Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-29791712-20150525090340/@comment-29791712-20150526044825

Whitix wrote: So first off, this seemed pretty well-written (I didn't spot any glaring grammatical errors, besides the word "gunna" in the second to last paragraph) and was definitely pretty creepy. That said, there are a few issues I see.

This story bears a striking resemblance to 09/17/10, uncannily so. The way the tapes are named, the stalking, the subsequent brutal murders, and the constant wish of the narrator for this to all be "just a prank" are very similar to the events in the previous story. The motive in your story is more fleshed out, but I'm not sure that makes it better. I'm not here to accuse you of plagiarism, but the similarity between the two is striking. I'd try and find a way to differentiate your story from 09/17/10.

The idea that someone would record and leave these cassette tapes around is a bit ridiculous. There's no reason our narrator should stumble across these tapes, nor is there a reason why the murderer should be using cassette tapes in the first place. This story is set in 2015, I don't believe for a second that some dude is running around with an old camcorder, stalking and murdering women, and then leaving the tapes in front of an apartment building. Why not have him deliver a set of CDs or a flashdrive or something? That part bothered me.

Other than that, I thought the story was solid, but that's because it uses the exact same plot and premise from 09/17/10. You really need to make your story more distinct between the two. To tell you the truth I had never read the story 9-17-10. I'll check it out as soon as possible, since my stories reminds you of it. But other than that thank you for responding. I'd try to see how I can make my story different, and clarify the reason the antagonist was using VCR tapes.