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Post by deathlynx on May 23, 2008 15:54:30 GMT -5
Since there are some writers on the boards who are (obviously) inspired by your work, I was wonderfing what you thought of Fan Fiction? How about Fan Art? Also what is the position of your publisher on it?
Would you want to know it's out there or would you actively avoid it?
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lvlocalgirl
Agent
just killin' time until dawn
Posts: 516
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Post by lvlocalgirl on May 23, 2008 17:20:54 GMT -5
I second that question and add the following...
On Anne McCaffrey's site she finally gave in and sanctioned using her 'world' but not any of her characters. She has a VERY active fan base with this and some of the reading is quite fun. Of course, nothing compares to the original authors voice in ANY book.
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Post by Starlit Rogue on May 23, 2008 23:37:16 GMT -5
I like Patricia Briggs' husband's telling
Can I have permission to write a story featuring your characters? [Mike] Show me a good author and I'll show you an avid reader. It should be no surprise that many readers are also writers, and a good book can set the creative juices flowing. There is a natural desire to continue the story, to explore the interesting "what if's" left lying around by other authors -- a bit of borrowing if you will. Known as "Fan Fiction" or "fanfic" these stories are read, traded and enjoyed by a large number of people. In fact, some of the fanfic out there is very well written and shows a great deal of both talent and dedication. Unfortunately, there's often a bit of tension between the original authors and those writing fanfic. Some fanfic authors try to be extra-courteous by asking permission of the original author, which is almost always denied. This leads to hurt feelings and flame wars . . . Some authors read and enjoy fanfic based upon their worlds, while others get grumpy that other folks are 'stealing' their ideas. Authors are, after all, control freaks who create imaginary friends to boss around! There are, however, a couple of problems with fanfic, other than possibly hurting the feelings of some ego-maniacal author. An author's work is protected by copyright, which prevents other people from hijacking their work. When an author submits a book to the publisher one of the standard contract clauses asserts that the purchased work is free from any copyright claims or violations. Typically the entire contract will be voided if that claim is falsified, so it's very important. There's actually two possible copyright traps presented by fanfic. Suppose some bloke, we'll call him Bob, attempts to publish a new Hurog novel. Generally copyright would protect Patty's work, and Bob would run afoul of the "original work" clause. However, what if Bob can produce a letter from Patty, granting him permission to write his novel in the Hurog world? Now he's in the clear, and his work can be published. This is how shared worlds work. Now, suppose instead of a clearly-written letter, Bob has an ambiguously-worded email, or a tattered napkin stating "Have fun in Hurog, Bob. I can't wait to see what you come up with." Now the situation is unclear. MAYBE Bob can get his book published, maybe not -- but there's almost certainly going to be an expensive court case to figure it out. This can also work the other way around. I know from Patty's fan-mail that there are some really smart fans out there making predictions about the events of the next book. Let's say our friend Bob writes a great fanfic, and asks Patty to read it. Now, let's pretend that Bob's piece was substantially the same as the novel Patty's been writing for the last year. This is not as unlikely as you might think, and it creates a real problem. If Patty publishes her book, Bob is going to assume she stole his work, and may invoke copyright protection for his ideas. What's more, it can be verified that his work was publicly posted, while Patty's work was sitting unseen on her computer. In a legal battle, Bob is likely to prevail. Even if he loses, he and many others will remain convinced that Patty is a thief. Given the potential land mines that fanfic presents, most authors adopt a don't ask, don't tell approach. They can't safely grant permission to write in their worlds or admit that they've read fanfic pieces based on their worlds. This is the approach that Patty is taking. If you want to write a story in her world, you'll have to do it without official permission. If Patty happens to read it, and thinks it's the best thing ever written, she can't write to tell you so. It's not because she doesn't like you or your work, but because it's legally risky, and she has to protect her ability to write and play in the worlds she's built. Peace.
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on May 24, 2008 7:41:20 GMT -5
The 'don't ask, don't tell' is definitely my approach as well. I won't read it, but I also can't really stop someone if it's what they want to do for fun. (Publishing it would be a different story; then I'd get possessive! {g}) But if it leads to other writing and is part of a writer's growth? Some good writers have come out of fanfic.
As for my personal feelings on it, I could never figure out why someone would take so much personal time and energy to write in someone else's world when they could as easily create their own. It's so much fun to invent and build a world!
Now, fan art is fun. It infringes on nothing, and it's interesting to see how a character appears to a given person through their art. That's all good.
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Post by deathlynx on May 24, 2008 8:06:21 GMT -5
Thank you for the answers, and thanks Rogue for the quote there...That's basically why I asked...Having been writing some myself I knew there are fuzzy leagal issues all around...Best to have a generic answer posted here or her page (where fans are likely to wander if they intend to ask) than have to answer over and over, or even potentially hurt feelings (as mentioned by Patricia Briggs' husband)...
Incidentally, Vicki, I've known quite a few writers who are much more comfortable using preconcieved characters rather than create their own...in effect, they're good at coming up with scenarios and plots, but not as good with characters (much less worlds)...
Me, I get downright uncomfortable trying to get into the head of a character someone else created...at one point I was asked to write pros form someone's RP logs and the whole thing was insanely slow due to the fact that I simply couldn't get the mindset...Worlds are another thing entirely though...While I've created my own, I also see the alure of creating a nitch in a novel mythos...That's where most major RPGs have built themselves around...
I included the question about fanart because the possibilities there can be as variable as in fiction...I could easily image, for example, someone posting a pic they drew of Regan and Jo-livia getting it on in graphic detail...Would that offend you enough that you'd question whether it's worth it?
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Post by Starlit Rogue on May 25, 2008 0:17:43 GMT -5
I used to love writing fanfiction but than I got tired of using other people's characters and started making my own. Fan fiction is a good base to start off your creative writing. Though if you can make one awesome enough that the creators let you publish it as part of a series than go you! Like Star Wars or Buffyverse or something.
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on May 25, 2008 10:10:57 GMT -5
Ah, but if Regan and Jo-Liv were "getting it on" it most certainly wouldn't be my work anyway. {wry g} Just two other people with those names. But, no, I wouldn't particularly want to see it.
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Post by ailishsmom on May 25, 2008 10:49:53 GMT -5
Ah, but if Regan and Jo-Liv were "getting it on" it most certainly wouldn't be my work anyway. {wry g} Just two other people with those names. But, no, I wouldn't particularly want to see it. arrgghh! Pass the brain bleach!
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Post by deathlynx on May 25, 2008 16:33:44 GMT -5
lol...Sorry about that Theresa, just playing devil's advocate and using characters I knew would get people's attention
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Post by vampyre on May 25, 2008 19:08:57 GMT -5
Here ya go!
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Post by ailishsmom on May 25, 2008 19:45:56 GMT -5
Here ya go! Thanks so much! I have a feeling we may need to keep that handy!
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Post by Starlit Rogue on May 26, 2008 1:24:49 GMT -5
*snickers* Thats just ew but reactions = rofl
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Post by deathlynx on May 26, 2008 21:01:29 GMT -5
With me around, you will need around, yeah
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Post by mouse on May 26, 2008 22:45:50 GMT -5
Death I think sometimes you have way too much free time to think of these things.
I like a good fanfiction as anyone else does. Though I can't read it if it is based on a series I am already reading.
I tend to get confused when I'm reading a new book and start thinking. "Wait! Does she...? Oh never mind that happened in the fanfiction."
I have the same problem every now and then with books that are so similar that I start crossing characters and events over.
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Post by deathlynx on May 28, 2008 20:13:46 GMT -5
Lol...I know the feeling Mouse...I don't tend to read fanfic myself...Or write much of it (a couple of exceptions when asked to do so as part of a series)...As for thinking these things...well, I tend to have a very legalise mind so I like to make sure things are understood so no one gets in trouble or finds loopholes to make trouble... And since Vamp's around, we need to make sure he's the only troublemaker here
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