ANSWERED: Abandoned Stories - What is the protocol for finishing one? - - YOU DON'T

[NCostello]

ANSWERED: YOU DON'T.

(I posted some of this information in another thread, but this is another question.

I found a story by Debaser_Lament called A Way to Get More.

I found it pretty hot and looked for chapter two... No luck. And to my horror, it turns out that the story was written in 2011 and the author has been idle since

Has there ever been any discussion of a formal process for "finishing" abandoned stories?

My Initial thoughts:

1. Story and author need to be idle for a minimum of five years
2. explicit permission from author, or three attempts over a three week period.

 

[ElectricBlue]

(I posted some of this information in another thread, but this is another question.

I found a story by Debaser_Lament called A Way to Get More.

I found it pretty hot and looked for chapter two... No luck. And to my horror, it turns out that the story was written in 2011 and the author has been idle since

Has there ever been any discussion of a formal process for "finishing" abandoned stories?

Repeatedly.

You shouldn't do it unless you have explicit permission from the other author.

My Initial thoughts:

1. Story and author need to be idle for a minimum of five years

No. I have stories older than that, that I might come back to one day.

1. explicit permission from author,

This and only this.

1. or three attempts over a three week period.

Rubbish. You need explicit permission, not attempts to get it.

Thanks!

Write your own story.

You have no rights whatsoever to "continue" someone else's story. It is THEIR story forever, never yours.

 

[lovecraft68]

(I posted some of this information in another thread, but this is another question.

I found a story by Debaser_Lament called A Way to Get More.

I found it pretty hot and looked for chapter two... No luck. And to my horror, it turns out that the story was written in 2011 and the author has been idle since

Has there ever been any discussion of a formal process for "finishing" abandoned stories?

My Initial thoughts:

1. Story and author need to be idle for a minimum of five years
2. explicit permission from author, or three attempts over a three week period.

Thanks!

Not your fault, but this topic comes up repeatedly.

There will be an ensuing argument over copyright where some think you can do it, others will say no and on and on.

Point of reference is a story called February Sucks that a lot of people hated the ending to and reached out to ask if they could write a sequel. The author didn't respond and over 20 stories were posted here without permission and are still here. The author eventually returned and gave a blanket permission moving forward and never did anything with the others, so I suppose technically you can do this and the site won't care unless there is some reports on it.

Then there's people like myself who look at it from a strictly ethical point of view and if you don't have permission, you shouldn't do it. Even if they never come back, its not your story and not yours to finish. Basically a dick move IMO

You do you, but be prepared for this thread to be a long windy road of the same old same old.

I gave the cliff notes.

 

[Cagivagurl]

If you posted in another thread, then I'm sure you already got your answer.

NO...
Never....
Stop asking the same question...

It is totally unacceptable (I my opinion) To steal somebody else's work, thoughts and ideas...

There is only one way. Get the Authors permission...

Cagivagurl

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

(I posted some of this information in another thread, but this is another question.

I found a story by Debaser_Lament called A Way to Get More.

I found it pretty hot and looked for chapter two... No luck. And to my horror, it turns out that the story was written in 2011 and the author has been idle since

Has there ever been any discussion of a formal process for "finishing" abandoned stories?

My Initial thoughts:

1. Story and author need to be idle for a minimum of five years
2. explicit permission from author, or three attempts over a three week period.

Thanks!

NCostello, curious what would be stopping you from reimagining the plot from the start to make it your own, then writing your own original story?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Has there ever been any discussion of a formal process for "finishing" abandoned stories?

Yes. There are three ways it can happen:

• Author explicitly gives you permission
• Author explicitly releases their story into the public domain (I guess this is a form of "gives you permission").
• Wait until copyright expires on the story (under US law 70 years after death of the author, or if it's anonymous, 95 years from publication).

Not being able to get a reply from the author does not constitute permission. Mailboxes get full, people go on holiday, people get stuck on a story. One author here (now deceased) mentioned taking something like 11 years to complete one of his stories.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I begin to suspect these are just troll posts

 

[ElectricBlue]

I begin to suspect these are just troll posts

More so someone who thinks their desire to continue someone else's story outweighs the fact that it's not theirs to do that, and hasn't even thought about writers' ethics.

The thread will yap on about copyright, which always misses the point - it's never a question of whether you can do it or not, it's really down to whether you should.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Addendum: readers don't always agree with authors on where a story should end. Many authors like to leave something to the imagination. I skimmed this story (which is more NC than Fetish IMHO) and it's not at all clear to me that the author ever intended for there to be a Part 2.

 

[OddLove]

Can't you just write your own story? Obviously, you'll be inspired by the stories you've enjoyed in the past. But you can create your whole ass own world.

 

[NCostello]

NCostello, curious what would be stopping you from reimagining the plot from the start to make it your own, then writing your own original story?

in

If you posted in another thread, then I'm sure you already got your answer.

NO...
Never....
Stop asking the same question...

It is totally unacceptable (I my opinion) To steal somebody else's work, thoughts and ideas...

There is only one way. Get the Authors permission...

Cagivagurl

this is the first time I've asked. I posted the example story in another thread.
But I understand and agree.

If there is an FAQ, then I missed it and My Bad.

 

[EmilyMiller]

If there is an FAQ, then I missed it and My Bad.

There ought to be if there isn’t already.

 

[NCostello]

I edited the title to reflect that this has been answered.
Thanks everyone.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I edited the title to reflect that this has been answered.
Thanks everyone.

This question gets asked all the time. And we are all authors and don’t like the thought of this happening. So you have two reasons for us to be a bit grumpy.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm keeping my big, fat, black mouth shut this time.