[Meela]

I'm currently writing a novel, but I am restricted due to the fact that I am a Tolkien fan, and I have seen the responses some crazy people give to other fantasy works that share elements of Tolkien's ideas. I know that these responses are not to be taken seriously, but it gets me worried.
I want to write fantasy, but I am worried of being accused of copying Tolkien, now that he is so popular. For instance (and this is purely example, not from my book) if I had a guy in my book who was eventually revealed to be some kind of greater guy, eg. a fantastic sorceror or lord rather than the simple peasant he appears as, would people turn around and yell "Aragorn! Plageriiiiism!!!" or would I get away with it, if I made it as disimilar as possible?
Does it really matter? Obviously at the moment it does to me, because it affects the way I think and write. I'm constantly holding back because everything seems similar to Lotr or related works.

[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Meela ]