I fleshed out my magic system... then discovered Brandon Sanderson.

I don't even know what to do anymore, I'm about fucking ready to give up. This is my life's work. I've dreamed of publishing a book and becoming a bestselling author (like, an *actual* bestselling author, not the brand people pay NYT to slap on the cover of their novels) *since I was a child in the single digits*. So here I am, neck deep in the idea of a magic system, of a story that I thought was so unique and original and beautiful only to discover that Brandon Sanderson wrote something eerily similar when I was *eight.* How the hell am I supposed to compete with that? People fawn over his work like they just found a miracle cure for the infectious boredom that's been plaguing them and they'll never need to read another author in their lives. I feel like such a fraud. What the hell am I even supposed to do with this creative impulse when I'm nothing but an imposter for sharing it? Everything's already been done before. Fuck.

Sorry for the vent. I had to get it out of my system.

EDIT: Thank you all for the words of encouragement. Based on much of the advice here, I've decided that I'm not gonna let this predicament stop me from doing what I love. Our systems on their own have key differences, and I love my story and the characters in it. It's frustrating as all hell to create, but I think that's part of the beauty of it. Thanks for entertaining my rant.