How do you know if your story ideas are creative enough to stand out from the crowd?

-I have an idea for a novel and I think it's original and I haven't read anything exactly like it before but then again I haven't read every single book in the world. so how do I know it's everything I want. I think I love the idea and how I'm writing it but I keep asking myself why would anyone read this and at first it was helpful but now I'm not sure what to do. I really want this book to say something and even now when I feel that I've made everything bulletproof I wonder if it's not. Also I'm a first time writer and when you're a first time writer you think all your ideas are genius and completely amazing but you're blinded by the fact that oh wait it's not. I really think that my idea, plot, plan, concept, writing style is totally creative but then again am i being delusional. How do you know that your story idea actually is creative and imaginative enough.The idea counts as half of what you need, you need good characters, your writing has to be interesting and captivating. I'm aspiring to be an author and in an attempt to keep myself from getting things wrong i've been reading book reviews (Big mistake by the way it just makes you paranoid about how much criticism you might get) and i read a review on an eighteen year old's novel. Almost all of the reviews were negative, saying how close-minded the views were and how uninteresting the plot was. But everyone said at the very end of their negative review that it was well-written. if you can get balance between good storyline and good writing, you've got nothing to worry about.

And to be honest creativity is a useful tool but being able to tell your story and really make your reader FEEL is better. If you're writing a story that has been written thousands of times before, but you do it exceptionally well people still enjoy it. But if you manage to have a unique well-told story that YOU yourself enjoy reading, that's all you can hope for.

Hope that was helpful.Start submitting short stories to university literary magazines and develop a reputation for being a talented writer.|||It's not the idea that makes them stand out from the crowd, it's how you write it. An idea is worth nothing if you can't make that come to life, and in this case by writing it. Note that every idea has been done anyway, what sets one story from another is how they approach the idea, how they twist the idea, how they incorporate their own voice to the story. You could have the best idea in the whole world, but if you can't write it good then it's worth nothing. Idea's aren't copyrighted anyway. To me, and many people, characters are more important than the idea. If we don't like them or believe that they are realistic enough, then why should we read on when we don't care what happens to them? Of course there are a lot of other things that help bring the story to life, but I truly believe that characters serve a huge part into whether someone likes a story or not, because I usually find myself rolling my eyes at a certain character or muttering under my breath how stupid they could be to go in there. So make sure you don't spend all your time trying to be original, the characters need major attention to!|||Honestly, I think the idea is only half the key to standing out from the crowd. I think the writing style of the writer also plays a huge part. You can have a pretty lame idea, but if someone can write well, then it's more likely to capture interest than an awesome and original idea that's poorly written. Just write, and finish it. For now, write it for you. If it entertains you throughout the writing process, then it's more than likely that it will entertain your intended audience.|||Do what I do: Google it. It may sound stupid but I google things from my book and see what pops up. I've read at least one book in almost every single genre but like you said right; you cant read them all. You wouldn't believe how many times I've have to tweek and abandon stories because they have already been used or are being used. I'm a unconventional thinker and writer and tend to get at least a dozen different and 'unique' book ideas a day but atleast half will always be shot down by another writer's similar story. And I have an extremely vivid imagination for a 15 year old and some of my ideas are completely unique but some that seem unique at the time have already been used or looked at. Not in the same way but I don't like similarities in mine and anothers work. (it can really suck being born so late that or your good ideas have been used up -__-" )



So I suggest google phrases, titles and types of characters just to make sure. You can also run a brief/summary by avid readers and see if it clashes with any other books.



Try not to let other books you've read influence your writing too much. Always make it your own. The book is written by you not your favourite author.



Or add something unique to you. Your own personal twists and turns that define your work. I mean no one's work can be exactly the same as yours if you add your own personal twists.



Just remember there will never be or ever has been someone exactly like you on this earth and you need to get your ideas heard; even if someone has done something slightly similar.



(I mean, JK Rowling wasn't the only person to write about magic; her work was just the loudest in the crowd)



Hope this helps :DD