fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2682 ]

[ SECRET POST #2682 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2682 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 024 secrets from Secret Submission Post #383.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

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Old story for a show that's no longer running begs for a sequel. The writer's no longer around to contact.

Is it alright to write an unauthorised sequel so long as you mark it as such and give full credit?

When you say "the writer's no longer around to contact", do you mean on that specific site, or at all?

Because if it's that specific site, I'd ask around on other site's too- fandom blogs/tumblrs, fanfiction.net's forums/AO3's if they have something similar, just something so that you're leaving a trail of "proof" that you did actually try to find the person, and who knows! Maybe you'll legitimately find them, and can ask them.

She's not around at all, far as I can tell. She dropped off the grid, deleted her website. Her LJ's still up but she hasn't posted or commented since 2011. :/

I'd say it's in bad taste, but whether you'll get dogpiled depends largely on the story that needs a sequel. Is it a super complicated AU or does it do something very different from the rest of the fandom? Probably better contact the author if you can. If it's your average case fic or monster of the week or something, I wouldn't worry about it.

Not so worried about being dog-piled, more concerned with it being in bad taste. :/ The fic was a pretty unusual one, and very author-specific (I swear that makes sense in context, though I know it sounds bizarre). It just... begged for a sequel.

With your help, I've rather answered my own question there. It really would be in bad taste. Ah well! Will have to write it for myself. ;)

I think it's on you to explain why writing what is basically a fanfic of a fanfic is "bad taste."

See answer below. I didn't say no one could do it, I'm just saying people won't react well because it's considered rude.

I'd say you're fine, as long as you're honest about the first part not being yours.

As long as you link the original and credit, I don't see how it would be a big deal. I mean, fanfic is by its nature an unauthorised sequel. And no one complains about fanart of their work.

TBQH, I don't see anything wrong with it as long as you credit the original writer. As for anyone who says it's "in poor taste" to write what is basically fanfic of a fanfic...can we say hypocrisy?

It's not hypocrisy so much as knowing how to play nice with your peers, actually. Fanfic of fanfic is different from fanfic of a formally published work, simply because of the audience and the people who make it. It's like if you wrote an English paper based on the idea someone else in your class had for their English paper as opposed to, say, getting an idea from your teacher's dissertation from college. Even if your paper turned out completely different from your classmate, there's still the collective knowledge that the original idea wasn't yours, and if that idea was very original? People will think you've stolen it, plain and simple, or at least think you're rude for not changing your idea.

As far as I can see, you seem to be the only one saying there is anything wrong with it, while several other people have said it's fine. It seems to me that you're trying to claim some kind of spurious pan-fandom authority for a point of view that's strictly your own here.

Also, no one can claim dibs on ideas. That's ridiculous.

I'm not speaking with any authority, and I'm not trying to. I don't go and rile people into a frenzy when fanfic-of-fanfic happens. If anything, I'm just basing my answer to OP's question on basic social skills and experience. People get bothered by it, I've seen it (including in that English paper example), and OP wants to avoid that.

Also, in our sample size of five, I'm the only person who has a problem with it. Truly, anon, this must mean I'm the minority in all of fandom. Wow, gold star for you.

Re: Fic etiquette question

(Anonymous) - 2014-05-08 02:59 (UTC) - Expand

OP here.

Actually I agree with the AYRT.

Re: Fic etiquette question

(Anonymous) - 2014-05-08 03:03 (UTC) - Expand

As long as you've given credit and made every attempt to contact the author about it, I'd say it's fair game.

I agree. Offering a sequel with credit should be fine. It would likely bring new interest to the original story. It's done in fandom already. You wouldn't be the first.

I saw a story have two people do sequels when they thought of (what they thought was) a better ending (while the author was still writing) and all three stories are still posted. The author freaked out a little that they didn't like her ending, but no one try to say they were wrong for continuing her credited OC-less story.

I, personally, would be flattered, but others might not be.

Honestly, I think it's in terrible taste, and wonder why you can't just write your own fic. Borrowing an idea/premise is one thing. No two people will write them the same way. Borrowing an entire work is something else entirely, especially if the fic writer turns up and cries havoc.

There's a reason they say to steal from your betters, not your peers.

Additionally, I'm not really convinced that you put much effort into finding this fic writer.

I saw that you say that she's deleted her website and her LJ hasn't been updated since 2011, but, honestly, that's not much effort. People switch content providers all the time, and she may have had a falling out with LJ that means no access to the account, either in terms of updating or deleting it. (Don't laugh! That happened to me!) Or maybe she got sick of LJ and left without closing shop. Try looking for her on other, more popular platforms before declaring open season on her work.

And seriously consider doing your own riff off of the fic elements that you liked, rather than annexing it to yourself. Some people won't mind. Others will cry plagiarism and get you tossed from wherever you're posting.

lol, it's pretty far-fetched to claim that writing a sequel to a work is "stealing" it.

Did I use the word "stealing"? I think not.

There's a reason they say to steal from your betters, not your peers.

Remember saying that?

Also, you used "annexing," which conveys much the same idea of taking possession.

Re: Fic etiquette question

crunchysunrises - 2014-05-08 04:04 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Fic etiquette question

(Anonymous) - 2014-05-08 04:27 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Fic etiquette question

crunchysunrises - 2014-05-08 04:44 (UTC) - Expand

LOL, I was wondering why your comment seemed to pertain more to the "I also have a fic etiquette question" comment, below. Let me guess, you posted that one yourself.

What one? Is there another? *goes to look*

I also have a fic etiquette question:

I began to read a fic (about 2 chapters in and that was all). The (I think) cliched plot line (i.e. arranged marriage to a god) is the main idea as far as I read. I felt the plot line could have had more potential if the OC had been used better (i.e. not acting like a 14 y/o) and was inspired to "re write" the fic---i.e. change everything but use the "arranged marriage to a god" plot. If ever posted, would it be proper to notify the original author that their story inspired this sort of remake/re-write and ask if they'd be okay with me posting it (obviously linking their original fic throughout). Or is that too much?

I feel like I would let them know their plot inspired my story (and I would link them as well)...but....what say you, FS?

*chances are this will not ever be posted, btw*

I think that's cruel. You are literally rewriting someone's fic (including their OC... who might actually be their self-insert from the sounds of things) and then expecting that person to be happy about it.

The "arranged marriage to a god" idea has been around since the ancient Greeks. If you want to use it, that seems fine to me. It's an idea, not the body of someone's work, and it's so old that it's all over mythology.

Write your own thing with this idea (WITHOUT using the other writer's OC... that you seem to hate) and then drop a line to the other author to say, "Hey, I really enjoyed your fic and it inspired me to risk writing one of my own. Thanks for the push!" or something much nicer but also lacking the implication that the original fic sucked so bad it required a third party re-write.

AYRT

Yeah, I did not figure the author would be happy about it, but what you've written in the second part of your response is essentially what I'm doing--taking the plot "arranged etc etc" and writing my own thing (particularly helpful that I did not read the rest of the fic, so I cannot claim to have been "adapting" material) with my own OC.

But you do make sense, and if I ever should post, I will do so following that lead (drop a very nice positive line to the original author). It's easy to forget other people's feelings.

Re: Fic etiquette question

crunchysunrises - 2014-05-09 07:56 (UTC) - Expand

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