, and/or hope your readers haven't come across the book you're reading.

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Have you ever found a device/phrase/term/etc. in a book that's like something in your own novel? If so, how did you react?


-----The Golden Eagle