Someone wrote a sequel to one of my fics without asking me

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Title:	Someone wrote a sequel to one of my fics without asking me
Creator:	AO3/FFN: pikablob
Date(s):	March 2022
Medium:	Reddit
Fandom:	multi
Topic:
External Links:	Someone wrote a sequel to one of my fics without asking me
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Someone wrote a sequel to one of my fics without asking me is a March 2022 reddit post by AO3/FFN: pikablob.

Some Topics Discussed in the Post and Comments

• unauthorized sequels
• is there a double standard with fanfic writers requiring permission for sequels when they themselves did not ask for permission

The Post

I genuinely don't want to come across as ungrateful here; I love when my works inspire people, and getting art for my fics or hearing that someone wrote something because of me is literally the best feeling fandom has to offer. But the one thing is that I'm very touchy about who gets to write for my AUs.

I've had bad experiences in the past with people wanting to write for AUs I was working on, and I'm very picky about characterisation especially in my main fandom. So normally, if I inspire a fic with a similar premise, that's completely fine, but if someone wants to write a sequel or prequel or anything for one of the fics I wrote, I want to be asked first, and I think that's considered normal courtesy (I've always asked the couple of times I've been given ideas by other people's fics). I tend to only let people I really trust write for my AUs as a result.

But today I got a gift notification from an account I didn't know - somebody has written a direct sequel to one of my fics, and didn't tell me until they posted it (they didn't even message me then, they just posted it as a gift). And I am really, genuinely happy that my work inspired someone, and this fic does have things I like in it, but overall it's not what I had planned if I was going to continue this AU, and it's not a particularly great fic (the dialogue is in script format which I really don't like).

The author clearly really likes my work (they've left comments on a bunch of my fics, and worked in some detail I really like into theirs), but I just don't appreciate them doing this and I don't know what to do. I think asking them to take it down would be too far, but I'm worried it would be mean to refuse the gift or tell them I don't appreciate what they've done ://

EDIT: I left a comment thanking them for the fic and mentioning the stuff I did like, but explaining that I normally like to be asked and to tell me if they do have any more ideas. They seemed completely fine about it, so I think it's no harm done. Also, for everyone saying "but you write fanfic without asking the creators" - published media and other people's fic are very different things, and that's a false equivalency. Like, you wouldn't write something openly spiteful towards another fic, but being openly spiteful to canon is fine; we all write about somebody else's characters, but you ask before using OCs, etc. Showing fan creators more courtesy than canon creators is normal, to a point.

Comments

I’d just consider it fanfiction of my fanfiction and do my best to move on. I wouldn’t feel right about telling someone they couldn’t write it without my permission when I didn’t get the permission of the original creators when I wrote fanfiction of their stuff.

It's actually sweet that they liked your work enough to make another fanfic of it, but at the same time it's a bit iffy that they put you in a spot where you have to choose between being seen as rude or ignoring something that makes you uncomfortable. Especiallyyy if what they wrote isn't at the same level as the fic you've written originally.

Although, as a reader, if I really enjoyed your fic, finished it and then saw the sequel written by another person? I'd check it out of curiosity, but I'd also immediately notice the format and/or decline in quality. If that's the case, then I probably wouldn't even get past chapter one. But you can't really control what other people do in the internet, so even if you asked them to take it down, it wouldn't really matter if they didn't, since the readers themselves wouldn't read or give kudos to fics they don't like.

It's like a fanfic of your fanfic tho, that's an honour. Should he have asked you probably, but do any of us ask the real authors? It shouldn't stop you from writing your own sequel, or continuing how you want, just feel happy that someone liked your story enough that they sat down and dedicated even more time to a world you rebuilt. Of course feel miffed if you want to too, but just in my eyes, not really a big deal.

published media and other people's fic are very different things, and that's a false equivalency.

Why?

I think there’s a reasonable argument. Let’s take Supernatural. I think it’s a Warner Brothers property. It was on national television in the US for over 15 seasons. Obviously the writers expected millions of people to watch it and to talk about it. When you release a show at that scale, you hope it takes off. People are going to make the show their own with drawings and stories. In theory, Warner could go after all those artists for infringement but in practice it won’t

Fanfiction isn’t like that. You’re not expecting an audience in the millions. I know it happens sometimes but it’s not expected. You’re not in millions of homes per night. When someone takes your story, it feels like they’re trying to replace you.

I don’t agree that it’s a “false equivalency” to compare this to you writing fanfic of the original work. After all, you use the original work’s author’s OCs without permission. OC isn’t a fanfic-specific thing, it literally just stands for Original Character. You say it’s normal to show other fan creators more courtesy than the original author, but offer no valid reason as to why that should be (or even currently is) the case. I think you’re being hypocritical and that you don’t actually know what a “false equivalency” is. But that’s just my opinion.

Well, with published content, everyone knows that an author/director/actor/etc isn't associated with a fanfic writer. But with fan content, a reader can easily assume people working on the same "universe" are involved in some way. If I see fic gifted, I assume the authors are friends, unless specified otherwise in author's notes. And unless it's specifically called a surprise or something, I assume the recipient had some input in the final product. I personally wouldn't want readers to think I was involved in the creation of something I wasn't. Sure, I can't police people's thoughts, but I like to have some say in my online image (even if I'm far from a big name fan).

Personally, I would refuse/unlink the gift, not acknowledge the fic beyond a statement perhaps (in your fics A/N that there isn't an official sequel or anything). Other than that, they basically wrote fanfic of your fanfic so it's probably hypocritical to have it verboten.

The comments seemed mixed and here’s why.

It is both A. An absolutely wonderful tribute to the work you’ve done and has been done by a fan and given as a “gift” so the intention, I believe, seems genuine. And for a guy that writes all OC and setting within a fandom and barely gets enough reads to keep me sane, I would first take the time to realize that this is a form of flattery. A positive affirmation of how your writing has effected your community and this author in particular.

B. On the other hand, the original work, is your baby. The characters may not be. The world may not be. But you wrote the narrative arc that led to this sequel and the work you put in makes it hard to be anything other than yours.

I’ve seen things like this, and it is more normal and more accepted to ask for permission first. To communicate with the original author and get a blessing.

So there’s nothing wrong with how you’re feeling.

So it’s like most things. Equal parts awesome and awkward. It feels like your works been violated, touched by other hands, but as long as you didn’t plan a sequel, it’s almost the sincerest form of admiration.

Someone took the time, not to take an idea you had and make it their own, but to continue your idea and add to it.

It’s not “theirs” especially because they sent it as a gift.

I have ongoing works, that I’ve been doing sequels. If you plan to do a sequel, I would tell the author thank you, but that you plan to do your own, so no thank you.

If you didn’t plan to or won’t for a while, I’d be happy for the flattery, and despite the weirdness of someone else writing your story, it’s still awesome to have someone so interested in your efforts that you put into the original

It's not a false equivalency at all. Books, for example, are often one person's passion product, and we write fanfic of that. People write fanfic about real people, for heaven's sake.

You could argue it was a breach in etiquette to gift it to you, as forcing fanworks on creators is frowned on, but that's about it.

All i can say is start with a note either explicitly stating your support of derivations/direct-prequel or sequel works.

I would ask them to link it by 'inspired by' and reject it as a gift. It will be attached to your name and your profile, otherwise.

I do not understand this reaction.

Its fanfiction.

Youre already using source material written by someone else thats under copyright and you're rewriting it or writing your own sequel to it ..... did you message that author to ask permission before you posted?

So someone it a fan of your fanfiction so much that they wrote fanfanfiction. How awful.

Geeze.

It's a whole weird idea in general. From the numerous times that this topic has come up on this sub (can you make fanfic of fanfic), it seems like there this idea that fan creators should have more autonomy over what happens to stories than the actual creators. As if not making money off a thing, or not being famous, suddenly entitles you to more respect than you'd give others.

I'd get it they weren't credited or acknowledged or if they pass your idea off as their own, but this person clearly referenced, and even linked back to the original.

But it's rules for thee not for me. You see it in tons of other places. As soon as a common practice affects them they get mad without changing their ways.

I was thinking the exact same thing. They're complaining about the literal point of FanFiction... they have no right to make other creators ask permission, when we don't ask permission from the authors or original creators themselves.

INFO: is your touchiness wrt your AUs on your profile or somewhere else the gift author could have seen it? Could they have known you may not like this?

Also, were you actually planning to write your own sequel (and did you announce that), or no?

I'm sure you asked the original creators permission before you wrote your fanfiction. Unless, of course, you didn't, and you expect people to give you more consideration than you've given the original writers. Hmm...