Metareferences and Intertextuality.

[Saraphim]

I happen to own a great book called Tolkien's Ring, written by David Day, I believe. In there it outlines most of the mythological and religious influences on Tolkien.

I very much admire the tactics of Metareference and Intertextuality. I think it not only gives homage to a certain writer or culture, (in the case of mythology) but it provides a good, solid base for a specific idea.

It's almost as if Tolkien thought "Alright, rings seem to be a good source of storytelling. We'll start with that and see what develops."

In a story I'm working on, there is a small side-plot that was partially inpired by a Japanese Anime called Trigun. This doesn't mean I copied the storyline or characters in any way, or even the basic idea. I simply found something I liked that seems to follow me around and lend itself to my story.

I think we can all agree upon one thing...if you read something you really like it sort of sticks to you forever.

...which is sort of my point exactly.