I had scoured the internet, because surely someone had used this idea before. How could they not? It was so simple and yet so brilliant. Days passed. I couldn’t find an example of it anywhere. I had come up with the basic idea for my thriller novel, Succession of Power, many years ago. But pieces of the puzzle formed in my mind back in 2015. It was ready. I spent more time than I’d care to give checking that no one had written or produced a story like it before. I was so excited to see that it had never happened.
It came out in 2016. I wrote it fast. An idea that I’d first come up with in about 2001. Then a few months later, the ABC network released the short-lived show “Designated Survivor“. Even though the context was different, the log-line was essentially the same. A total coincidence. But I was devastated.
In the first few months, when I told everyone about the book, they were like “wow, that’s a great idea”. Post-Survivor, every response was “oh, that’s like that Kiefer Sutherland show.” Heartbreaking.
The premise and start of Designated Survivor was the same as mine, but then they went off in very different directions. I took some comfort in seeing that when ABC went in the direction they did, the show started to loose it’s momentum, after the early promise of a great idea. It eventually flopped, after a partial revival on Netflix. I mean, at least my instincts were right about the idea, because everyone – critics and audiences alike – loved that. But their long-term execution wasn’t so great.
But it still took my many months to force myself to watch the show. I was gutted about it all, and I’m not proud of myself when I say I kind of wanted their show to flop, so people would forget about it. I didn’t want Sutherland to helm another “24“. I’m still kinda happy that it flopped, sorry.
Look, it happens. Even between major film studios. Remember Armageddon and Deep Impact coming out at about the same time? How does that even happen?!
It’s a gut-punch. But also what I’ve learned is that it’s actually more common than you know. The wind gets taken out of you. You had something so unique. And then it turns out that the basic premise has been done. There’s nothing new under the sun as they say.
Here’s the best way of thinking about it though: The fact that your story has “been done” before, or that something big comes out after yours with a similar hook, means that your premise WORKS. It’s validation for your book. Your instincts are right.
None of that will make you feel batter when you learn your story has been done. Not right away at least. But long-term, it means you’re onto the right thing.
Andy Jones Online 