I was wondering...

About a way to post a "universe", that one of us creates, as available for others to use in their own stories. I envision a place where I could say (other than only in a comment for one of my own stories): here is a world, feel free to use it for your own stories. If you wish to use this world or these characters, these are the rules... (If there are any.)

It could outline whether or not an author wants approval prior to posting, or if you could use the universe without approval but not the originator's characters... I'm throwing out ideas here.

I see (maybe a La vie en rose) something similar to Open Source in programming. Or possible Jazz would be a better analogy, where I write something and someone else can riff on it and what comes out in the end is (one would hope) better. Fan fiction taken to a whole new dimension?

I made a comment on Stardust about how Donna Lamb’s “Flickernet” ‘could become a "Universe" with lots of possibilities’ to which she said she would love to see others use Flickernet in their stories. I believe that wholeheartedly; it has innumerable opportunities. I’m not sure I could pull it off but I know others her could.

On a more personal level, the first TG story I ever wrote took place in another author’s universe and used one of that person’s minor characters. It hasn’t been posted because I never heard back from that author, yea or nea, as to whether I could use their character. (To say nothing of whether or not the story itself was any good.) My point is that using another’s world gave me a start to try fiction again after a very (very) long absence.

My own “Market Research”, I think, opens a world (okay maybe a bad choice of words) of possibilities. I will say, however, that if anyone else wants to use this universe in their own stories, feel free. I ask to okay any stories that use Tom or Sue. Buster, however, you can do with what you will.

I realize that this could open a nasty can of worms. And I may be naíve about this, but are we not all adults here? I also understand that enforcement of violations could be nigh on to impossible. But I would like to hear anyone else’s ideas.

To quote the General Manager of a local TV station, who comes on after the newscast: “That’s our opinion. What’s yours?” (I always liked that “royal” we.)

Jamie