Ethical Question: Taking Inspiration Vs Blatant Rewrite

[DevlinSkye]

I have read some of the posts and I am clear that I can't continue the abandoned story without Authors Explicit Permission. (While the author confirmed that they have left Lit for good, they never responded to request to continue theire stories.) Which leads to the next question how do I make it my own.

Now, without getting in to specific and start pointed debate, I want to get general understanding on where is the limit for taking inspiration?
I have seen some stories which only change the character names and basically paraphrase the same story with minor changes of their own. They there are some who keep the same skeletion/plot of the story and write their own stuff (but still its the same story). Then there are some who write their own but its obivious for a reader that they are reading the same old story told in diffrent perspective.

Now, I understand that either of these method will get me bypass the rule. Also, some of such stories are really good as well (Not that I claim I could write better that the original author.) But no matter how you look at it, its a dick move as lovecraft called in of the responses.

Now some would say write your own but the end goal is to resolve the nagging feeling that the incomplete story had left in me. So obiviously I want to continue on the same path of previous story. I am not talking about writing a complete diffrent thing. If I do that, there is no reason for this post.

The ideal sitution would have been for author to give theire blessings for rewrite but they chose to ignore my emails. So, I have to take the alternate route to write my own thing.

My ask here is, genuinely where you draw the line for creative inspiration?

 

[AwkwardMD]

Drink. I will not be answering any questions at this time.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I’m not trying to be unfriendly but I really can’t understand the compulsion to rewrite someone’s story. Have you no ideas of your own? Is it a safety blanket to work with a predetermined plot?

Another author here, @Bazzle, asked for permission to write his own version of one of my stories. But he made it totally different, with only the most vestigial elements left in common; character names and the basic premise. It became his story, broadly channeling a few elements of my plot.

I suppose I kinda get that. But anything that aspires to hew closer to the original makes me think, what’s the point?

Can you explain? Not a challenge, just a question.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

From my perspective, you can share the trope, but nothing more than that.

As an example, my first story here deals with lost love being found again. Not unique in itself, but if someone used the same or similar catalyst for the couple being able to reunite (a classic car), the same conflict (she was placed into witness protection), and the same resolution (the male protagonist made the risk go away), then I would take issue with their story.

I would be honored if one of my stories inspired someone else to write one of their own, but I won't share everything.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Drink. I will not be answering any questions at this time.

:: hic ::


Foster Brooks made 'drunk comedy' his schtick. Were there any female comics who were 'inspired' by him and emulated his act in their own style?

 

[djrip]

I’m not trying to be unfriendly but I really can’t understand the compulsion to rewrite someone’s story. Have you no ideas of your own? Is it a safety blanket to work with a predetermined plot?

Another author here, @Bazzle, asked for permission to write his own version of one of my stories. But he made it totally different, with only the most vestigial elements left in common; character names and the basic premise. It became his story, broadly channeling a few elements of my plot.

I suppose I kinda get that. But anything that aspires to hew closer to the original makes me think, what’s the point?

Can you explain? Not a challenge, just a question.

When I was in middle school, I read a cool book about a kid who raised a dragon. Don't remember too much about it now, but I do remember I had a lot of ideas about what would happen next. I kind of wanted to write a sequel. Didn't get around to it, but I fully understand being inspired by a story and wanting to add to it. This is also why fan fiction exists.

 

[AwkwardMD]

:: hic ::


Foster Brooks made 'drunk comedy' his schtick. Were there any female comics who were 'inspired' by him and emulated his act in their own style?

See above.

 

[SimonDoom]

This is where I draw the line: I use copyright law as my rough guideline. Copyright distinguishes between the general ideas of a story, which are not protectable, and the original creative expression of a story, which is protectable. "Expression" can be the specific text, names, character traits and places at a certain level of detail, and specific plot points. The law is not super clear, but that's the general gist of it.

So my view is it's perfectly OK, for example, to write a "mom on son's lap" story, even though somebody here might have been the first person to do it, because it's just a general idea. Same thing with the "hucow" concept, or the "mailgirl" concept. You should feel free to write your own story that is based very roughly on the concepts of another author's story, because under the law the author has no valid copyright claim to broad concepts in a work of fiction. It would be too restrictive on the creative process to prevent authors from incorporating ideas at a broad level from other works they've read.

What I WILL NOT do:

1. Write a story that very obviously is a continuation of somebody else's story.
2. Use the same characters as in another story.
3. Write a story with the plot but with character names changed.
4. Write a story that is clearly simply a variation on another author's story.

A good rule of thumb would be: would it be clear to a reasonable reader who read the other story that you ripped it off, if they read your story also? If the answer is yes, then I wouldn't do that.

Based on what the OP wrote, I would NOT do what is proposed. I would make enough changes to the story that it's clear not really the same story, but your own story that incorporates some of the same general ideas as the other story.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This is also why fan fiction exists.

I have written fan fiction. But generally ‘inspired by’ not a straight continuation. Writing in a SW milieu is kinda like writing in a historical period. I like the setting, but I’d never write Han and Leia’s threesome with Chewbacca.

 

[djrip]

I have written fan fiction. But generally ‘inspired by’ not a straight continuation. Writing in a SW milieu is kinda like writing in a historical period. I like the setting, but I’d never write Han and Leia’s threesome with Chewbacca.

I should have said, this is one reason why fan fiction exists!

 

[EmilyMiller]

I should have said, this is one reason why fan fiction exists!

Or take my Cara Loft and Juliana Jones novella. It’s totally obvious what the initial inspiration was. But Indy was an homage to Saturday morning B-movies, and Lara Croft was a clear ‘what if Indy was a modern day woman?’ Standing on the shoulders of giants, right?

My characters are my own creations, but obviously with a heritage. And my plot is no more derivative than The Mummy movies, or National Treasure.

My stuff is derivative in the way that Stranger Things is derivative. Homage is a little different. YMMV.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

My ask here is, genuinely where you draw the line for creative inspiration?

The line can seem gray but here's my two cents:

If the beats between the original story and the new story are exactly the same, I'd find ways to tweak it. It may seem daunting trying to string together scenes in a different manner than the original, but hopefully that's part of the fun and challenge of writing/creating. What you could carry over is the feeling the kink gives the readers, the general character archetypes, and perhaps the general tropes.

 

[8letters]

I’m not trying to be unfriendly but I really can’t understand the compulsion to rewrite someone’s story. Have you no ideas of your own? Is it a safety blanket to work with a predetermined plot?

Another author here, @Bazzle, asked for permission to write his own version of one of my stories. But he made it totally different, with only the most vestigial elements left in common; character names and the basic premise. It became his story, broadly channeling a few elements of my plot.

I suppose I kinda get that. But anything that aspires to hew closer to the original makes me think, what’s the point?

Can you explain? Not a challenge, just a question.

Possible reasons:
* As you probably know, LW is split between the Burn The Bitch (BtB) readers and the Reconciliation At All Costs (RAAC) readers. So, someone reads a LW story, they like the setup and characters, but the story has the WRONG ending. So they redo the story with the RIGHT ending
* I recently read a story that I enjoyed, but the sex scenes were awful. Big build to a one or two-sentence description of sex. I could see someone rewriting the story, staying true to the plot and characters, but making the sex scenes much longer
* One of my favorite series on this site was Duff's "The Jackson Family". The first three chapters are OK, but the last two chapters are super hot. Sadly, the last two chapters have been taken down. Duff hasn't published since 2000. The only way the full story is going to be back out there is if I or someone else rewrites the story
* I wrote a five-chapter series "A Week at the Lake with My Sister". In chapter 4, I had a plot twist that readers hated. Just hated. I could see someone rewriting that story with a different plot twist that made the story much more satisfying. (lilshymynx convinced me to do just that)
* There's a story that someone enjoys, but they think it'd be much better if a character had been different or this subplot was removed or (etc. etc.). For example, I read a secret-sex-in-the-backseat story where the MMC fucked his mom and then his aunt. It was a good take on that trope, and I briefly thought of rewriting it to be a sister and a cousin

 

[Lifestyle66]

I did something as an experiment to prove to myself that "I'm a shitty writer."

I wrote something paralleling another original story, with mine almost scene by scene and attempting to use the same level of erotica in the descriptive details. I didn't use the same character names, and I even changed the original 19-year-old young lady to a 19-year-old young man. He wasn't a babysitter as in the original, but my plot worked around a slightly different trope of the extra-marital sex with a "MILF step-mom".

I wanted to see if the story would be better received in Loving Wives with the scenes and erotica, thus proving that my own writing is shit.

"The Cougar's New Toy"
"A wife seduces her young boy-toy with facts of life."

However, knowing I was closely paralleling a successful story, not just here in LitE but the author's was also published commercially, I included an author's Note. I praised the original author for the inspiration and source, with links to that author's LitE story. And I included the statement "So, I highly recommend reading that series and supporting that author."

My version of the story garnered 20K views. Published in November 2024, it now has 159 votes in Loving Wives and it's currently rated 4.15!

So, I verified that on my own with writing LW stories, "I really am a shitty writer!"

That also goes to show that those of you who disparage LW as a bunch of misogynistic trolls are wrong! A good extra-marital sex story can be written for that audience!

 

[Britva415]

where you draw the line for creative inspiration?

There isn't any line for creative inspiration.

What you want to know is where to draw the line for execution.

Be free to get ideas and develop upon them, just do not present them in a way which will connect your story to the original one. It could be as simple as changing character and location names so that your own original idea has a place to live, outside of the original author's universe. Or it could be more complicated.

I think you should just dare to try. But take it seriously - make the effort to present a work of your own without references, easter-eggs or shameless repurposing of the other person's creativity.

Either that, or, make sure that the references and easter-eggs are JUST references and easter-eggs, and are NOT shameless repurposing. Those generally aren't problematic.

I'd look at it this way: If someone else's work gave you an idea for a story, really think about "does this story work if it's in a different fictional universe, with different characters, settings and trappings?" Then write that. If the story cannot work with different characters, settings and trappings, then, you'd need permission.

Since you're clearly trying to finish something someone else started, to me this is beyond the line. it's fine that you have the inspiration. It would not be fine if you just "finished the story" without -

I am not talking about writing a complete diffrent thing. If I do that, there is no reason for this post.

ok well

if you aren't willing to do that, then get permission.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I did something as an experiment to prove to myself that "I'm a shitty writer."

I wrote something paralleling another original story, with mine almost scene by scene and attempting to use the same level of erotica in the descriptive details. I didn't use the same character names, and I even changed the original 19-year-old young lady to a 19-year-old young man. He wasn't a babysitter as in the original, but my plot worked around a slightly different trope of the extra-marital sex with a "MILF step-mom".

I wanted to see if the story would be better received in Loving Wives with the scenes and erotica, thus proving that my own writing is shit.

"The Cougar's New Toy"
"A wife seduces her young boy-toy with facts of life."

However, knowing I was closely paralleling a successful story, not just here in LitE but the author's was also published commercially, I included an author's Note. I praised the original author for the inspiration and source, with links to that author's LitE story. And I included the statement "So, I highly recommend reading that series and supporting that author."

My version of the story garnered 20K views. Published in November 2024, it now has 159 votes in Loving Wives and it's currently rated 4.15!

So, I verified that on my own with writing LW stories, "I really am a shitty writer!"

That also goes to show that those of you who disparage LW as a bunch of misogynistic trolls are wrong! A good extra-marital sex story can be written for that audience!

Wonder if you could work up two or three other versions, similar, same basics, but different enough to pass Lit Muster and put them each in different categories. Maybe E/V, EC and Mature

 

[Bazzle]

I’m not trying to be unfriendly but I really can’t understand the compulsion to rewrite someone’s story. Have you no ideas of your own? Is it a safety blanket to work with a predetermined plot?

Another author here, @Bazzle, asked for permission to write his own version of one of my stories. But he made it totally different, with only the most vestigial elements left in common; character names and the basic premise. It became his story, broadly channeling a few elements of my plot.

I suppose I kinda get that. But anything that aspires to hew closer to the original makes me think, what’s the point?

Can you explain? Not a challenge, just a question.

For me I love a story that ideas bounce around for a 'Bazzle' version of a plot. I have no interest in copying someone's story. But I will borrow the guide lines or those protective barriers in tin pin bowling and meander towards a similar destination of the strike. I do not want be known for copying anyone!

 

[Voboy]

I’d never write Han and Leia’s threesome with Chewbacca.

Dude, that shit was CRAZY.

Those three are some freaky-ass mofos.

OP, we're not going to write your story for you. At the risk of appearing rude, if you don't know how to do this, then don't.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I do not want be known for copying anyone!

Never said you copied me, hun. And I gave you permission anyway.

 

[Bazzle]

Never said you copied me, hun. And I gave you permission anyway.

I also wouldn't have published without that permission!!!

 

[SimonDoom]

I have written fan fiction. But generally ‘inspired by’ not a straight continuation. Writing in a SW milieu is kinda like writing in a historical period. I like the setting, but I’d never write Han and Leia’s threesome with Chewbacca.

I DID write a story about Sam and Frodo having a hot tryst with a sexy female Elf Warrior on the way to Mt. Doom. I thought a lot about whether I should do it. I reasoned that, first, since it fanfiction the Site would accept it (unlike works based on stories by Lit others), and second, that it was weird enough that it might be regarded as "parody" under the fair use doctrine.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I DID write a story about Sam and Frodo having a hot tryst with a sexy female Elf Warrior on the way to Mt. Doom. I thought a lot about whether I should do it. I reasoned that, first, since it fanfiction the Site would accept it (unlike works based on stories by Lit others), and second, that it was weird enough that it might be regarded as "parody" under the fair use doctrine.

I definitely had parody elements in my stories. And more sex than the original.

 

[Cagivagurl]

I have read some of the posts and I am clear that I can't continue the abandoned story without Authors Explicit Permission. (While the author confirmed that they have left Lit for good, they never responded to request to continue theire stories.) Which leads to the next question how do I make it my own.

Now, without getting in to specific and start pointed debate, I want to get general understanding on where is the limit for taking inspiration?
I have seen some stories which only change the character names and basically paraphrase the same story with minor changes of their own. They there are some who keep the same skeletion/plot of the story and write their own stuff (but still its the same story). Then there are some who write their own but its obivious for a reader that they are reading the same old story told in diffrent perspective.

Now, I understand that either of these method will get me bypass the rule. Also, some of such stories are really good as well (Not that I claim I could write better that the original author.) But no matter how you look at it, its a dick move as lovecraft called in of the responses.

Now some would say write your own but the end goal is to resolve the nagging feeling that the incomplete story had left in me. So obiviously I want to continue on the same path of previous story. I am not talking about writing a complete diffrent thing. If I do that, there is no reason for this post.

The ideal sitution would have been for author to give theire blessings for rewrite but they chose to ignore my emails. So, I have to take the alternate route to write my own thing.

My ask here is, genuinely where you draw the line for creative inspiration?

You ask where the line is drawn...
It's an ethical line. You are asking how much of the authors work you can steal.
Look at it another way. If you found yourself in another persons house. How much of their property would you feel comfortable stealing???
In my opinion, and I speak only for myself.

The story belongs to somebody else. You have no rights to it (Ethically) Every writer is influenced by the world that surrounds them.

If you feel the urge to write, then do do so. Imagine your own characters, plots, themes.
Theft is still theft...

Cagivagurl

 

[Lifestyle66]

Wonder if you could work up two or three other versions, similar, same basics, but different enough to pass Lit Muster and put them each in different categories. Maybe E/V, EC and Mature

I was testing the waters in LW to see if that story would sell better, with the father figure's wife lusting for their young male "friend", if the erotic scenes contained a winning formula a successful example.

And it did make a difference.

I know my stories would rate higher in other categories. So, where's the fun in that?

 

[XerXesXu]

I have read some of the posts and I am clear that I can't continue the abandoned story without Authors Explicit Permission. (While the author confirmed that they have left Lit for good, they never responded to request to continue theire stories.) Which leads to the next question how do I make it my own.


My ask here is, genuinely where you draw the line for creative inspiration?

'What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.'

Share less; write more. You'll never know whether you've crossed that line until a court of competent jurisdiction pronounces on the matter. AH is a court of incompetent jurisdiction.