Ethical Question: Taking Inspiration Vs Blatant Rewrite

[joy_of_cooking]

But anything that aspires to hew closer to the original makes me think, what’s the point?

I get this urge all the time. For me it's a combination of

1. Wow that's perfect, I just want more of the same

2. Wow that's almost perfect, if only I could tweak this one tiny thing that's bothering me...

https://www.literotica.com/s/a-7-train-stiletto-show-750-words is a 750 word expansion of one sentence from the opening scene of a story I read here 10+ years ago. I changed the relationship between the two characters to something I found less implausible and added a lot of detail. Other than that it's exactly the same. But I guess that was different enough that nobody's complained yet, even though I linked the original for comparison.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I wrote a WIWAW about how my Pranked was sort of a reaction to Slave Grading Mom by @Joe_Doe_Stories.

My story has none of Joe's characters or locations, and the plot overlap boils down to "Characters live in an unpleasant universe." There are background similarities, but they're also very general. (In both stories the main characters are young but adult, still living with parents, and have opposite-sex siblings.) Joe has read my story (and the WIWAW) and has no problem with it.

Two Literotica writers have offered to let me write in "their" worlds and one even offered their characters, but unless it's a collaboration I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that (at this point in my writing).

--Annie

 

[EmilyMiller]

1. Wow that's perfect, I just want more of the same

2. Wow that's almost perfect, if only I could tweak this one tiny thing that's bothering me...

I honestly can’t understand that. I have more ideas that I could ever possibly write. I’ll borrow a scenario or include some trope or other from time to time, I have many literary influences, but I’ve never felt the urge to ‘fix’ someone else’s story. We are all different I guess .

 

[TiberiusPrime]

:: 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?

British comedy series called Absolutely Fabulous that featured two fantastic comediennes, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, where they played being drunk a good portion of the time. That's the closest I can think of at the moment. (By the way, Joanna Lumley portrays Grandmama in this season's Wednesday.)

 

[TheRedChamber]

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?’

With her own butler...

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.

Han: Will someone get this carpet out of my way.
Leia: That's no way to talk about Chewie.
Han: Actually, darling, I was talking about you.
Leia: Fine, I'll get Luke's little depilating lightsaber.

British comedy series called Absolutely Fabulous that featured two fantastic comediennes, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, where they played being drunk a good portion of the time. That's the closest I can think of at the moment. (By the way, Joanna Lumley portrays Grandmama in this season's Wednesday.)

I was going to mention this. I don't think any actress has ever gone from bombshell to utterly revolting parody with quite the same amount of glee, good-sport(wo)manship and comic genius that Lumley did. Sadly, it makes anything she did in the previous thirty years much harder to watch.

 

[MrHereWriting]

Ethical Question: Taking Inspiration Vs Blatant Rewrite​

Is this a George R.R. Martin thread?

 

[GrantBricksly]

Taking inspiration, as has been said, is one thing. But you don't seem to really want that. You seem to want to write a second chapter. What you need to do, is write your own story. The overall plot...as in, the general plot, should be fine to recreate. (Ie: if the story is a mother and son having an affair, then write a story like that.) You could even probably get away with a FEW of the other plot devices. Try to rework as much as you can..make it your own. Until it's almost unrecognizable to anyone but you. THEN you can write your continuation.

Its still questionable at best...

Another, and better option...would be to simply write a story of your own...it can even be your imagined "chapter 2" and just use introductory paragraphs or flashbacks to give info about the background that is important... making sure to change enough details so that it is your own ..

 

[onehitwanda]

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

can we petition for a in the quick response menu?

 

[onehitwanda]

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.

Oh fuck you. Now I can't unimagine this.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Patsy was fun and all, but a character in a show, not a stand up act.

Or did Joanna carry it to that later?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Oh fuck you. Now I can't unimagine this.

My work here is done

 

[onehitwanda]

My work here is done

Such a smug and secure look. Would be terrible if someone restrained you and... punished you.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Such a smug and secure look. Would be terrible if someone restrained you and... punished you.

Who did you have in mind ?

 

[iwatchus]

Who did you have in mind ?

Is this a request for volunteers? The line forms here, folks.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Is this a request for volunteers? The line forms here, folks.

Only members - full or honorary - of the Underground Lesbian Army, I’m afraid. Maybe Colonel Wanda might make an exception for you.

 

[onehitwanda]

Colonel

Oi, oi, oi. My uniform is a fetching and magnificent blue, not a heat-wave scarlet-cum-pink.

 

[Glassnslate]

I read a story once that was a memoir about an individuals sexual experiences and encounters over their life.

I thought that was a great idea, and would like to do something similar for my own experiences.

Would doing so be ok? Or is it steeling their idea?

 

[MiaBabe23]

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

I know it’s obvious, but - write your own work
You can feel inspired by someone’s stories, not want them to ever end, enjoy reveling in what it made you feel - then you take that energy to focus on your own pieces
How would you feel if you wrote what you’re talking about and published it just as the author was about to do the same? Or if they wanted to grant someone else permission? Or you wrote something that the author felt did no justice to their piece?
Definitely gotta agree , it’s a dick move… your own original work is invariably gonna be better than fanfic

 

[Bamagan]

Oi, oi, oi. My uniform is a fetching and magnificent blue, not a heat-wave scarlet-cum-pink.

Does it come with braid or piping? Silver, gold, or something else, if so? Epaulettes?

 

[MiaBabe23]

I read a story once that was a memoir about an individuals sexual experiences and encounters over their life.

I thought that was a great idea, and would like to do something similar for my own experiences.

Would doing so be ok? Or is it steeling their idea?

If it’s your own experiences and reflections, it’s absolutely fine - in terms of not being plagiarism
However - be very careful about writing about people identifiably or in a way that might cause upset
That aside, there are said to be only 12 plots ultimately, it’s difficult to be genuinely original in every aspect
Just try to make it your own, with your own voice; eg maybe a different pov (first/ third person), or whatever else will help you feel it’s your own thing

 

[onehitwanda]

Does it come with braid or piping? Silver, gold, or something else, if so? Epaulettes?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Oi, oi, oi. My uniform is a fetching and magnificent blue, not a heat-wave scarlet-cum-pink.

Sorry, Ma’am. Won’t happen again, Ma’am.

 

[onehitwanda]

Sorry, Ma’am. Won’t happen again, Ma’am.

Apologise like you mean it. Here's the liquorice, and here's the whipped cream.

 

[alohadave]

I read a story once that was a memoir about an individuals sexual experiences and encounters over their life.

I thought that was a great idea, and would like to do something similar for my own experiences.

Would doing so be ok? Or is it steeling their idea?

Do it. The story you read was not original, and many others have written the same type of story.

Ideas are fair game. No one owns them and anyone can write their own version of any idea.

 

[SimonDoom]

I honestly can’t understand that. I have more ideas that I could ever possibly write. I’ll borrow a scenario or include some trope or other from time to time, I have many literary influences, but I’ve never felt the urge to ‘fix’ someone else’s story. We are all different I guess .

I'm with you on this one. I don't get the impulse.

I'm inspired all the time by stories that I read, but not to build on the specific universe they've created. I take basic ideas and rework them into my own story. I think it's better to resist the impulse to tweak another person's story and concentrate on your own stories, albeit sometimes inspired by or influenced by others. It's better for your own creativity and artistic integrity and it's more courteous to your fellow authors.