What to do when author doesn't reply to anyone's mails and I want to continue the story ?

bilash

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  • Because this is a derivative work of another author's creations, we require permission before submitting and let readers know in the intro to the story that you have such permission. If you cannot obtain permission from the author and are thus rewriting their work without their permission, we cannot accept this. Thank you for your understanding and we wish you all the best!
I emailed the author many times and some other writers did too. The author never replies . So how can I ask for permission to continue the story? He left the story unfinished many years ago.
 
I emailed the author many times and some other writers did too. The author never replies . So how can I ask for permission to continue the story? He left the story unfinished many years ago.

I'll echo those above; there's nothing you can do. You can't force them to respond, and even if they did, you can't force them to give you permission.
 
The author may have passed away, but the email remains active. The author may not want you working on his story, and knows Lit won't let you without his permission. The author may have a filter that sent it to his junk mail folder. But you can't continue his work without his consent.
 
I emailed the author many times and some other writers did too. The author never replies . So how can I ask for permission to continue the story? He left the story unfinished many years ago.
The silence means no, whether the author is ignoring everyone or is dead.
You can take the general premise and write a new, similar story with different characters that ends however you want it to, though.
 
I emailed the author many times and some other writers did too. The author never replies . So how can I ask for permission to continue the story? He left the story unfinished many years ago.
I haven't received any e-mails from you, but then again, all of my stories are finished before publishing them.
 
I emailed the author many times and some other writers did too. The author never replies . So how can I ask for permission to continue the story? He left the story unfinished many years ago.
The answer is simple...
You can't...
No reply is still a no...
the work is his, without his permission, you have nothing.

Cagivagurl
 
No one is entitled to finish another person's story.

Happens all the time. It's called "fan fiction" and at least in the USA it falls under 'Fair use'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction

I've run into this in my real-world career and the meat of it is fan fiction is typically acceptable when:

1. It is an original work that is either a derivative of the copyrighted material or it is an homage to the copyrighted material.

2. The author of the fan fiction must not make a financial gain from the work.

After that the courts will decide on whatever they want. But these are the two main issues that define fan fiction.

Also, a copyrighted work in the US must also have a copyright notice:

https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ03.pdf

Anything without that copyright notice is public domain...such as is the case with most works posted here.

©2025 Baztrachian & Assignees
 
Happens all the time. It's called "fan fiction" and at least in the USA it falls under 'Fair use'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction

I've run into this in my real-world career and the meat of it is fan fiction is typically acceptable when:

1. It is an original work that is either a derivative of the copyrighted material or it is an homage to the copyrighted material.

2. The author of the fan fiction must not make a financial gain from the work.

After that the courts will decide on whatever they want. But these are the two main issues that define fan fiction.

Also, a copyrighted work in the US must also have a copyright notice:

https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ03.pdf

Anything without that copyright notice is public domain...such as is the case with most works posted here.
Okay
 
Happens all the time. It's called "fan fiction" and at least in the USA it falls under 'Fair use'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction

I've run into this in my real-world career and the meat of it is fan fiction is typically acceptable when:

1. It is an original work that is either a derivative of the copyrighted material or it is an homage to the copyrighted material.

2. The author of the fan fiction must not make a financial gain from the work.

After that the courts will decide on whatever they want. But these are the two main issues that define fan fiction.

Also, a copyrighted work in the US must also have a copyright notice:

https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ03.pdf

Anything without that copyright notice is public domain...such as is the case with most works posted here.

©2025 Baztrachian & Assignees
It says notice is optional for works created after 1989.
 
I emailed the author many times and some other writers did too. The author never replies . So how can I ask for permission to continue the story? He left the story unfinished many years ago.
You can't. Simple as that. It's not your work, it's not your place to finish someone else's work without their consent. Deal with it and move on.
 
Well.

This is an interesting thread. Gotta say, it was pretty boilerplate until Post #11. I feel like I'm missing something there.
 
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