I sent Crystal a copy of Birdman10's blog
This was Crystal's response to me.
Thanks for posting that I do not want anyone to 'take over' any of my stories. I've been getting these kinds of offers, and refusing them, since back when I was still actively writing the story. :-)
The one time someone did post a fan fiction, he was soundly criticized for his work. Some people say they want to continue the story, but then immediately talk about butchering it, ostensibly to remove parts they didn't personally care for. They fail to understand that everyone has experienced events in their lives that shaped their futures. Many of the scenes these people want to cut out are an important part of what makes the story what it is, and that made Darla Anne the person she is. Anyone who can't see that will never find success as a writer. And there were very specific reasons for opening the story in the year I did. If it opens in 2000, it changes EVERYTHING. Birdman10 should simply write his own story from A to Z without trying to trade on the reputation of Texas Gal to gain readership.
Huggles All
Chelle_MM
Comments
I wholeheartedly agree!
No one should do fan ficcing without real writers experience under their belt. And even then it should be rare. The ones who can pull it off are masters. But I think everyone should learn to write from within themselves first and foremost and draw from their life experiences rather than copying someone else or trying to continue someone else's work.
When Crystal is ready to post, she will let us know ^^
Sephrena
I heartily agree!
no one could possibly do justice to Crystal's classic tales, and no one should try! Texas Gal and ICGHLT are classic examples of HOW to write and ONLY Crystal has the right to continue them, when she has time to do so.
Hugs and love,
Catherine Linda MIchel
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
Fan Fiction
Fan fiction that stays true to the original is as rare as it is precious. I have one piece that I've written that I originally intended for my reading pleasure only. I did the no-no mentioned above in that the original didn't end the way I thought it should. So about half-way through I took the story in a different direction. Once I got through I liked so much that I really wanted to post it. Only problem was that I didn't remember where I found the story or how to contact the author. After a time, I posted it on my own site with an open apology to the original author including an offer to take it down if they wished. It was sometime later that Julie O happened upon my piece and contacted me. She chastised me in good humor and asked only that I put an authors note in the text to show where her work stopped and mine began. She acknowledged that my ending was as valid as hers and wanted to make sure that readers knew whose was whose.
The next time I was inspired to write by one of her pieces, I wrote the story of one of the supporting characters and sent it to her, asking permission to post it. She replied that she had plans for the character and asked me not to post it. I acquiesced and have not posted it and I don't think I even have a copy of it anymore. I told her that the story was hers to do with as she wished. If any part of it was useful in her story she should go ahead and use it at her discretion. Unfortunately I'm still waiting to see her story. Julie, if you're out there, did you ever write Girlfriends II?
I did better the next time, in writing "It Was His Mistake… So Why Am I Dressed Like This?" based on “One Small Mistake,†by Rachel Ann Cooper a story posted on fictionmania A story worth reading.
Again, I couldn't contact the author even though there was an email address on Chrystal's site for her. I contacted Chrystal for advise and she advised me to post it and wait for Rachel's comment. It came some time later and she endorsed the fan fiction as "flowing seamlessly" with her story.
I have another piece I've been struggling with for years and can't seem to get the character right and I may never, because the story is set in England about an English lad who play football. (Soccer for those of us on this side of the pond.) What really stops me it my lack of knowledge about soccer, the English country side and the use of British colloquialisms. I many never get a working story. The creator of the series is no longer with us so even if I did I'd just have to post it without permission and I'd never know if she would approve.
It's most important that the original author approves the piece, otherwise, it's just plagiarism. There was one author who posted on here using the characters in that series who totally butchered the character and it saddened me. I never want to do that.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Crystal's response is what
Crystal's response is what any author should have. Birdman10's wanting to continue the Texas Gal story needs to morph into his own story. Very few can take another author's story and build on it without altering the original.
True, there are currently open universes where an author's character/universe may be used by another author, but only the originator can say which contribution is canon/which is not.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Crystal speaks!!
Now ask her when the site will be back
Dayna
Crystal's Response
...was right on. Only she can write her stories. Collaborations can and do exist, but they are very difficult, and generally of lesser quality.
On the other hand, as a reader, I do hope that Crystal continues to write. Texas Gal is a classic that has fallen by the wayside. Fifty three chapters have been great, but I'm sure I speak for many when I say, what's next?
Similarly, I must ask what happened to 'I Can't Go Home Like This'? It just sorta died in mid-story.
And finally, will Crystal's Story Site ever return? It was always one of my favorites.
Red MacDonald
I agree.
"Can't Go Home" is great, but...
Wren
Just, please Crystal
Write more! PLEASE??
Wren
Texas Gal & Crystal's response to my blog.
Hi all,
I think that there may be some misunderstanding in relation to my blog. I would never in a million years even attempt to claim that Texas Gal and ICGHLT was my work. I do understand International copyright law and the fact that Crystal is the originator of these awesome tales. I can certainly aknowledge the ammount of background work Crystal put into each of these stories, before she even began to write them in the first place.
I also know how real life can put so many obstacles in a writer's way, to prevent completion of a work. I aknowledge the fact that the tie up scenes are part of the story. I only made a suggestion about the tying up scenes. I NEVER intended to claim that the story was even partly mine and I wasn't going to write it to gain readership. I would be willing to put her name down as the writer of the whole story. I would have had no problem in Crystal claiming full credit for the part of the story I would have written.
All I wanted to do was to finish the stories. I was never interested in claiming ANY fame as a writer of these tales. I only wanted to see the two stories completed in some form. If I have offended Crystal in any way, I sincerely appologise to her for any unintended offense on my part.
I do need to make one point however. There was a suggestion about someone doing something like this would never succeed as a writer. Well, I have had short stories and articles published in periodicals and mainstream magazines and even been paid for some of my work. I have also created a creative writing course that people have paid for and found it very good. I am also a qualified copy editor, so I have had success as a writer and copyeditor.
I'm not interested in claiming any accolades for ANY part of these two stories, so please give me some credit and cut me some slack. I thought I was genuinely doing something constructive and I also thought helpful, by having people see the tales ended in some form.
Again, if I have caused offense or hurt anyone's feelings, especially Crystal herself, I'm sorry. I genuinely thought I was helping people out, by doing something they would have liked. I haven't even done anything yet, just had an idea. Already I seem to have been vilified for something I haven't even done or started. I have made every effort over the last six years through e-mails to Crystal and Ave on Crystal's website, asking if the stories were going to be finished. None of my e-mails were replied to.
When I got this idea, I sent more e-mails to Crystal and Ave, posted blogs on this site and even asked a question to a Crystal Sprite on Facebook. Then I asked people on this site how I could get in contact with her. except for the blogs here, I got no reply to any e-mail over several years. Now I regret ever getting the idea in the first place. If I had known it would cause people to have such ill feeling towards me, I would never have tried to propose this idea in the fist place.
Again I'm sorry I hurt anyone's feelings. I won't ask again and I'll scrap the idea altogether.