I notice some stories that are in a "universe" say "authorized" or "permission" (from the original creator of the universe) and others don't.
I'm writing a story in one of the universes (the S.P.A. Universe), which I might consider publishing here if I ever think it's any good, but want to be respectful to the creator of the universe. What is considered the polite way to handle it, on the off chance it turns into a story I think is worth posting?
Comments
two ways
1) The best way, contact the owner of the universe and let them read the story before posting, so they can say yes this is/can be canon or no, please specify that it is fan fiction. ( if possible to contact that person / those people)
2) just post as fan fiction, distancing your story from any connection to the canon works.
Stupidity is a capital offense. A summary not indictable.
What I've tried so far...
1. I sent a message (PM?) to the creator a few weeks ago, no reply. However, the last posting I can find for her is from a year ago, plus a "retro classic" posted a few months ago. I expect it may be a while. Of course, it may be quite a while before my story looks like anything (most of my stories take a year or two to write), so there's no real rush on getting a response.
2. I'm not sure what you mean by "distancing". Does that mean not adding the tag that mentions the universe? Or simply putting a note at the beginning of the story saying that it's not authorized?
If it makes any difference, my story is in the same universe, but in a different place, so I expect that there will be at most minimal interactions with characters and places from the other stories in the universe. I don't expect it to be canon, but I don't expect it to contradict anything in canon, either. It's mostly the ideas I've taken from the S.P.A. universe, plus a few references. At least, that's what it's looking like so far. (I never know how my stories are going to come out until they're done.)
Tags
There is a tag for "Fan fiction, author's responsibility" which you'll find when you come to submit your first chapter.
Be sure to examine the dropdown options for every field in that submission form to ensure you have everything labeled right.
As the owner of a universe I can sympathize with your predicament. There ought to be some way for somebody else to handle matters when the owner isn't about.
Penny
other options
contact one of the two other authors that do have permission to post in that universe.
and besides the fanfiction posters responsibility tag, put a disclaimer before the first chapter explicitly stating that nothing in your story has any impact on the official canon storyline.
Stupidity is a capital offense. A summary not indictable.
as a 'Universe' owner
as a 'Universe' owner I can understand the reluctance for allowing their use. My advice is simply to contact the Universe owner. Please respect whichever answer they give you. I will do one project that will be an open universe to allow fan-fiction within parameters. Its will be a while before i get to that project but I think it will be a fun one. Currently the only collaborative work I participate in is the LKM/CP crossover with Jessie Wolf's Embracing Justice series. We just made a connection and felt it right on both our parts, but with respect to our individual story lines to cross-over.
quidquid sum ego, et omnia mea semper; Ego me.
alecia Snowfall
Try Samantha Page maybe?
For this specific universe you might try contacting Samantha Page, last I was aware Karen was busy with other things. In the past there have been some particular guidelines for writing in the universe, don't want to put you off, just be prepared.
Apologies in advance to Karen & Samantha, I'm not trying to speak for them, just trying to point in the right direction.
Hugs
Cat
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You can't choose your relatives but you can choose your family.
Universe Creator's statements
In general, I think one should see what the creator herself says. IIRC, the SRU universe can have pretty much any story posted in its universe, from something Bill Hart said. The stories collectively might be considered legends of the Wizard. The past decade, it seems as if his original SRU stories have almost become non-canon. On the other hand, I think that pretty much anything in the BB universe should have Elrod's approval. (Can't say I've been perfect at that myself...)
A third possibility is to pull it out of the universe and make it stand-alone, or create your own universe.
-- Daphne Xu
Fanfic
I have responded privately to Asche.
An update to you all about ANSoE. I have been quietly writing when I can, and do have two further chapters written, but not proofed. Unfortunately, the company I work for has got a huge contract to rewrite a companies complete IT systems and I have been given the fun of being lead architect. I haven't forgotten the site, but have had little time to write. The last module is supposed to be finished by the end of next year, so there is an end in sight.