Completing an unfinished story.

[Writer345]

I'm fairly new to this site (just seven short stories posted), so if what I am contemplating is against the rules, I appologise and will back off.

I am a great admirer of the work of Colleen Thomas, who I believe passed away about ten or twelve years ago. Amongst her large body of work is a two chapter story en-titled "Latin". It is clear from reading it that the lady was planning several more chapters, so intregued I began to 'get to know' her characters. To say that the next couple of chapters wrote themselves is an understatement, such was the degree of charicterisation and plot development.

My question is, would I be allowed to finish what she started? It would be my tribute to a writer whose work I admire and not an ego-trip on my part. What are the rules apertaining to this?

Comments (or judgement) please.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

you would need to find out who has taken charge or her work

 

[Zeb_Carter]

and get their permission.

Barring that, as it is copyrighted work, you can't.

Laurel might know who owns them, contact her via PM and ask.

 

[Writer345]

Thanks, folks, I'll do that.

 

[Hypoxia]

If I were contemplating this project I'd first contact Laurel to try to gain access to the stories' current owner, if any. If the owner declines, I'd stop. If Laurel doesn't know, or the owner accedes, I'd write the continuations, with a prominent credit to Colleen Thomas. Stuff can be removed if anyone related to Colleen Thomas objects. I might add comments to the original Colleen Thomas stories directing readers to the continuations. YMMV

 

[Zeb_Carter]

If I were contemplating this project I'd first contact Laurel to try to gain access to the stories' current owner, if any. If the owner declines, I'd stop. If Laurel doesn't know, or the owner accedes, I'd write the continuations, with a prominent credit to Colleen Thomas. Stuff can be removed if anyone related to Colleen Thomas objects. I might add comments to the original Colleen Thomas stories directing readers to the continuations. YMMV

Adding something to an existing story belonging to someone else? Unless you enlist Laurel's help, impossible.

 

[sr71plt]

If I were contemplating this project I'd first contact Laurel to try to gain access to the stories' current owner, if any. If the owner declines, I'd stop. If Laurel doesn't know, or the owner accedes, I'd write the continuations, with a prominent credit to Colleen Thomas. Stuff can be removed if anyone related to Colleen Thomas objects. I might add comments to the original Colleen Thomas stories directing readers to the continuations. YMMV

This was going OK right up to this point. It is the responsibility of the one wanting to continue the series to get permission; it's not the responsibility of the one owning the property to actively respond to requests. So, this gets unethical at the least from this point in the advice. You don't get to do what you want to do just because you can't find who owns it and receive permission.

So, let's see, as a comparison, if you saw a painting in someone's house that you thought wasn't finished to your satisfaction, you think that you just wait for them to go on vacation and then you go into their house, take it and paint over it and it's all good to go?

 

[Writer345]

Thanks for your advice, folks, I'll just keep it to the level of "for my amusement only" and leave well alone.