I'll Always Throw In Some Weirdness To Make It Different - Tumblr Posts

I'm actually going through something like this right now.

As of this post, there is only one Pinky and the Brain fic that focuses on Brinky (Pinky x Brain) and mpreg (that I know of; if you know any others, please, help a [Warner] brother out). As it so happens, I'm working on writing a Pinky and the Brain fic that features--guess what?--Brinky and mpreg. In both fics, Pinky is the one getting mpregged.

I'm still going to continue writing my fic. Because there are key differences between the two that ensure that mine wouldn't be considered superfluous (the explanation behind the mpreg, the tone and framing of it, the events surrounding the pregnancy, even the identity of the father). Also, it's just fun to write and post fic (especially cursed fic).

Even if those differences weren't there, I'd still write it. My writing style is different enough that I think I could bring something unique to the subject.

I have a question for the fanfic writers among you: How do you treat your work in progress when a very similar story is put out there? Do you go on writing - in the spirit that everything is unique in its own way - or do you abandon the piece - in the spirit of preventing 'superfluous' contributions?

Let's add a further wrench into the process by saying the recently published work by another author, so similar to your own, seems so much better written than your own (granted we are always our own worst critics). Where do you go with that?

Maybe this is a question for readers, too. Do you mind reading similar works/story lines?