A dilemma I need some advice on

[lovecraft68]

I have a story here that is immensely popular (Its in the top 10 most favorited stories of all time here.) It's a sweet(ish) first time romance between long time friends and the girl had a thing for him, and he couldn't see it, and she finally makes her move. Nothing overly original, but I guess it hit the spots for people.

Its 10 years old at this point and still gets a lot of comments and favs, and of course the endless "we need a sequel"

People say that about most of our stories, but this one is wide open. The next day could be fun and wrap up a few things. How do his friends react, his mother, what happens when the bitchy girl who was stringing him along shows up...

But I don't do sequels. I'm a thrill of the kill writer, and once the ice is broken, the act is consummated, our couple is together, I like to leave everything to the imagination. Write it out in your own head.

Last week someone sent me a sequel they wrote and asked me if they could publish it and of course credit me and say they have my permission.

My first reaction is to be flattered, especially when he said this was the first thing he wrote because he liked the story that much and now has his own series he's about to start. Ultimate compliment here is that you inspired another to pick up the figurative pen and paper. Second reaction was that, sure, I'll let them do it.

But...then I read it.

On the plus side, he wraps up everything I mentioned, and I'd say is pretty faithful to the original as in I wouldn't have done it too much differently myself. Downside is how he has the girl behaving. The best way I can put it is he is writing her from the POV of pure male fantasy. When they meet their friends and announce they're a couple (BTW story is the boyfriend's POV both mine and his) he has her saying things like "Let's get home so you can fuck me some more, because you're sooo good at it" then mentioning her love of giving head and a couple of other things.

So now here's my dilemma. This is not how she acted in my story, its not how I want her to act moving forward. But...this isn't me writing it, and if I geen light it, I have to let him have the freedom to make the story his beyond keeping the premise in line with mine.

Not sure what I should do. Am I being to protective of a character? Should I be? Where's the line between allowing another to pick up your story and how much say you'd have over it?

 

[StillStunned]

Just because someone asks, that doesn't mean you have to say yes. If you feel it doesn't reflect your character, then say no.

 

[LoneMilf]

If you have no intention of making a sequel, why deprive the world of another story?
You might prefer to just be mentioned as 'inspiration' rather than giving approval though..

 

[lovecraft68]

Just because someone asks, that doesn't mean you have to say yes. If you feel it doesn't reflect your character, then say no.

I haven't said yes, I'm mulling it over and figured I'd get some feedback here.

Part of why I'd feel bad saying no is he's just starting, this is what caused him to write, and if his first work is spawned from a popular story by a popular author it might be a big boost to his initial reception. On the other hand, it could also get him trashed. It's the same as when someone remakes a movie and fans of the original beat on it.

 

[lovecraft68]

If you have no intention of making a sequel, why deprive the world of another story?
You might prefer to just be mentioned as 'inspiration' rather than giving approval though..

I would want him to say they have my approval because if not people may accuse him of stealing and even report the story. If I give my blessing I want people to know I did.

 

[Rob_Royale]

How we see our characters and how readers perceive them can be very different. It sounds as though, that now that the female character has the man she's longed for, she's trying to endear herself further. Very understandable.

I'd have a talk with the writer and, short of suggesting a re-write, ask why they saw your character that way. Move forward from there.

 

[StillStunned]

Then perhaps just ask him to change the bits you don't think fit?

 

[Plathfan]

This echoes the other thread: How important it is to prepare for such situations in advance and state in the bio that you expect to be contacted for permission beforehand, not after.

Considering their sequel won't impact your original and it's already written, it might be a bit harsh to reject their request now, especially since it's their first attempt.

I suggest allowing them to publish it but insisting they include a writer's note on your behalf, highlighting your content reservations.

If they're uncomfortable with that, they can rewrite it as a standalone piece, removing any direct references to your work.

 

[lovecraft68]

How we see our characters and how readers perceive them can be very different. It sounds as though, that now that the female character has the man she's longed for, she's trying to endear herself further. Very understandable.

I'd have a talk with the writer and, short of suggesting a re-write, ask why they saw your character that way. Move forward from there.

Then perhaps just ask him to change the bits you don't think fit?

Good idea, I'll bring up my concerns and see if he's willing to tone the character's dialogue down a bit.

Course, part of me, wants to let it fly and see if any readers comment on it, but why set him up to be knocked down?

 

[lovecraft68]

I suggest allowing them to publish it but insisting they include a writer's note on your behalf, highlighting your content reservations.

This is a good suggestion.

 

[KeithD]

The change to your concept bugs you now, or you wouldn't have posted about it. How long is it going to bug you once it's out there sitting on your original?

 

[lovecraft68]

The change to your concept bugs you now, or you wouldn't have posted about it. How long is it going to bug you once it's out there sitting on your original?

That's a good way to see it.

 

[SimonDoom]

Two thoughts.

Number 1, you should feel perfectly within your rights to say 'no.' You're under no obligation to accommodate their request to write a sequel if you don't feel comfortable with it. I don't know how I'd respond in this situation. I might be flattered and inclined to say yes but not if the particular treatment made me feel uncomfortable. From the tone of your query I get the feeling you are not comfortable with this. That's legitimate.

Number 2, I'm inclined to disagree with Plathfan and some others on this. I don't think you should interfere in this author's writing and I don't think the story should be accompanied by any comment, approval, or reservations by you. My suggestion would be to take the story "as is" and either say yes or no and leave it at that. It's their story, not yours, and if you feel a bit uncomfortable with it the less you are associated with it the better.

 

[ColinPiper]

A sign of a good story is when readers want more. That doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea, especially if you're not being paid. We know that, don't we?

Seeing as they're a new writer, they may lack some confidence in their abilities. In your situation I would have suggested they have a little more faith in their own writing and not try to copy or hang off another author. I would have encouraged them to change the character names, and some of the situations, and put a note at the top explaining it was inspired by your story but is not a sequel. There again, it's a piece of fanfic, so it is kind of flattering.

 

[lovecraft68]

Two thoughts.

Number 1, you should feel perfectly within your rights to say 'no.' You're under no obligation to accommodate their request to write a sequel if you don't feel comfortable with it. I don't know how I'd respond in this situation. I might be flattered and inclined to say yes but not if the particular treatment made me feel uncomfortable. From the tone of your query I get the feeling you are not comfortable with this. That's legitimate.

Number 2, I'm inclined to disagree with Plathfan and some others on this. I don't think you should interfere in this author's writing and I don't think the story should be accompanied by any comment, approval, or reservations by you. My suggestion would be to take the story "as is" and either say yes or no and leave it at that. It's their story, not yours, and if you feel a bit uncomfortable with it the less you are associated with it the better.

Your two points mirror the dilemma because I feel torn between both schools of thought.

 

[VerbalAbuse]

Many sequels have been written to The Count of Monte Cristo. Wikipedia mentions nine.

Al. Dumas never cared about any of them. What they were. Who the authors were. Whether they were written at all.

How weird would it be if he actually cared? How petty? How lame?

Very few people have read the sequels. In truth, their existence only serves to demonstrate the book popularity.

 

[samhasstories]

If I had no plans for a sequel I wouldn't see the downside. I would just want the wording of the disclaimer to be clear that you solely approved the use of the characters/etc., and not necessarily that you signed off on the content.

On the other hand, if the character is important to you and you feel that the sequel undermines her integrity in a way that bothers you, I also don't see the downside to refusing, apart from disappointing a fan. If I were the one asking for permission I think I would understand that the owner of the original story has every right to refuse.

I guess the question I would ask is, if this sequel is out in the world, does it cheapen your existing story? If you think it does, then say no.

 

[Bazzle]

I am sure @SimonDoom has suggested this before.

Ask them to go back to the beginning. Write their own story, using the themes and facsimile of the characters. Then they can continue it however they like. The characters are then theirs, not yours?

But referencing your story as the source?

 

[TheLobster]

Ask yourself a simple question: cui bono?

You came up with those characters. You wrote their story. It is your creation that reached those "bestseller" lists. You are one of the more popular writers here in general.

Who is he? A newbie who's looking for a break by capitalizing on an established universe and story that he had no hand in creating. All the benefits of this "relationship" go to him. It is unequal and deeply unfair.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't care if it was a 400k word doorstopper. The answer would still be "no, and come up with your own damn ideas."

 

[NoTalentHack]

I'd say let him go for it. Look at it this way: you wrote Alien. Maybe he's writing Aliens. I doubt Ridley Scott would have said, "Sure, I think the next segment should be 'Vietnam War in Space,'" nor would he have focused on Ripley's losing her daughter and her adoption of Newt, especially given that Ripley wasn't written for a woman in the first place. Still, two great films with two different but compatible versions of the same character, even if the two directors' visions might have been different.

 

[KeithD]

Two thoughts.

Number 1, you should feel perfectly within your rights to say 'no.' You're under no obligation to accommodate their request to write a sequel if you don't feel comfortable with it. I don't know how I'd respond in this situation. I might be flattered and inclined to say yes but not if the particular treatment made me feel uncomfortable. From the tone of your query I get the feeling you are not comfortable with this. That's legitimate.

Number 2, I'm inclined to disagree with Plathfan and some others on this. I don't think you should interfere in this author's writing and I don't think the story should be accompanied by any comment, approval, or reservations by you. My suggestion would be to take the story "as is" and either say yes or no and leave it at that. It's their story, not yours, and if you feel a bit uncomfortable with it the less you are associated with it the better.

Number 3. Ask them to change particulars--the character names, the scene, the time, etc. and build in some independent background that obviates the need to relate it to the original work--and then post it as being "inspired by" rather than a "sequel to."

 

[SimonDoom]

Number 3. Ask them to change particulars--the character names, the scene, the time, etc. and build in some independent background that obviates the need to relate it to the original work--and then post it as being "inspired by" rather than a "sequel to."

Yes, that's an option too.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

This is one of those dilemmas where whatever you decide, you'll end up having some regrets. If you decline(which is absolutely your right, and ethically justified), you'll have some guilt for not supporting a new author. If you allow it, you'll regret the way characters are portrayed. This is why people should ask first and only then write and build upon other author's work.

I didn't read your story so I don't know if Keith's idea is feasible. If this author is directly continuing it, I don't see how number 3 could work.

My suggestion would be a bit of all, to try to minimize the eventual "regret"
I would allow him to publish it but I would require of him to make a foreword explaining that he wrote the story based on his own ideas, with your eventual approval. I would also explain to him how you envisioned the characters and how the way he wrote some parts breaks that vision and I would ask him to rewrite those parts accordingly. It should work if the character-breaking parts are relatively small. I think this is the scenario you are least likely to regret.

 

[lc69hunter]

I have permission from several authors to take one of their older stories in a new direction. As of now, I have chosen not to, and may not ever.

 

[Comshaw]

My oldman was always sayin' "you got yourself caught twixt a rock and a hard place".

You got yourself caught between the love you have for the characters you birthed and the desire to help a beginning writer get his feet on the ground. If you let him go ahead as is it will destroy that vision you have in your head of who those characters are. If you don't you might destroy a burgeoning career for a new writer.

The only help I can offer is tell you what I would do. I'd have a talk with him and see if he would change those things I didn't like about his story and tell him why. The why is as or maybe more important than the doing in this case. I think in later years he will come to understand why, but right now he hasn't had his own characters talking to him in his head for days at a time, so he has no clue about how we come to see them.

It is flattering for someone to want to emulate us, to pattern themselves after us. It's important to try to guide them in the right direction. On the other hand it's important to take care of ourselves too. My characters are like old friends and I never abandon a friend.

Choose wisely, it's all we can do


Comshaw