Writing fan fiction of another author's work.

[Context5812]

Have any of you considered writing fan fiction about someone else's work on scribblehub? There's quite a few stories that had a lot of potential but stop right when things are getting good.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

No, not really. But I am ok if someone wants to use my ideas. That's what I told to readers who didn't like how my story developed. "I don't own this idea, if you want to, you can use it and write your own story."

 

[Paul__Michaels]

No, not really. But I am ok if someone wants to use my ideas. That's what I told to readers who didn't like how my story developed. "I don't own this idea, if you want to, you can use it and write your own story."

So, you've been looking for a ghost writer for all this time? You clever son of a gun.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

So, you've been looking for a ghost writer for all this time? You clever son of a gun.

You are just a voice in my head, you can't hurt me.

 

[Xcalibur_Xc]

Nope. Too much work. Then some will scream, thief, stealing others' work. Then they will spam reviews and low ratings. Then they will inform the OG author, who might or might not reply. It can get messy depending on the OG author's reply. So, not worth it. Write your own story, it's better that way.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

You are just a voice in my head, you can't hurt me.

I'm no voice! I'm just the Anti-procrastination fairy fluttering by... Sadly, OFF bug spray can keep me away. it burns my eyes

 

[Alski]

Nope. Too much work. Then some will scream, thief, stealing others' work. Then they will spam reviews and low ratings. Then they will inform the OG author, who might or might not reply. It can get messy depending on the OG author's reply. So, not worth it. Write your own story, it's better that way.

But dont you only write fanfics?

 

[Paul__Michaels]

But dont you only write fanfics?

Oh no! Pandora's box has been opened!

But I will say that if someone made a fanfic of my main ongoing novel and it was more successful would kind of be depressing.

 

[Context5812]

It was for those stories that have been dropped after years. But yeah I get it. Do your own thing.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

It was for those stories that have been dropped after years. But yeah I get it. Do your own thing.

We get what you mean. It's just a little tough.

Not that it is hard to do, but it might be an issue if the original author comes back into the fray. Especially if the new author starts making money off their creation. That's a headache I wouldn't want to deal with.

Sure, there's a lot of fanfics of popular IPs but they are well established. However, they've already made their money and it does bring traffic to the originals, but there is a looming cloud of a possible cease-and-desist if a fanfic author is making a considerable amount of money off their copyright.

Like I doubt it what happen, but if the original amateur saw there creations getting considerable traction they might demand their cut, so to speak.

And also you probably would have to deal with the original reader base who might give you crap for taking the story is a direction that they're not happy with.

Long story short. It's better to recreate a forgotten story then trying to continue the original.

 

[Anonjohn20]

Have any of you considered writing fan fiction about someone else's work on scribblehub?

That is sort of why fanfiction exists; as long as you let audiences know of the original story/franchise and you don't monetize that story, then you are good to go.

Another thing you can do is just make a new story with a similar premise. For example (warning: smut inbound), Reborn in a Succubus’s Harem is pretty much the same concept, premise, plot, etc. as My New Life as a Catgirl. When one author went into permanent hiatus, the other author took matters into his own hands (to great effect; I loved both versions). Then the second author also went into hiatus, and I was sad. I didn't even notice at first that it was the same story until one of the side characters from the first story was basically rewritten into the second one (one particularly dominating vampire).

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Another thing you can do is just make a new story with a similar premise.

This is the way to go I think.

 

[Valmond]

I will cut this short. Always get permission. The moment you write a Fan Fiction, you are opening yourself up to a ton of problems.

While on the traditional line, it is generally fine on the popular end. On the lower and unofficial side, that is another situation.

If you do not get permission, then you are opening yourself up for potential problems.

Note, in both sides. You’re taking a risk. It is that on the official and popular side, the authors tend to be fine with it. However, that isn’t a guarantee.

Can’t say in the unofficial side.

Depending where, the laws differ and there might be exceptions under certain constraints.

Anyway, point is. Even if it was abandoned, try and get permission. The other way is wait an X amount of years after their death.

 

[Xcalibur_Xc]

But dont you only write fanfics?

I write Originals too. Just not on this platform.

Oh no! Pandora's box has been opened!

But I will say that if someone made a fanfic of my main ongoing novel and it was more successful would kind of be depressing.

It happened on WN. Someone released a fanfic on Shadow Slave and it became more popular than the OG, so the editors snuffed it. Just removed it completely from all sites.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

If someone approached me with a basic idea, I'd probably give them permission, as long as I got to review chapters before they were posted publicly (if their idea went in a "wrong" direction, it would have to be an "alternate universe" thing).

As for using someone else's characters - I would definitely ask permission first if I could locate them (heck, plan a dimension hopping bit for Sparrow and might see about them popping into other stories during the journey, maybe exchanging cameos or something), but have enough of my own stories sitting there percolating that I don't need to go take someone else's characters out for a spin (except as a cameo/crossover maybe thing).

 

[Valmond]

If someone approached me with a basic idea, I'd probably give them permission, as long as I got to review chapters before they were posted publicly (if their idea went in a "wrong" direction, it would have to be an "alternate universe" thing).

As for using someone else's characters - I would definitely ask permission first if I could locate them (heck, plan a dimension hopping bit for Sparrow and might see about them popping into other stories during the journey, maybe exchanging cameos or something), but have enough of my own stories sitting there percolating that I don't need to go take someone else's characters out for a spin (except as a cameo/crossover maybe thing).

CharlesEBrown: And this is why this story is complete ###!

Fan Fic Writer: This is your plot you know.

CharlesEBrown: Uhh… ??

Jokes aside. If you can get in contact, maybe a collaboration would be better.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

If you can get in contact, maybe a collaboration would be better.

I have seen some already so they aren't that unrealistic, though interaction between the plots is not something I have seen.

 

[Clo]

I think I would be happy if people decided to write fan fiction in my book's universe, but I'd strongly push any fan fiction writer towards making OCs.

If they don't awk, and write smut about a couple they ship? I can't stop them.

 

[Valmond]

I have seen some already so they aren't that unrealistic, though interaction between the plots is not something I have seen.

It happens, but I haven’t seen it in this form. The main problem with collaboration though is the conflicting view.

Coming to a common ground might be a bit difficult. Though, it might be even more hard with a Fan Fic.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

It happens, but I haven’t seen it in this form. The main problem with collaboration though is the conflicting view.

Coming to a common ground might be a bit difficult. Though, it might be even more hard with a Fan Fic.

Well, I have some "throwaway" characters that I would not mind people using to tell stories, either as an MC or support character - from Strange Awakening, for example, Marauder (guy has close to four hundred years of history behind him, after all!), pre-chapter five Equinox (after that he's too integral to the story for more than a cameo or very short side story), Templar (really would love to do more with him but just don't have any solid ideas), and, actually, a few of the villains.