I have heard - "there is no such things as an original story". It's all been done before. The zinger or selling point is doing it in a unique way, with an interesting hook and/or twist.

Your approach to the century old, "Boy meets girl, boy pisses off girl and loses her, boy gets girl back" is what makes it a truly interesting story.

It's interesting. The Rosebuds have an annual plotting weekend, as well as Cheddars brainstorming sessions and plot books with one another. We have often said, we could take the one outline and six of us write it up and come up with six totally different stories. Each has their own voice and style.

So, how do you find that thing that sets you apart? How do you come up with a hook or gimmick that will sell your book over another? I wonder that so many books actually make it to print sometimes.

Summer of '04, I got a bunch of books (100+) at the RWA conference. I made a valiant effort to read as many as possible (all but 20 or so - woohoo!). Funny thing - I read these two in a row. Different authors, different publishing houses and the same story. Not only the same story - hero/heroine had the same jobs in both books, the heroine even had the same name. And keep in mind it wasn't Jane or Sue it was a unique name. The H/H past relationship was even based on the same experience - too freaky. (one Author a NY Times best seller - the other making her way up there)

Depending on the day, I am torn between this being a good thing, "Well surely *I* can get my book(s) published, too." or a bad thing, "Why do I even try."

Haven't decided what day today is yet . . .