There are only seven basic plots—Rags to riches, quest, voyage and return, overcoming the monster, comedy, tragedy, and rebirth. Having been actively reading for the past three decades, I can attest to the fact that sometimes coming across a story that feels totally fresh and unique, is like finding a needle in a haystack. If you read and write a ton, like me, you can probably predict plot twists and story resolutions within the first few scenes of watching a film or reading a novel. But original stories do still exist. Some hit the best seller list. Others are self-published by newbies. And a few, like Andy Weir’s The Martian, do both. So how do you write a story that stands out when roughly four million books are published each year? By standing out, I’m not talking about the quality of the writing or creating a compelling voice. I’m referring to originality from an idea and plot perspective. Below are seven originality tips.

1. Put three unlike things together and make them believable. When I first started writing I devoured books on craft. I read a book about creativity. I can’t remember the author of the title because it’s been so long. But the author mentioned writing stories that combine three unlike things, such as a ballet dancer, a picnic table, and a Mexican cartel, and using your writing skills and creativity to create an original plot. I’ve tried this hack myself with good results. Consider giving it a shot.
2. Get beta readers to read your material and read a lot. I think #2 is especially important if you’re writing a story in a genre you’re not overly familiar with. I remember critiquing a sci-fi story that a writing group member sent me. Not being a sci-fi reader, I thought the story was super creative and unique. But then, I started reading more sci-fi and realized his story was filled with overused tropes and cliches. Being educated and aware definitely leads to more original choices.
3. Go with your third or fourth idea when plotting. This concept is stated often. But it’s a good one, so it’s worth repeating. If you’re trying to decide how a character should react or act, avoid the obvious choice. Remember those kids’ books where the reader chooses the path? Take a cue from them and take the time to brainstorm various courses of action for your characters.
4. Explore and even go off on tangents during your first and second drafts. Given that I’m an intuitive writer who writes into her stories, doing #4 is natural for me. But if you’re a plotter, I can see how not following a plan could be scary. But if you have a detailed outline to fall back on, you can always pivot and regroup if the plot of your story goes awry. I don’t know how a plotter’s brain works, but I do know that as a pantser, the story ideas I come up with before writing are never as original as the ones that evolve organically when I’m writing my novels. Just something to consider.
5. Focus on details that pertain to the setting, the characters’ appearances, as well as backstories. I recently started watching Hulu’s The Bear. To me, the story feels different from any restaurant show I’ve watched before. It’s realistic, immersive and intense. The show also stands apart because it’s so nuanced. For me, it’s these specific details that set it apart. Sometimes adding details can take your story from generic and formulaic to award-winning, like The Bear, when it comes to plotting.
6. Never forget that people are all unique and that writers are people too. Instead of following publishing trends when it comes to storylines and plotting, lean into your unique writer person-ness, and your story could get noticed. For example, most readers prefer stories with closed happy endings. But if you’re a realistic person who likes to think and wonder, maybe write a novel with a sad open ending like John Green’s YA novel, A Fault in Our Stars.  In the case of tip #6, being unique also means being authentic.
7. Take a cue from Bravo’s Housewives franchise and make sure that your subplots are compelling and unique, not just your main storyline. In a recent article, Would a More Human Housewives still be watchable? Sccachi Koul says, “The worst things a housewife can do is to fail to bring a plotline.” Sometimes the subplots set a story apart, not just the main storyline. When it comes to plotting, don’t ignore secondary characters. Make sure that your supporting characters have compelling goals and unique storylines too. Think F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and Nick Carraway.

I hope the above tips are helpful. I’d love to hear any ideas about writing stories with original plots that you might have! Feel free to contact me. First and foremost, keep writing! Thanks for reading!