User blog comment:Banned In CP/I Keep Accidentally Ripping Authors Off and I'm at a Loss/@comment-37261931-20181113221255

Think of it this way: Instead of worrying about being a copy or rip-off, take the BASE idea of your story and theres (E.G The point of the stories, their themes, how what they copy means a different thing or works differently) and see if your story at its core is truly a copy. After that, add new aspects that push these concepts in different directions, this way you can make the idea more unique or better or even completely fresh without having to give them up. Look at a rip-off not as just as a copy, but something that is inferior.

We all copy or have similarities with other writers here and there, and it's perfectly ok. Just be sure to make sure your story at its core is diferent and how the events play out and you should be fine. A rip-off is only really a rip-off if it tries to mooch off the success of the original, better material, without differing itself other than a few insignificant things that don't mean jack shit.

Just try to tell a good story, and as long as it plays out differently you'll be fine. If you basically end up writing a better version of the story then all the power to you. Try not to stress and let your mind roam free.