Here's a great article, courtesy of the above-average wonderful* Monica: Guided by voices.

Originality is a much sought-after property in Hollywood these days, and you can tell how rarely it's achieved by the fact that the only time you ever hear the word uttered is when a new Charlie Kaufman script gets filmed. The downside of this is that every time an artist of undoubted originality makes their debut - and, better yet, makes a little money doing it - you can be sure that their feted bones will soon be picked white. It's remarkable how many allegedly creative souls fail to realise that standing next to an original artist does not mean that a measure of said originality will automatically be decanted into their own oeuvres. It's high time these people cribbed their ideas from a wider spectrum of filmmakers.

One thing John Patterson fails to mention, though, is that there have always been Charlie Kaufmans, and there will continue to be more Kaufmans - writers with a very similar sensibility to Charlie, a similar writing style, similar ideas. I've seen ‘em. But Charlie had better luck and timing, and found success at the beginning of the current wave, so now too many writers who follow in his path - having suddenly found success because studios now realise there's a market for guys like Charlie, and “meta” is currently hip - are unfairly labelled imitators. Crazy. (Which isn't to say there're no imitators, mind you.) It's bad enough that Charlie's organic, make-it-up-as-I-go-along approach to first drafts is seen by some as edgy, radical, or not recommended for beginning writers. Puh-leeze, gimme a break.

(*alteration not made under duress, not at all)