What to do about old/non responsive authors

[RonClarkeson]

I recently found a story that just begged for a sequel, I wrote a new senario added a pair of new characters and turned the story on its head. I have PM,d the original author but have got no response.

What do I do?

Plagerise his characters and submit my sequel or keep trying to contaact the original author who last post was in 2003?

Own up to the plagerism in a note before the story?

Forget the story?

Trouble is my sequel is so damn hot!

It took me just a few hours to write!!!!

 

[minsue]

Plagiarism is never the way to go. If you can't reach the author, why not try reworking your scenario into a story with your own characters instead of stealing theirs without permission?

 

[RonClarkeson]

yes Could do that but.

Plagiarism is never the way to go. If you can't reach the author, why not try reworking your scenario into a story with your own characters instead of stealing theirs without permission?

I did not really like the original story! My sequel rights a few wrongs and makes the original bad guys suffer and then some. I don't think I could write an anti- heroine story. I just felt she had been hard done by and my sequel gave her a way to score off her abusers.

I will wait a while before I submit, but I have since read all the original authors stories and they all had the same theme, basically 'Stupid Bitch" and I could see a nicer ending to this story. The originals really depict sexually active women as totaly worthless!

 

[kendo1]

Mm. I had the same problem.

I reckon I'll take the two offending stories down. They've been up for two years.
You'll get some nasty mail if you go ahead.

 

[FallingToFly]

Oy.... You're writing FANFIC!

Put a disclaimer AT THE TOP that says:

This is an authorized sequel to the story ______ by ________ (imbed the URL so that people can find the story). I make no claims of ownership to the characters, which belong to so-and-so, only the story is mine. Thank you so and so for writing such a wonderful story for me to read and use as a jumping-off point.

*shaking head* You should still try to get the original author's opinion and blessing, but if you can't, at least give credit to the person who started your fandom!

Hope that helps... *stumbles off to find coffee and aspirin*

 

[minsue]

Oy.... You're writing FANFIC!

Put a disclaimer AT THE TOP that says:

This is an authorized sequel to the story ______ by ________ (imbed the URL so that people can find the story). I make no claims of ownership to the characters, which belong to so-and-so, only the story is mine. Thank you so and so for writing such a wonderful story for me to read and use as a jumping-off point.

*shaking head* You should still try to get the original author's opinion and blessing, but if you can't, at least give credit to the person who started your fandom!

Hope that helps... *stumbles off to find coffee and aspirin*

Have you checked with Laurel or anyone else at Lit about doing that with other Lit stories without the author's permission? Redoing someone else's story because you don't like the way it was originally done is a bit of a stretch to try to package as "Fan Fic".

ETA: How can you call it an "authorized sequel" in a case like this?

 

[RonClarkeson]

Did you mean UnAuthorized?

Oy.... You're writing FANFIC!

Put a disclaimer AT THE TOP that says:

This is an authorized sequel to the story ______ by ________ (imbed the URL so that people can find the story). I make no claims of ownership to the characters, which belong to so-and-so, only the story is mine. Thank you so and so for writing such a wonderful story for me to read and use as a jumping-off point.

*shaking head* You should still try to get the original author's opinion and blessing, but if you can't, at least give credit to the person who started your fandom!

Hope that helps... *stumbles off to find coffee and aspirin*

Yes That is what I am considering doing. Thanks.

 

[minsue]

Yes That is what I am considering doing. Thanks.

I would recommend sending a PM to Laurel first to check to see if that falls within the site guidelines on original work. Otherwise you might end up with the embarassment of having it pulled for plagiarism later if the original author or one of their fans reports it as such.

Best of luck!

 

[RonClarkeson]

A sequel is not re-doing!

Have you checked with Laurel or anyone else at Lit about doing that with other Lit stories without the author's permission? Redoing someone else's story because you don't like the way it was originally done is a bit of a stretch to try to package as "Fan Fic".

ETA: How can you call it an "authorized sequel" in a case like this?

As I said the original story was very much an anti-feminine story. She was painted as a really bad slut. In my sequel I repaint her as a heroine reversing the original authors depiction.

I do not like seeing anybody put down!

I will PM Laurel and abide by what she says.

Thanks a lot folks.

 

[minsue]

As I said the original story was very much an anti-feminine story. She was painted as a really bad slut. In my sequel I repaint her as a heroine reversing the original authors depiction.

I do not like seeing anybody put down!

I will PM Laurel and abide by what she says.

Thanks a lot folks.

I don't blame you.

Can you let us know what she says? This question has come up a number of times before, but I can't remember if we've ever had the answer.

 

[FallingToFly]

Have you checked with Laurel or anyone else at Lit about doing that with other Lit stories without the author's permission? Redoing someone else's story because you don't like the way it was originally done is a bit of a stretch to try to package as "Fan Fic".

ETA: How can you call it an "authorized sequel" in a case like this?

Sorry- I'm running on fumes- less than three hours of sleep. I meant non-authorized. Thanks for pointing that out, Min.

Yeah, checking with Laurel is a good idea. *thunks head on desk* Sorry, I should never give anyone any attempt at advice without caffeine.

 

[RonClarkeson]

Will Do

I don't blame you.

Can you let us know what she says? This question has come up a number of times before, but I can't remember if we've ever had the answer.

The story was 'Getting the Contract by Scorpio00155' I think(I lost the reference), and the sequel makes Jane the heorine rather than the slut.
I will post a reply later. Thanks folks

 

[Stella_Omega]

I recently found a story that just begged for a sequel, I wrote a new senario added a pair of new characters and turned the story on its head. I have PM,d the original author but have got no response.

What do I do?

Plagerise his characters and submit my sequel or keep trying to contaact the original author who last post was in 2003?

Own up to the plagerism in a note before the story?

Forget the story?

Trouble is my sequel is so damn hot!

It took me just a few hours to write!!!!

Two ways to go- either write a disclaimer for the top of the story, or change the names and post it as your own original work. Everyone gets ideas from other people's work- if they read at all, and if they don't read I don't want to read their illiteracies. If you've turned the plot on it's head, it's a brand-new plot now! You can say that the idea started when you read the other story, but why would you want to plug the work of someone that you don't actually admire?

It sounds like your story is hot enough to stand on its own, anyway.

 

[R. Richard]

You might also consider a 'generic reference.' You saw a story in Literotica that you thought was mishandled and used it as a basis for your own original story. You tried and fail to contact the original author.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You might also consider a 'generic reference.' You saw a story in Literotica that you thought was mishandled and used it as a basis for your own original story. You tried and fail to contact the original author.

yeah, what he said

 

[ibhard]

i haven't read the story in question or know the author, but as an author, i can't help but think that it would annoy me immensely to have one of "my babies" rewritten to suit someone else's idea of a happily-ever-after. i think it's all right to be inspired by another story, but write your plot, write your characters and write your story, not the other author's story.

just my opinion. i need coffee, sorry if i sounded gruff.

 

[cloudy]

i haven't read the story in question or know the author, but as an author, i can't help but think that it would annoy me immensely to have one of "my babies" rewritten to suit someone else's idea of a happily-ever-after. i think it's all right to be inspired by another story, but write your plot, write your characters and write your story, not the other author's story.

just my opinion. i need coffee, sorry if i sounded gruff.

I agree.

 

[Guest]

i haven't read the story in question or know the author, but as an author, i can't help but think that it would annoy me immensely to have one of "my babies" rewritten to suit someone else's idea of a happily-ever-after. i think it's all right to be inspired by another story, but write your plot, write your characters and write your story, not the other author's story.

just my opinion. i need coffee, sorry if i sounded gruff.

You don't sound gruff to me.

I completely agree.

Edited to add: (Coming up with the plot, the characters and the story is the tough part.)

 

[CharleyH]

I recently found a story that just begged for a sequel, I wrote a new senario added a pair of new characters and turned the story on its head. I have PM,d the original author but have got no response.

What do I do?

Plagerise his characters and submit my sequel or keep trying to contaact the original author who last post was in 2003?

Own up to the plagerism in a note before the story?

Forget the story?

Trouble is my sequel is so damn hot!

It took me just a few hours to write!!!!

Well, I think you cannot continue 'HIS' story, but I do believe you can take off on it and go elsewhere with it. Sometimes homage, satire and parody are interesting. Unfortunately, I do not get these respectful vibes from you when you say, 'I did not like the original story'. In this instance? I would suggest getting your own great ideas, and stop worrying about why authors cannot do it like you can.

 

[Lisa Denton]

I recently found a story that just begged for a sequel, I wrote a new senario added a pair of new characters and turned the story on its head. I have PM,d the original author but have got no response.

What do I do?

Plagerise his characters and submit my sequel or keep trying to contaact the original author who last post was in 2003?

Own up to the plagerism in a note before the story?

Forget the story?

Trouble is my sequel is so damn hot!

It took me just a few hours to write!!!!

Uh, that lil C with a circle around it means copyright.

Laurel and Manu fights to protect that, for you and for old/non responsive authors as well.

Perhaps the reason it only took you a few hours to write is because it was already written. I suggest you take a few more hours and come up with your own characters and plots.

The author gave you an idea for a good story, it was not posted for you to take it, change it, and post it as your own.

I am sure if the heroine in the original story was a slut, then she prolly really was (tramp) and thats how the original author with the copyright wanted it. After all, who knows a character better than the author who thought her up.

You got the idea, spend some time with it, change everything, make it yours.

Then post it proudly and Laurel and Manu will put a lil C with a circle around it, and protect it for you.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Uh, that lil C with a circle around it means copyright.

Laurel and Manu fights to protect that, for you and for old/non responsive authors as well.

Perhaps the reason it only took you a few hours to write is because it was already written. I suggest you take a few more hours and come up with your own characters and plots.

The author gave you an idea for a good story, it was not posted for you to take it, change it, and post it as your own.

I am sure if the heroine in the original story was a slut, then she prolly really was (tramp) and thats how the original author with the copyright wanted it. After all, who knows a character better than the author who thought her up.

You got the idea, spend some time with it, change everything, make it yours.

Then post it proudly and Laurel and Manu will put a lil C with a circle around it, and protect it for you.

All he needs to do is change the names- He's already changed the characters (From slut to heroine) and plot (turned it on it's head, he says)

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

There is an element that may be forgotten here. The "Original Author" may either be a little used alt or an author's account that got screwed up and the author can no longer get into it, so they now have a new screen name and account. I think it's pretty dangerous to use someone's story without handing them credit for the original.

 

[scriptordelecto]

Uh, that lil C with a circle around it means copyright.

Laurel and Manu fights to protect that, for you and for old/non responsive authors as well.

Perhaps the reason it only took you a few hours to write is because it was already written. I suggest you take a few more hours and come up with your own characters and plots.

The author gave you an idea for a good story, it was not posted for you to take it, change it, and post it as your own.

I am sure if the heroine in the original story was a slut, then she prolly really was (tramp) and thats how the original author with the copyright wanted it. After all, who knows a character better than the author who thought her up.

You got the idea, spend some time with it, change everything, make it yours.

Then post it proudly and Laurel and Manu will put a lil C with a circle around it, and protect it for you.

I completely agree! Sounds like you're more than half-way there already. Just spend some time to make it your own and let the other story go. I think in the end you'll be happier for it.

 

[CharleyH]

There is an element that may be forgotten here. The "Original Author" may either be a little used alt or an author's account that got screwed up and the author can no longer get into it, so they now have a new screen name and account. I think it's pretty dangerous to use someone's story without handing them credit for the original.

It was not forgotten by me, JJ. Altough, I do believe homage, satire and parody can be accomplished without permission, I do not believe "improving" on a story that one personally thinks sucks is ... well ... kosher... at all.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

I recently found a story that just begged for a sequel, I wrote a new senario added a pair of new characters and turned the story on its head. I have PM,d the original author but have got no response.

What do I do?

Plagerise his characters and submit my sequel or keep trying to contaact the original author who last post was in 2003?

Own up to the plagerism in a note before the story?

Forget the story?

Trouble is my sequel is so damn hot!

It took me just a few hours to write!!!!

My comment is not about the content or plot of the original story.

I think it entirely presumptious on your part to insert yourself into someone else's work and write a sequel. People have asked for sequels on a couple of my stories. I never intended for sequels to be written for these stories, and I think a sequel would only weaken what I had written. And I would be damned pissed if I found someone had written a sequel.

My advice to you is to write your own stories, and not intefere with someone else's work.