8 replies to this topic

[digifruit]

Believe it or not, ever since I released Icha Icha Fantasy, about fifty people have asked me for permission to write the novel about the trains. And I've rejected every single one of them. The reason for that is because that novel is something I've been working on myself. It's the most daunting and most difficult piece of fiction that I've ever worked on though, and I'm not sure if I'll ever finish.

So given the possibility that I may never be able to finish this story, was I being unfair in not allowing others to write it themselves? I thought that JK Rowling was being very selfish in not allowing that Harry Potter fan encyclopedia to be published, so I was wondering if I was just being hypocritical in this case.

JK Rowling and pro authors aside, how do other fellow fanfiction authors handle these types of situations?

[catsi563]

Believe it or not, ever since I released Icha Icha Fantasy, about fifty people have asked me for permission to write the novel about the trains. And I've rejected every single one of them. The reason for that is because that novel is something I've been working on myself. It's the most daunting and most difficult piece of fiction that I've ever worked on though, and I'm not sure if I'll ever finish.

So given the possibility that I may never be able to finish this story, was I being unfair in not allowing others to write it themselves? I thought that JK Rowling was being very selfish in not allowing that Harry Potter fan encyclopedia to be published, so I was wondering if I was just being hypocritical in this case.

JK Rowling and pro authors aside, how do other fellow fanfiction authors handle these types of situations?

Absolutely not in the slightest.

THe stories you write are a very personal part of you as they are for me. For someone to come in and write about your stuff runs the risk that that person may not capture the depth of character and emotion you prefer in your stories. Or some similar issue that may occur.

Imagine In the Harry Potter fan encylopedia had refferences to Hermione and Harry being involved in some secret romantic relationship, or if there was mention of Snape and Lily being involved while she was dating james.

It would be a slap in the face to Rowling who spent years of her life laying down a very careful story and history. And attempting to make it seem like its cannon by slapping an ""offical and authorized "" label on it.


Now on the otherside of the argument, Not all authors would massacre somehting like that. I think ic ould definatley swing the emotional depth needed to bring Doki Doki fantasy to the screen, not that id try mind you Ive got entirley too many of my own stories going right now. But the key is I would do it the right way. and some might jsut do that aswell.

If you decided to allow someone to do so. I would not be in the least surprised if you were Ironfisted in your editing of the story, and if you would be well within your rights to nix any draft that did not meet your exacting standards of how it should be.

Right now to behonest I dont think their are trully any authors out ther (very few Ms Soupy maybe) that could pull off the emotional depth required to put that story out there.

So dont feel your being selfish at all. You have put out some of the most poignant and beautiful stories ive ever read. Beautiful world, moonlight sonata both made me cry, and so did Do you remember love.

Your stories have helped inspire my own and I cant wait for more form you. Heck Id love it if youd take a gander at my own stories and let me know what you think. Id be honored.

So hold onto your stories, and put them out when your ready. no sooner no later.

[Leney]

The HP Fan Encylcopedia was basically the Harry Potter book reguitated into a different format. No original work was involved. So it is a different story.

If you don't want people writing something that belongs to you then just keep refusing. If you feel like you won't finish and therefore it doesn't matter who takes a shot at it then go ahead. It's up to you.

[Nick Soapdish]

No, you aren't being selfish at all.

The possibility of you being unable to finish is absolutely immaterial. It's your idea and it's even something that you are working on.

If somebody chooses to write the story anyway, it could be a bit murky. It's sorta like somebody writing a fanfic of a fanfic. But it definitely doesn't mean that you have to bless their efforts.

(I liked the second reference to the story in Do You Remember Love?. Neat little Easter Egg, but for an earlier story.)

Edited by Nick Soapdish, 05 October 2008 - 10:54 PM.

[Wilson]

It simply comes down to whether or not you'll appreciate other writers possibly interpreting your work in the wrong way, and therefore, if they take over that piece of fiction, they may completely get the idea that you wanted wrong.

In other words, I think you were right in rejecting them. You started that bit of fiction, so might as well finish it. Even if you still have a long way to go, doesn't matter, only you can capture what you want, is what I think.

[Jin]

I don't know that I would say selfish. I would however point out of that I would find it odd if a fan fiction author got all in a tizzy over someone writing more fan fiction based on their fan fiction.

[AchikaMiyu]

There really isn't anything unfair about you coveting your own ideas. That's why they are your ideas. You can do with them what you want. You certainly could have let others take a stab at writing the train story, but would have it been written the way you would have liked? Would the author have done it justice? Were the potential authors even good at writing? At that point, you'd have to screen an author based on writing abilities and you may not have as much say in the final product since the story is now out of your hands.

Take an example of book to move or comic-book to movie, like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Great comic and a fine example of the genius of Alan Moore. Now take the movie adaptation of the comic. A fine example of how an idea that's really good can be made into a festering pile of feces in someone else's hands. Now that doesn't mean that everyone sucks at writing or making movie-adaptations. Just that there is always going to a risk of a diminishing quality of work. So it's completely fair to want to keep the idea to yourself for now.


The fact that now you don't think you have time, currently, to finish it shouldn't matter. If you've even started on it or have an outline plotted out, then it really it still your work. I know personally how I feel like I have no time to write (like this past year) and that I'll never finish my stories, but I'm not going to chalk them up for a loss. I have tons of stories that I'd love to have time to write and maybe someday I will, but I don't have the time now. That doesn't mean I will never have the time (I just need to wait until my toddler starts going to school in 4 more years or so).

And if you still feel a little guilty about not letting write your story, then feel free to let someone else write it. Just make sure you get the final say before it gets posted.

[digifruit]

thanks for the feedback

and, catsi, i have been reading your stuff ever since you requested it in your review of my last oneshot, but it's taking me a while to finish reading everything since i'm pretty busy with school... good stuff so far though

[catsi563]

thanks for the feedback

and, catsi, i have been reading your stuff ever since you requested it in your review of my last oneshot, but it's taking me a while to finish reading everything since i'm pretty busy with school... good stuff so far though

=O_O= You have?

=^__^= AWESOME!!!

And no worries. im just glad to have such an excellent author reading my stuff.

Edited by catsi563, 10 October 2008 - 04:01 AM.