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

[bilash]

• 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.

 

[StillStunned]

You say, "This sucks!" And you don't write the story.

It's not about asking, it's about getting. Unless you get permission, you don't get to continue the story.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The short answer isn't something you want to hear.

You can't.

At least not here. You can create a story from scratch that pays homage to it, but nothing more than that.

 

[WittyUserName]

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.

 

[MillieDynamite]

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.

 

[Bamagan]

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.

 

[AwkwardMD]

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

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

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.

Take it as a no and move on.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

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 best you can do is start over from scratch.

Adapt and personalize into your own style using some of the basic elements.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

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.

 

[bilash]

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

Stop being anti-semitic. I can do anything I want as long as I can engineer consent. I'm a proud Jewish Israeli.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Stop being anti-semitic. I can do anything I want as long as I can engineer consent. I'm a proud Jewish Israeli.

You have not been here long enough to make jokes like that without a lol or a winky face.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I can't find that post!

bilash said:
Stop being anti-semitic. I can do anything I want as long as I can engineer consent. I'm a proud Jewish Israeli.

You have not been here long enough to make jokes like that without a lol or a winky face.

 

[sweetheart97]

Stop being anti-semitic. I can do anything I want as long as I can engineer consent. I'm a proud Jewish Israeli.

Engineering consent makes you sound like a predator, Jewish or not. You can't hide poor behavior behind an identity like that. The dude hasn't responded, likely does not want you continuing the story.

 

[Cagivagurl]

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

 

[WCSGarland]

Stop being anti-semitic. I can do anything I want as long as I can engineer consent. I'm a proud Jewish Israeli.

Are you trying to tell us that a proud Jewish Israeli would resort to theft?

 

[Baztrachian]

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

 

[AwkwardMD]

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

 

[D_K_Moon]

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.

 

[D_K_Moon]

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.

 

[MrPixel]

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

Are you an IP attorney?

 

[lovecraft68]

Stop being anti-semitic. I can do anything I want as long as I can engineer consent. I'm a proud Jewish Israeli.

Engineering consent is what rapists do.

 

[Voboy]

Well.

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

 

[lovecraft68]

Are you an IP attorney?

This is the issue with law versus ethics.

Then again, do any lawyers have ethics?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Well.

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

Yeah, pretty serious plot twist there. I had to rush off and pop some pop corn.