On other people writing sequels

[rynne]

Someone at ff.net PMed me and asked to write a sequel to The Choices We Make.

Am...not entirely sure what to say. I don't particularly mind this person writing a sequel (I recognize her from one of the mailing lists I'm on, and she's pretty nice and not a stereotypical ff.net "writer"), as long as she makes it clear that even though I said it's all right, it's an unofficial sequel, because I like my fic's open ending the way it is. I don't think she'd have a problem with that.

So I'm probably going to give her the go-ahead. But...hmm, not sure how to put this--how much should I be involved? Even if it's an unofficial sequel, and even if it's not me writing it, it's still affiliated with me and my story. This person doesn't have horrible grammar, but it's not the best either (she spelled it "sequal" in the PM *wince*), and maybe it's a bit, hmmm, petty, but I don't want a story affiliated with me to have many grammar mistakes. Can I ask that I beta for her? I mean, I may have been the inspiration, but it's her story, and I don't want to force myself on her--especially since I am flattered that someone loved one of my stories enough to want to write a sequel to it.

How much involvement is reasonable? Should I be involved at all? Looking back on the original story, there are a few things I'm not entirely happy with and would rewrite, but it's still my story and I want to have a voice on anywhere someone else possibly takes it. eta: Well, maybe not a voice, per se. I wouldn't want to write it with her. Ehhh, not quite sure what I mean anymore.

Comments

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

I had thistlerose beta for me when I wrote "On A Wing and a Prayer," the AU to her "This Bird Has Flown." I don't see why you shouldn't beta for this girl. That way, you can correct her spelling and grammar mistakes before they're posted, and maybe you can help ensure that she stays true to the spirit of the original as well.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Though too, you were already friends with thistlerose, and the most I can say about this person is that I recognize her. *shrugs*

[mysid.livejournal.com]

First of all, don't feel that you have to say "Yes" to her request. It's OK to decline if you aren't comfortable with it. Give yourself a day or two if you want to think it over. (But keep in mind, it's a fanfic of your fanfic. You borrowed ideas from someone else when you wrote--without getting permission--so why not return the favor when asked for permission.)

That being said, it's more than OK to tell her that you want some sort of disclaimer at the beginning saying that the original story is yours but the sequel is not.

As for beta-ing the story. Offer to do so. You could even drop a strong hint that she needs it. "I know spelling isn't your strong suit, so if you'd like me to beta-read..." If she declines, don't sweat it. The readers know that all spelling and grammar mistakes are the fault of the writer, not of the person whose story inspired the story.

As for any deeper involvement--don't. If you want this sequel to be "hers" and not affiliated with you in any deeper way than inspiration, you need to keep clear of it. If you start offering suggestions about where you feel the story should go, etc., you have turned it into a co-writing project. That's fine if you want to co-write it with her, but I don't think you do. You'd turn it into an "official" sequel of your story, and you did say you didn't want it to be that.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Well, like I mentioned, I don't particularly mind her writing a sequel. I rather agree with the whole fanfic-of-a-fanfic thing.

If you want this sequel to be "hers" and not affiliated with you in any deeper way than inspiration, you need to keep clear of it.

That makes sense. But...would that include not offering to beta it? (As a beta, I tend to help with plot as well as grammar if asked--that's just how I'm used to doing it, unless someone specifically asks me to do only grammar, or something. So that would be involving myself...)

[mysid.livejournal.com]

It's a slippery slope, isn't it?

Let's put it this way, if you do beta it, whether you have a minimal influence on the finished product or a big one, the author will undoubtedly credit you for beta-ing it for her. That will tell everyone that you saw the finished story before everyone else and imply that you gave it your official seal of approval--and you've already said that you don't want it to be an official sequel to your story.

If it were me, I'd stay completely clear of it. I like the suggestion that krislaughs makes--suggest a beta-reader you trust.

[latentfunction.livejournal.com]

If you let her do it, you should probably just back away and let her do it on her own. Maybe asking what she has planned would make you feel better about letting her go ahead, (or depending on what she says, on telling her that she's crazy, and NEVER!).

I agree with mysid about betaing, though. Drop a hint or two. If it was me, I'd want to see it before she posts. Even if she wants to have someone else beta, I think it's still reasonable to ask to see it before it's up anywhere.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

If it was me, I'd want to see it before she posts.

Well, I rather do. *g* I think I just need to take a step back and remember that this sequel is not my story, it's hers, even if I offer to beta and she accepts. *sigh*

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

You could always suggest a beta reader that you trust, if he/she/both parties are willing. That way you don't have to be involved or anything.

Also, depending on whether you link to it from your story, it probably won't be easy to find.

[rynne.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd probably not link to it anywhere, since it wouldn't be an official sequel and I really don't want people to think that whatever she writes is what really happens next. My endorsement of writing the sequel in the first place is almost too close to that as it is, and the ending that I wrote is the ending, however much of a cliffhanger it is.

I don't think I'll suggest a different beta, though. The ones I trust tend to be my friends, and I don't want to ask them to do that when they don't even know this person.

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Heh, very hugely subjectively I think that offering to beta would be fine (if you feel like doing it), but since someone writing fanfic about fanfic is on perfectly the same level as writing fanfic per se, involvement beyond that is probably excessive. I mean it's *polite* to ask about being allowed to write spinoffs to fanfic, but I don't feel it is (or should be) required in any way.

Yes, I did flatten my ears in apprehension too both times somebody wrote/asked to write a sequel to one of my pieces, but in the end, hey - if it sucks, it won't reflect badly on *you* any more than Summary Executions-level stuff on ffnet reflects badly on JKR ;).

[rynne.livejournal.com]

but in the end, hey - if it sucks, it won't reflect badly on *you* any more than Summary Executions-level stuff on ffnet reflects badly on JKR ;).

Heh. I must remember that. *g* (Though of course, none of us personally asked JKR if we could write fanfic of her books. :p)