Continuing another author's story?

[DocCIS]

Greetings all,

I came up with a story idea and after outlining it but before I started writing, checked the site for various search categories to make sure I wasn't re-inventing the wheel so-to-speak. I found a story that was very similar to the one I was planning, albeit short and apparently defunct in that the author never continued the story line (entitled with a Ch 01) and seems to have last visited the site 2-3 years ago. The story was originally posted here in early 2007.

I have e-mailed them through the site, but have not received any response so was looking for advice on what to do.

I wanted to rewrite the first chapter (theirs) just adding my own style, nothing major changed in the overall storyline, just more description and such and then actually continue the story onwards...

Wondering what everybody's thoughts were on this...since I cannot seem to get a hold of the original author but really want to write my story. Obviously I would give them credit for the first chapter, but wanted to make sure I wasn't crossing some forbidden line...

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

It's not your story.

Unless you have permission from the original author, it's extremely bad manners (and also plagiarism) to "rewrite" work belonging to someone else.

Write your own. Use your own ideas.

The finished story will probably be better anyway, yes?

 

[DG Hear]

It's not your story.

Unless you have permission from the original author, it's extremely bad manners (and also plagiarism) to "rewrite" work belonging to someone else.

Write your own. Use your own ideas.

The finished story will probably be better anyway, yes?

I agree with Sarah. Besides, even with their approval, Lit will probably say no. Do like Sarah suggested. Write your own story, it can be similar in ideas to the story your talking about but has to be your own words.

You'll be happier that you wrote your own. We all read stories that we wish we could have changed to our opinions, but it is not ours to do so.
DG

 

[sr71plt]

There probably haven't been any "new" story ideas for a century or two.

But it's not good form to pick up someone elses story on Lit. and continue it.

 

[DeeZire]

I started writing a story about coming home early and finding my eighteen year-old little sister masturbating naked on the couch. Using the LIT search function, I discovered 7,821 stories with the same theme. Did that stop me from finishing my story? Hell no, although I did throw in a catsup bottle, just to set my story apart from the others, which mostly featured Coke, Gatorade, and Propel bottles.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Greetings all,

I came up with a story idea and after outlining it but before I started writing, checked the site for various search categories to make sure I wasn't re-inventing the wheel so-to-speak. I found a story that was very similar to the one I was planning, albeit short and apparently defunct in that the author never continued the story line (entitled with a Ch 01) and seems to have last visited the site 2-3 years ago. The story was originally posted here in early 2007.

I have e-mailed them through the site, but have not received any response so was looking for advice on what to do.

I wanted to rewrite the first chapter (theirs) just adding my own style, nothing major changed in the overall storyline, just more description and such and then actually continue the story onwards...

Wondering what everybody's thoughts were on this...since I cannot seem to get a hold of the original author but really want to write my story. Obviously I would give them credit for the first chapter, but wanted to make sure I wasn't crossing some forbidden line...

Thanks!

It's fine to read their story for inspiration, but you need to write your own. You don't need to use someone else's story for a crutch. Have a little faith in yourself and the story you have to tell.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I read a story that bothered me greatly. I emailed the author for permission to write a sequel to it. He agreed. When I posted the story, I referred readers to the first story with a suggestion that they read it before mine. Lit accepted it. It got pretty good marks and a lot of commenters said they liked my version better. This is not to say that your experience would be similar. Just because I got away with it once is not saying I'd ever do it again. I won't. And I must admit that the previous recommendations to write your own are valid. It's also much more satisfying.

 

[sr71plt]

I read a story that bothered me greatly. I emailed the author for permission to write a sequel to it. He agreed. When I posted the story, I referred readers to the first story with a suggestion that they read it before mine. Lit accepted it. It got pretty good marks and a lot of commenters said they liked my version better. This is not to say that your experience would be similar. Just because I got away with it once is not saying I'd ever do it again. I won't. And I must admit that the previous recommendations to write your own are valid. It's also much more satisfying.

Afraid, I see that as one of the reasons NOT to do it--so that people can (even might) say your version was better.

 

[DG Hear]

I read a story that bothered me greatly. I emailed the author for permission to write a sequel to it. He agreed. When I posted the story, I referred readers to the first story with a suggestion that they read it before mine. Lit accepted it. It got pretty good marks and a lot of commenters said they liked my version better. This is not to say that your experience would be similar. Just because I got away with it once is not saying I'd ever do it again. I won't. And I must admit that the previous recommendations to write your own are valid. It's also much more satisfying.

One of my first stories was one in which I asked the author if I could write an alternate ending. He put at the end of his story that anyone whgo didn't like the way it ended could write their own. I did get his personal permission first and of course told the readers they needed to read his story first.

That's when I found out I couldn't reproduce his works even with his name on it. So, I referred the readers to his story.

Jake Rivers and I wrote a two chapter story together. The readers wanted more and I wasn't at a place to where I would go with it. Jake asked me if I minded that he do a sequel. Of course Jake is a good friend as well as a terrific writer. He wrote the sequel and won first place in the contest.

I really did feel good for him. Honestly! He also wrote a sequel to another of my stories.

 

[slyc_willie]

Afraid, I see that as one of the reasons NOT to do it--so that people can (even might) say your version was better.

That hasn't kept Hollywood from giving Batman a new face every twenty years or so.

If you get permission from the original author, that tells me the author is (or should be) prepared to have his or her work compared to the new one.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That hasn't kept Hollywood from giving Batman a new face every twenty years or so.

If you get permission from the original author, that tells me the author is (or should be) prepared to have his or her work compared to the new one.

My story just had a happier ending with the bad guys being vanquished rather than continuing to bed down the protagonist's wife. Yeah, it was an LW story, my only one.

 

[slyc_willie]

My story just had a happier ending with the bad guys being vanquished rather than continuing to bed down the protagonist's wife. Yeah, it was an LW story, my only one.

LOL -- raise your hand, all those with only one LW story.

*raises hand*

 

[voluptuary_manque]

My goodness. Look at all those fast learners out there!

 

[sr71plt]

That hasn't kept Hollywood from giving Batman a new face every twenty years or so.

If you get permission from the original author, that tells me the author is (or should be) prepared to have his or her work compared to the new one.

Hollywood owns the franchises on all of the Batmans.

True, if you give permission, you should be prepared to hear that the new version makes yours look sick. But you were naive to give permission to begin with and it won't make you feel any better if you had given permission--and the one asking could be a little more sensitive to what might happen. Could just write their own story to begin with.

 

[_Lynn_]

LOL -- raise your hand, all those with only one LW story.

*raises hand*

That's one of the categories I never attempted.

 

[sr71plt]

LOL -- raise your hand, all those with only one LW story.

*raises hand*

I have two LW stories. One is one of my highest rated stories and the other has a green E on it--so I'm neither complaining nor pushing my luck by submitting another LW anytime soon.

 

[slyc_willie]

I have two LW stories. One is one of my highest rated stories and the other has a green E on it--so I'm neither complaining nor pushing my luck by submitting another LW anytime soon.

I shouldn't complain, either. Mine still maintains that magical red H even after a few hundred votes. I think that's mainly because the husband got the upper hand in the end and ended up with someone else.

But I don't find much appeal to the category at the moment.

 

[sr71plt]

I shouldn't complain, either. Mine still maintains that magical red H even after a few hundred votes. I think that's mainly because the husband got the upper hand in the end and ended up with someone else.

But I don't find much appeal to the category at the moment.

I cheated. I made my highly rated LW one a Christmas contest sob story and turned the category on its head--had an unloving wife turn into a loving one (and didn't include any graphic sex).

The one with the green E was rather a lark--wrote it as "in your face" to some green monster over on the Editorial Feedback board who keeps telling us what sends him into a frenzy in LW. I wrote one to his "into a frenzy" specifications just to see him explode--and it tickled Laurel's fancy, I guess. It rates well, but of course no red H--very few that get a green E than are permitted to go Hot rated by the readership here--the "oh, yeah?" factor, I guess.

 

[slyc_willie]

I cheated. I made my highly rated LW one a Christmas contest sob story and turned the category on its head--had an unloving wife turn into a loving one (and didn't include any graphic sex).

The one with the green E was rather a lark--wrote it as "in your face" to some green monster over on the Editorial Feedback board who keeps telling us what sends him into a frenzy in LW. I wrote one to his "into a frenzy" specifications just to see him explode--and it tickled Laurel's fancy, I guess. It's rates well, but of course no red H--very few that get a green E than are permitted to go Hot rated by the readership here--the "oh, yeah?" factor, I guess.

LOL. Yep. Anything worthy of the E is automatically targeted.

Ah. Good ol' nyminus. He's a character.

 

[DG Hear]

I have two LW stories. One is one of my highest rated stories and the other has a green E on it--so I'm neither complaining nor pushing my luck by submitting another LW anytime soon.

I just went and counted my Loving Wife stories. I have 66 on Lit. or course some of them are chapter stories. My numbers are all over the place in it.

 

[slyc_willie]

I just went and counted my Loving Wife stories. I have 66 on Lit. or course some of them are chapter stories. My numbers are all over the place in it.

Yet, still you live.

 

[sr71plt]

I just went and counted my Loving Wife stories. I have 66 on Lit. or course some of them are chapter stories. My numbers are all over the place in it.

I guess that's evidence that dogs don't learn from experience.

 

[sr71plt]

Anything worthy of the E is automatically targeted.

I've yet to figure out the "worthy of an E" formula. With the exception of one series, all the Es I've gotten have surprised the hell out of me--I would not have pointed to them as my best work.

I think the series deserved it, because I focused on a different sexual orientation for each chapter and played with that in weaving them together. I'm just surprised the editor picked up on that from the first chapter posting.

 

[DG Hear]

Yet, still you live.

I guess that's evidence that dogs don't learn from experience.

Hey Guys, someone has to post there to keep the rest of Lit safer.

 

[sr71plt]

Hey Guys, someone has to post there to keep the rest of Lit safer.

Whyyyyyy?