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So, I have been an avid reader of mostly Science Fiction since the early 60's and one thing that I observed was that the various writers seemed to "borrow" each other's "story devices". I am reasonably sure that some of the sage and seasoned writers here saw it happening.
I have read Beverly Taff, Maggie Finson, and a few others for years on line and in print before I came to either BCTS or Storysite, and I am reasonably sure that they are in the same Fraternity, or Sorority as people like Peirs Anthony, Issac Asimov, and many of the other hard Sci Fi authors, and can confirm that things like worm holes and space time continuum appeared in all their books. Most are not aware of the talent that quietly lurks here.
So after a two year hiatus, I am writing again, and this time will put a great deal of effort into it, and keep most religion out of it, to please this audience. Ah, there might be some cultural Persian in it, so I hope that it can be accepted.
Even as I am writing it, I can already feel the influence of some of the other authors in my story. Plagiarism is not intended. If someone believes I have done it then please be civilized enough to call me out in a PM. After all we are not children here.
I am uncertain when it will be done or even if I will use my present name.
Much peace
Gwendolyn
Comments
Using devices
Using some devices in by itself inherent. When Asimov wrote his stories he had used certain words or phrases from other writers, only his was placed in a more scientific field. But if you've ever read A Steel Cage you wouldn't think of it as Sci-Fi due to the nature of the name.
Plot devices have always been used and changed. Piers Anthony when he wrote A Spell for Chameleon only wanted to use a few puns, only to end up using several in later books by fans that have written him.
Warp Drives, plasma guns and such became part of the norm and not trade marked so others could use them. So in some sense its a form of flattery to be used.
The use of such items becomes trade able that to say you can't use them would limit the author to such an extent.
As for religion usage its how 'You' as the writer feel. Asimov skirted the issue in some respects but people found some in them anyway. The idea of a soul and so on.
Its when the writer tries to influence his or her belief on the reader that most readers become upset. If a character is strong in his/her belief on Christianity and another is a Buddhist then it becomes a part of the plot to be used. I understand that there are those that could not give a s**t not wanting to read it for they find it offensive while others couldn't give a snit. So there is no real way to not be bothered with it.
C.S. Lewis is a good example. He has always maintained that his books were not about religion. He had even at the time of his writing given up his faith yet to hear and have others claim he was pushing it. People will believe what they want no matter what others say. Puff The Magic Dragon is a good example. The song writers to this day have maintained its about lost innocence but there are those that say the writers are liars and such. They know better.
So my point is if you feel that religion or lack of needs to be part of the story I wouldn't worry about it. If its part of the plot device to flesh out a character than feel free to use it. Let the reader find out if its offensive to them. "You can please some of the people some of the time." But there will always be those that say the sex wasn't that good.
Literary Devices
"A literary technique (also known as literary device) is any standardized method an author uses to convey his or her message. This distinguishes them from literary elements, which exist inherently in literature." It's somewhat similar to a literary trope, "a commonly recurring literary device, motif, or cliché."
And of course there's the great wormhole known as TV Tropes - which has been known to cause a Tab Explosion. In amongst which is Gender Blending Tropes, oh, and there are some additional ones I noticed in stories here a while back...
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
The Main Sequence
I was going to point out much the same thing that mittfh did: in almost any genre, certain things, as a convenience to authors and readers, reach the point of being taken for granted, putting them on what some have called the "main sequence" in that subject. ("Main sequence" is the term for where most stars fit into a hierarchy: hot, short-lived blue-white giants at one end, relatively cool, long-lived red dwarfs at the other.)
One classic example: unless a science fiction story is more concerned about technology than, say, character development, it can use faster-than-light travel and/or FTL communications matter-of-factly as a plot incidental without explaining how it works or how it was discovered. Another, involved in fantasy, is that certain qualities can be attributed to, say, ghosts, werewolves or unicorns without explanation (e.g., ghosts can't be seen in mirrors; werewolf transition only happens or is more likely when there's full moon; unicorns look more like antelopes than, say, rhinoceroses). In westerns, expert marksmanship tends to be assumed -- a character can lose a duel because he doesn't shoot fast enough, but generally not because his shot misses the opponent, or because he's standing too far away. A reader is likely to get a more favorable initial impression of a character wearing a white Stetson than one dressed in black.
The notion goes back a lot further in time, of course -- professional storytellers of preliterate days undoubtedly used such devices both to make memorization and plotting easier and to shield listeners from unwanted plot surprises that might make the storyteller unwelcome. (Then and now, few would want evildoers to triumph just because they're stronger than the heroes; there's enough of that in real life. Tragedy should have some sort of a cause.)
Bottom line: yes, authors in a genre tend to read material from their predecessors, friends and contemporaries, and may well incorporate ideas they like. But in a lot of cases the ideas were there first, so to speak -- to the point where an author may have to explain herself if she doesn't take advantage of them, more so than if she does.
Eric