[Picture is four images put together: The first one an illustration of the character Allan Quartermain, from the book "King Solomon's Mines" and various sequels and prequels. He is hunting with a rifle, looking warily around him. The second one is Harry Dresden, from the "The Dresden Files" urban fantasy series of books. The third is an image of the tentacled monster Cthulhu, from the H.P. Lovecraft books. The fourth is the cover of the board game "Twilight Imperium", showing the picture of a lion wearing a red cloak.]

I want to write original fiction, but every time I try to come up with a concept I end up breaking it down in my mind to its component pieces. Things like "My Take on the Dresden Files" or "Allen Quartermain meets Lovecraft" or "Dune but set in Twilight Imperium".

Then it feels too much like Alternate Universe or crossover fic, and I just cease to take the idea seriously. I mean, I know "nothing new under the sun" and so on. I could try writing it anyways and then filing off the serial numbers, I guess...