9962 réponses à ce sujet

[hot_heart]

Heh, I know that one. I think that was a problem in a few recent chapters and in this latest one too. The old 'kill your darlings' (or 'move your darlings to a spare document and see if they fit better anywhere else') approach usually works though.

Been taking a while with my latest chapter because it kinda veers between serious and light, and it's tricky to find the right balance.

...also, I've been overwhelmed with work so that my brain just shuts down in the evening. That or I become too absorbed in playing Alpha Protocol on other evenings.

[Seracen]

hot_heart wrote...

Heh, I know that one. I think that was a problem in a few recent chapters and in this latest one too. The old 'kill your darlings' (or 'move your darlings to a spare document and see if they fit better anywhere else') approach usually works though.

Been taking a while with my latest chapter because it kinda veers between serious and light, and it's tricky to find the right balance.

...also, I've been overwhelmed with work so that my brain just shuts down in the evening. That or I become too absorbed in playing Alpha Protocol on other evenings.

Glad to see I'm not alone in my love for Alpha Protocol!

I'm also kind of enjoying this transitory period right before my story is done.  I know I could finish it up in a week or two, but it's sort of like a good TV show, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye yet.

Ah well, soon enough...

[MrStoob]

Interesting, I thought.  Wonder how the BioWare writers will approach this kind of thing:

BBC Technology News: Amazon to allow e-book fan fiction sales in US

[Seracen]

MrStoob wrote...

Interesting, I thought.  Wonder how the BioWare writers will approach this kind of thing:

BBC Technology News: Amazon to allow e-book fan fiction sales in US

Yeah, I saw that as well.  I thought any fanfic created off another's work HAD to be non profit under Fair Use Laws.

If it is to be sold, I think there'd have to be a stipend paid to companies such as BW.  Honestly, I figure this is more for author exposure as much as anything else.

As for getting paid otherwise, I suppose "fanfiction" could also cover original works, but that isn't really the connotation.  I very much doubt I'd care to read a fanfiction if I had to pay for it, without having checked it out first.  Again, it goes back to reader fulfillment.  Speaking for myself, there are plenty of publications I've not finished, I'd feel wrong to charge for such works.

On the other hand, if BW read my fic, liked it enough, and hired me, I'd certainly have no qualms!

[ftkerns]

MrStoob wrote...

Interesting, I thought.  Wonder how the BioWare writers will approach this kind of thing:

BBC Technology News: Amazon to allow e-book fan fiction sales in US

I saw an article about this on io9 a few days ago. Thought about mentioning it here, but you beat me to it. 

Seracen wrote...

MrStoob wrote...

Interesting, I thought.  Wonder how the BioWare writers will approach this kind of thing:

BBC Technology News: Amazon to allow e-book fan fiction sales in US

Yeah, I saw that as well.  I thought any fanfic created off another's work HAD to be non profit under Fair Use Laws.

If it is to be sold, I think there'd have to be a stipend paid to companies such as BW.  Honestly, I figure this is more for author exposure as much as anything else.

As for getting paid otherwise, I suppose "fanfiction" could also cover original works, but that isn't really the connotation.  I very much doubt I'd care to read a fanfiction if I had to pay for it, without having checked it out first.  Again, it goes back to reader fulfillment.  Speaking for myself, there are plenty of publications I've not finished, I'd feel wrong to charge for such works.

On the other hand, if BW read my fic, liked it enough, and hired me, I'd certainly have no qualms!

From what I understand of the press release, Amazon has actually worked out deals with several intellectual-property owners, and is attempting to work out deals with more publishers/studios/whatnot. The IP owners get a large cut of each sale, Amazon gets another cut, and individual authors get 35% royalties on each sale.

At first I got really excited about it. A chance to make a little money writing stories? Hell yeah! That's what I've been trying to do for more than twenty years, and have only now just barely begun to succeed. And honestly, having been trying and failing to land a job for the last four months, this whole thing looks very appealing simply because it'd be a way to bring in a little money.

But then, it's not that good of a deal. An author gets 35% of each sale...and that's it. Amazon can repackage fics in an anthology and re-sell them, and each author would get nothing. And if I'm not mistaken, the IP owners would be able to use the author's original characters and plots without having to pay or even acknowledge the author's contributions.

So, if Bioware and EA got into this, and I started selling Freelancers through Kindle Worlds, Bioware/EA could appropriate Chula and Dakka and Valeria and other characters, and the overall plot and subplots, and I wouldn't get a penny from it, plus those characters and plots would belong to BW/EA, not me. Which I really wouldn't want to happen because I love those characters and I love writing them. Not only that, but I wouldn't be able to port the characters (well, sufficiently different versions of them) and plot over to an original work to try to publish it, because I wouldn't actually own them anymore. But then, my characters and the setting are probably too specific to the Mass Effect universe to be re-used in an original setting without tons of people noticing the similarities and thinking it's a Mass Effect ripoff.

On the other hand, BW/EA might not even enter a deal, even though they'd stand to make a hell of a lot of money from it if Kindle Worlds takes off. And even then, because Freelancers will eventually give Mass Effect 3 the double fingers by playing out in a way that rewrites the entirety of that game, I doubt Bioware or EA would want to use my plot because "artistic vision." The characters, maybe....

Unless I misunderstood something in the press release.

Anyway, just some thoughts on this. John Scalzi did a great job of laying out the pros and cons the day the news hit: http://whatever.scal...stant-thoughts/

It'll be interesting to see where this leads....

Modifié par ftkerns, 25 mai 2013 - 10:00 .

[Fatiguesdualism]

MrStoob wrote...

Interesting, I thought.  Wonder how the BioWare writers will approach this kind of thing:

BBC Technology News: Amazon to allow e-book fan fiction sales in US

Hmm, paint me as sceptical.  I mean maybe if it's a series that is finished that could work, otherwise it seems to be an open invitation for a court-case further down the line. 
Anyway, hello sorry for the lack of postings recently just, you know life and stuff.  Also Alpha Protocol  - has it's flaws but still better than...(best end that sentence there!)

Basically I'm here to be beg guidance (again) from the (what is the collective term for a bunch of fanfiction writers anyway?) group.  What I'm trying to do is have two characters talking at the same time - one atop the other.  Now I'm fairly sure when I was taught English - back in the last century  - I was told you always change line when changing speaker always.  But frankly my memory is - at best - suspect so if you would look below

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”
 "Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,” Shepard snapped out; exactly as Liara said, “Feron, my assistant.”

Or should it be:

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”
 "Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,” Shepard snapped out.
 "Feron, my assistant," Liara said at the same time.

Background:  Nice restaurant, Ash and Shepard have been sitting waiting, Liara and Feron arrive.  Shepard & Liara used to be together, he started seeing Miranda, so Shepard & Liara fell out, and cue argument.  Also Shepard's deliberately getting Feron's name wrong.  (Because Shepard's being a jerk!  Maybe he blame's Feron for stealing Liara away?)

[Drussius]

^ I believe it would be the second one that would be proper format. Or at least, that's how I would do it. Although, I don't think the first one would be jarringly wrong either.

[Fatiguesdualism]

Cheers Drussius, I think what's giving me gip, is the formatting on FFNet - specifically it's insistence on adding a blank line EVERY TIME you change line so:

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”
 "Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,” Shepard snapped out.
 "Feron, my assistant," Liara said at the same time.

becomes:

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”

 "Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,” Shepard snapped out.

 "Feron, my assistant," Liara said at the same time.

Which just seems to break up the flow (IMO) whereas:

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”

“Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,” Shepard snapped out; exactly as Liara said, “Feron, my assistant.”

Seems 'faster' somehow?  I may well be overthinking this!  If anyone else has an opinion please let me know!  (Yes that includes: 'you are overthinking' - 'you're an idiot' - and 'be quiet'  Though if you're going to tell me that please PM it! )

Modifié par Fatiguesdualism, 26 mai 2013 - 12:23 .

[MrStoob]

My 2 cents:

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”

Shepard snapped out, "Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,”

"Feron, my assistant." Liara said over him.

Though I am a fan of the semi-colon for flow, as used by Fatiguesdualism above. I'd prefer it in present tense, so it would read, Liara says over him, just seems more immediate. I pretty much always write in present tense, or if writing about the past, bring the tense into the then (or now)... You know what I mean. ^^

[Seracen]

ftkerns wrote...
...
But then, it's not that good of a deal. An author gets 35% of each sale...and that's it. Amazon can repackage fics in an anthology and re-sell them, and each author would get nothing. And if I'm not mistaken, the IP owners would be able to use the author's original characters and plots without having to pay or even acknowledge the author's contributions.

So, if Bioware and EA got into this, and I started selling Freelancers through Kindle Worlds, Bioware/EA could appropriate Chula and Dakka and Valeria and other characters, and the overall plot and subplots, and I wouldn't get a penny from it, plus those characters and plots would belong to BW/EA, not me. Which I really wouldn't want to happen because I love those characters and I love writing them. Not only that, but I wouldn't be able to port the characters (well, sufficiently different versions of them) and plot over to an original work to try to publish it, because I wouldn't actually own them anymore. But then, my characters and the setting are probably too specific to the Mass Effect universe to be re-used in an original setting without tons of people noticing the similarities and thinking it's a Mass Effect ripoff.

On the other hand, BW/EA might not even enter a deal, even though they'd stand to make a hell of a lot of money from it if Kindle Worlds takes off. And even then, because Freelancers will eventually give Mass Effect 3 the double fingers by playing out in a way that rewrites the entirety of that game, I doubt Bioware or EA would want to use my plot because "artistic vision." The characters, maybe....

Unless I misunderstood something in the press release.

Anyway, just some thoughts on this. John Scalzi did a great job of laying out the pros and cons the day the news hit: http://whatever.scal...stant-thoughts/

It'll be interesting to see where this leads....

Yeah, I was afraid of something like this too, but neglected to mention it.  Per my previous statement, BW would have no reason to hire me, as they would have already gotten rights to my idea without paying for it.

I'm one of those people who did the "poor man's patent" with some of my original fiction, should it ever take off (print the work, seal it, and mail it to yourself).

As such, I do not relish the idea of other companies gaining rights to my stories, any more than they relish me gaining rights to their characters (which is why all my work is prefaced by the Fair Use clause).  I honestly don't see myself gaining all that much money for this loss of rights anyways.

Even assuming I averaged all my cumulative readers ever on EVERY STORY, I'd still rake it what...$350 per 1000 viewers?  This is being extremely generous, as I doubt ALL my readers would stay for EVERY story.

That may have sounded like a good deal back in middle school, but that's not even a month's rent nowadays.  I think Amazon hopes to catch the appeal of the youtube phenomenons that make million plus hit videos and can live off the proceeds.

Wishes don't make it so, and I doubt authors could live off such paltry "profits."  They can keep their fistful of Franklins and let me keep the rights to my story.  Now...a TRUCKLOAD of Franklins, on the other hand...

[hot_heart]

Seracen wrote...
Yeah, I was afraid of something like this too, but neglected to mention it.  Per my previous statement, BW would have no reason to hire me, as they would have already gotten rights to my idea without paying for it.

I wouldn't be so sure. There are game developers who hire modders, certain production companies that hire scriptwriters based off shadow scripts (essentially, a more 'legitimate' version of fan fiction but for TV) alongside their portfolio. Overall, they look for talent.

Anyway, I don't see it as a means to earn a living as much as it is about monetising fanfiction. It might be OK to earn a little extra money from your hobby and possibly build a following, but I wouldn't rely on it or view it as some grand revolution. I certainly wouldn't charge for my stuff and I wouldn't pay for the vast majority of other work. Not that I can see the prices being that high either; charging a certain amount will always bring higher expectations of quality. And I think the people who'd stand to benefit the most would be better off creating original work. There are a lot of talented writers here.


As for Fatiguesdualism's query: might it be better to mention the talking-over-each-other part beforehand? Not a perfect example but something like:

“Hooo boy,” Williams’ voice was strangled, “can you at least introduce me to the new guy before we get thrown out?”
Shepard and Liara fought to answer first, both talking over one another.
 "Ferrol, Liara’s new boyfriend,” Shepard snapped.
 "Feron, my assistant," Liara explained.

Perhaps that does slightly alter the overall impression, with Shepard appearing a little more petty (though I think that ship has sailed). There's also the other possibility of splitting it so Shepard speaks first (maybe more open with, "Ferrol, I believe, Liara's new boyfriend.") and Liara clarifies afterwards with, "This is my assistant, Feron." Which, to me, sounds more like Liara. Not that your approach is wrong or anything but I always saw her as someone who lets others finish before speaking herself since she wouldn't introduce someone with quite so much urgency. Of course, that all depends on the desired tone (slightly more comical?) and how your story is going and whether there's this lingering antagonism between the two so much that Liara knows not to give Shepard any such opportunities.

Also, yes, I am enjoying Alpha Protocol. Thankfully, I had been given advice on going for a Field Agent approach (pistols & stealth) which has really helped ('Awareness' is useful for everything, and 'Evasion' is a lifesaver). Plus, I have a fully kitted-out assault rifle for when things get really bad. I can't help feeling that I've done a few things 'wrong', though I'm actually interested to see how the story pans out since there are apparently no wrong decisions. Plus, Courtenay Taylor and Nolan North voice some fun characters.

Modifié par hot_heart, 26 mai 2013 - 11:10 .

[Fatiguesdualism]

Thanks for the suggestions Drussius, MrStoob and hot_heart. I'll go put my thinking cap on and try hammering something out! At the moment I have Shepard and Liara at each others throat and neither are handling it well (Liara just called Shepard 'Miranda's Toy'). I'm toying with the idea of a merge of 'bad' traits that I could blame on their pre-Ilos meld, so when things do get patched up they decide they're better off as friends.

[MrStoob]

On the selling Fan Fiction topic.

I've always had the option to have my music pay to download (only like 49 cents or 99 cents or whatever) but have never bothered and just allow free downloads. I just don't think there is a lot of money to be made in 'amateur' creativity, unless of course you are the lucky talented one who gets spotted and hired but that's pretty unlikely for the vast majority.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if someone's fan fiction developed the universe/characters so far that the original creative team liked and 'stole' the ideas for their next venture. Fun for the lawyers.

Modifié par MrStoob, 26 mai 2013 - 08:22 .

[Seracen]

MrStoob wrote...

On the selling Fan Fiction topic.

I've always had the option to have my music pay to download (only like 49 cents or 99 cents or whatever) but have never bothered and just allow free downloads. I just don't think there is a lot of money to be made in 'amateur' creativity, unless of course you are the lucky talented one who gets spotted and hired but that's pretty unlikely for the vast majority.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if someone's fan fiction developed the universe/characters so far that the original creative team liked and 'stole' the ideas for their next venture. Fun for the lawyers.

I think this was more my concern.  Not so much making money off fanfic, but the idea that others could rip off my ideas without due credit and compensation.  Fun for the lawyers indeed.

[Drussius]

Seracen wrote...

MrStoob wrote...

On the selling Fan Fiction topic.

I've always had the option to have my music pay to download (only like 49 cents or 99 cents or whatever) but have never bothered and just allow free downloads. I just don't think there is a lot of money to be made in 'amateur' creativity, unless of course you are the lucky talented one who gets spotted and hired but that's pretty unlikely for the vast majority.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if someone's fan fiction developed the universe/characters so far that the original creative team liked and 'stole' the ideas for their next venture. Fun for the lawyers.

I think this was more my concern.  Not so much making money off fanfic, but the idea that others could rip off my ideas without due credit and compensation.  Fun for the lawyers indeed.

I didn't read the article since I'm a bit of an internet paranoid and I don't recognize the site the link lead to. However, this would be my concern also. I actually withdrew from an online roleplaying community when they switched servers to one whose EULA included the clause "all material presented on our servers becomes our exclusive property" specifically because I always hoped to write a book and would likely have wanted to use some of my original characters or settings (or elements thereof). While a policy like this might be nice for fanfic writers who have a particularly large following and want to make some cash, I'd just as soon retain intellectual property rights to anything I come up with myself. Not that I think there's any big risk of BW using my particular work to date, but this is the sort of thing I don't have the spare money to launch a lawsuit over, so I'd just be forced out of the fanfic game if it became a likely possibility. I'll just have to keep an eye on this issue before I decide to post any particularly original work anywhere.

[AustereLemur799]

Sorry for bouncing in and out (and then when I'm never around to read any responses because I'm too busy running away), and from digressing from the current topic.

I was just wondering (from people who are doing re-writes of established canon - or those of you who aren't [I'm grateful to have everyone's opinion ]) if anyone else gets annoyed that Shepard hogs everything - all the scenes - even when it seems inappropriate. For example I'm writing a novelisation of ME1 and I have Ashley Williams dealing with Samesh Bhatia (because of her relationship to Nirali Bhatia whereas Shepard has no relation whatsoever) and Shepard is nowhere in sight - I think it works better that way.

Sorry if I'm not making much sense (I struggle to articulate myself at the best of times). I just think that there are certain scenes from the games (talking about canon) that make more sense if they're handled by characters other than Shepard. Do you guys think it's okay if I substitute Shepard for other characters for the sake of better sense and story during these kinds of scenes?

I just get annoyed that Shepard is in ten places at once. Sorry; I've grown really cynical and bitter in the last several months. Shepard is my main character tag on FFN, but I honestly don't see her as my main character (well she is, but she's certainly not my favourite to write for).

Have I just devolved into a bad writer? (and I thoroughly don't deserve to call myself a writer when I haven't published for over six months).

Apologies again for my randomness (at least you only have to put up with it once every week! ).

[Ignis Mors]

AustereLemur799 wrote...

Sorry for bouncing in and out (and then when I'm never around to read any responses because I'm too busy running away), and from digressing from the current topic.

I was just wondering (from people who are doing re-writes of established canon - or those of you who aren't [I'm grateful to have everyone's opinion ]) if anyone else gets annoyed that Shepard hogs everything - all the scenes - even when it seems inappropriate. For example I'm writing a novelisation of ME1 and I have Ashley Williams dealing with Samesh Bhatia (because of her relationship to Nirali Bhatia whereas Shepard has no relation whatsoever) and Shepard is nowhere in sight - I think it works better that way.

Sorry if I'm not making much sense (I struggle to articulate myself at the best of times). I just think that there are certain scenes from the games (talking about canon) that make more sense if they're handled by characters other than Shepard. Do you guys think it's okay if I substitute Shepard for other characters for the sake of better sense and story during these kinds of scenes?

I just get annoyed that Shepard is in ten places at once. Sorry; I've grown really cynical and bitter in the last several months. Shepard is my main character tag on FFN, but I honestly don't see her as my main character (well she is, but she's certainly not my favourite to write for).

Have I just devolved into a bad writer? (and I thoroughly don't deserve to call myself a writer when I haven't published for over six months).

Apologies again for my randomness (at least you only have to put up with it once every week! ).

I'd not say so. I've had entire missions of the game which aren't even handled by the Normandy crew. It's just a... re-interpretation of the events and how they happened. And, if you don't enjoy writing for a specific character, even if they are the main character, it doesn't make you a bad writer. It just means you don't enjoy writing for that character. :happy:

[Progman Omega]

AustereLemur799 wrote...

Sorry for bouncing in and out (and then when I'm never around to read any responses because I'm too busy running away), and from digressing from the current topic.

I was just wondering (from people who are doing re-writes of established canon - or those of you who aren't [I'm grateful to have everyone's opinion ]) if anyone else gets annoyed that Shepard hogs everything - all the scenes - even when it seems inappropriate. For example I'm writing a novelisation of ME1 and I have Ashley Williams dealing with Samesh Bhatia (because of her relationship to Nirali Bhatia whereas Shepard has no relation whatsoever) and Shepard is nowhere in sight - I think it works better that way.

Sorry if I'm not making much sense (I struggle to articulate myself at the best of times). I just think that there are certain scenes from the games (talking about canon) that make more sense if they're handled by characters other than Shepard. Do you guys think it's okay if I substitute Shepard for other characters for the sake of better sense and story during these kinds of scenes?

I just get annoyed that Shepard is in ten places at once. Sorry; I've grown really cynical and bitter in the last several months. Shepard is my main character tag on FFN, but I honestly don't see her as my main character (well she is, but she's certainly not my favourite to write for).

Have I just devolved into a bad writer? (and I thoroughly don't deserve to call myself a writer when I haven't published for over six months).

Apologies again for my randomness (at least you only have to put up with it once every week! ).

There's nothing wrong with not liking to write for a character, but the key is not to let that leech into the actual writing.  If you don't like...Jacob, for instance, that doesn't mean he should get shot in the face all the time.  Maybe he can get thrown across the room more than usual because he carries a shotgun and can't charge >_>

As for situations where Shepard probably shouldn't be there?  Yeah, Shepard is...a nosy nellie, to say the least.  But all PCs in RPGs are, so that's not really fair.  Shepard is good at a lot of things, depending on class, alignment and background.  She's also just terrible at a lot of things.  Politics is not one of the things she's bad at, surprisingly.  She may HATE it, but she's not half bad at it.   The danger, though, is that Shepard has spectre powers, and can get away with everything.  While Ash can't.  It kinda might be neat to see Ash doing all the groundwork, getting stonewalled, and Shepard helping with the last little push.  

[Seracen]

AustereLemur799 wrote...

Sorry for bouncing in and out (and then when I'm never around to read any responses because I'm too busy running away), and from digressing from the current topic.

I was just wondering (from people who are doing re-writes of established canon - or those of you who aren't [I'm grateful to have everyone's opinion ]) if anyone else gets annoyed that Shepard hogs everything - all the scenes - even when it seems inappropriate. For example I'm writing a novelisation of ME1 and I have Ashley Williams dealing with Samesh Bhatia (because of her relationship to Nirali Bhatia whereas Shepard has no relation whatsoever) and Shepard is nowhere in sight - I think it works better that way.

Sorry if I'm not making much sense (I struggle to articulate myself at the best of times). I just think that there are certain scenes from the games (talking about canon) that make more sense if they're handled by characters other than Shepard. Do you guys think it's okay if I substitute Shepard for other characters for the sake of better sense and story during these kinds of scenes?

I just get annoyed that Shepard is in ten places at once. Sorry; I've grown really cynical and bitter in the last several months. Shepard is my main character tag on FFN, but I honestly don't see her as my main character (well she is, but she's certainly not my favourite to write for).

Have I just devolved into a bad writer? (and I thoroughly don't deserve to call myself a writer when I haven't published for over six months).

Apologies again for my randomness (at least you only have to put up with it once every week! ).

As I always say, there's no accounting for personal taste.  This isn't a bad thing.  Everyone has their personal likes and dislikes.

As for Shepard doing everything, that's mainly b/c it was a game where WE were Shepard.  There's no reason you can't change that in your own story.  Heck, in my story, Shepard and crew handle only about 50% of the workload.  Fully half my story deals with the other crew, which is lead by Garrus, and HIS team.

If it works, go with it!

As for not liking certian characters...I don't care for Jacob nor James, so neither appear much in my story at all.  One of them may die, but only if the story dictates that nobody could survive whatever I inevitably have them doing.

Modifié par Seracen, 27 mai 2013 - 09:41 .

[MrStoob]

AustereLemur799 wrote...

Sorry for bouncing in and out (and then when I'm never around to read any responses because I'm too busy running away), and from digressing from the current topic.

I was just wondering (from people who are doing re-writes of established canon - or those of you who aren't [I'm grateful to have everyone's opinion ]) if anyone else gets annoyed that Shepard hogs everything - all the scenes - even when it seems inappropriate. For example I'm writing a novelisation of ME1 and I have Ashley Williams dealing with Samesh Bhatia (because of her relationship to Nirali Bhatia whereas Shepard has no relation whatsoever) and Shepard is nowhere in sight - I think it works better that way.

Sorry if I'm not making much sense (I struggle to articulate myself at the best of times). I just think that there are certain scenes from the games (talking about canon) that make more sense if they're handled by characters other than Shepard. Do you guys think it's okay if I substitute Shepard for other characters for the sake of better sense and story during these kinds of scenes?

I just get annoyed that Shepard is in ten places at once. Sorry; I've grown really cynical and bitter in the last several months. Shepard is my main character tag on FFN, but I honestly don't see her as my main character (well she is, but she's certainly not my favourite to write for).

Have I just devolved into a bad writer? (and I thoroughly don't deserve to call myself a writer when I haven't published for over six months).

Apologies again for my randomness (at least you only have to put up with it once every week! ).

There's nowt wrong with making chapters non-Shepard centric.  Gives a chance to develop other characters in their own right.  My first FF started out as 'Shepard origins' but quickly turned into 'Shepard and Liara origins' then onto 'Shepard, Liara and Ashley friendship', giving each a chance to have their own moments within the general tale.  I wouldn't worry too much about Shepard not being in every chapter.

[hot_heart]

I don't see anything wrong with that, AustereLemur799. Getting to see other characters do their thing is one of the main advantages of it not being a game, and I tend to favour that sort of stuff. Plus, I think Progman Omega's approach to it sounds perfectly viable if you don't want it to feel too disconnected.

Modifié par hot_heart, 28 mai 2013 - 10:32 .

[Lilivati]

In my story, I give away a fair amount of side content to other characters, where Shepard is either not involved or only tangentially involved. I don't see anything wrong with it- makes it a little more engaging. I mean, Shepard has a LOT on her plate already. She really can't be in ten places at once and I imagine her crew gets into a certain amount of trouble when left to their own devices. But they're not helpless either and they're quite capable of getting themselves OUT of trouble as well.

Shepard is my POV character for most of the story, but I try to represent the other characters well and I'd be lying if I said there weren't times when I regret that choice because there are so many interesting ways to retell this story, even though I really enjoy my Shepard.

[Tairis Deamhan]

Seracen wrote...

On the selling Fan Fiction topic.

I've always had the option to have my music pay to download (only like 49 cents or 99 cents or whatever) but have never bothered and just allow free downloads. I just don't think there is a lot of money to be made in 'amateur' creativity, unless of course you are the lucky talented one who gets spotted and hired but that's pretty unlikely for the vast majority.

That would be where you're mistaken.

Fifty Shades of Grey? Twilight fanfic that went mainstream.

Youtube artists like Lindsey Stirling, FPS Russia, or Miracle of Sound? People that took some niche and a free service... and now pull down thousands of dollars for it.

In truth we have finally left the age of the hollywood agent or publishing house that picks and chooses the only privledged few that get to be raised to financial success and stardom. For the first time in history you have the ability to reach out to not just thousands or even milliions but billions of people without a corporate entity molding, changing, or restricting you.

There is power there. You just have to use it.

[Drussius]

Tairis Deamhan wrote...

Seracen wrote...

On the selling Fan Fiction topic.

I've always had the option to have my music pay to download (only like 49 cents or 99 cents or whatever) but have never bothered and just allow free downloads. I just don't think there is a lot of money to be made in 'amateur' creativity, unless of course you are the lucky talented one who gets spotted and hired but that's pretty unlikely for the vast majority.

That would be where you're mistaken.

Fifty Shades of Grey? Twilight fanfic that went mainstream.

Youtube artists like Lindsey Stirling, FPS Russia, or Miracle of Sound? People that took some niche and a free service... and now pull down thousands of dollars for it.

In truth we have finally left the age of the hollywood agent or publishing house that picks and chooses the only privledged few that get to be raised to financial success and stardom. For the first time in history you have the ability to reach out to not just thousands or even milliions but billions of people without a corporate entity molding, changing, or restricting you.

There is power there. You just have to use it.

But that's the point he was making. He did say it was "unlikely," not "impossible". For most people, this won't open any new doors, and could just provide companies with a door to legally take any idea they like without paying for it. You mentioned four entities out of the millions that are out there, and there are more of course, but the percentage of people that strike it big out of free media is miniscule at best. Which means the original statement still holds true. For the majority, it will mean little or nothing. A random few might get some real benefit out of it.

Don't get me wrong... as an aspiring professional writer, anything that opens up new doors for publishing has some positive potential. I am just more worried about the legal fine print involved.... and how it interacts with copyright law. It's illegal to profit from other people's copyrighted property, so being paid for writing fanfiction seems to be illegal to begin with...

Which leaves me wondering what it means for a writer's original creations in the story. Does anything written default to being property of the franchise that the fanfic is about, with the pay provided essentially being a payment for the transfer of rights? Does it mean that if I include original characters in a fanfiction, those characters become property of the company that spawned the franchise? Or does your original content remain your intellectual property? If this actually does become a real thing, I will be interested to see what the exact details included might be.

[Seracen]

Tairis Deamhan wrote...

Seracen wrote...

On the selling Fan Fiction topic.

I've always had the option to have my music pay to download (only like 49 cents or 99 cents or whatever) but have never bothered and just allow free downloads. I just don't think there is a lot of money to be made in 'amateur' creativity, unless of course you are the lucky talented one who gets spotted and hired but that's pretty unlikely for the vast majority.

That would be where you're mistaken.

Fifty Shades of Grey? Twilight fanfic that went mainstream.

Youtube artists like Lindsey Stirling, FPS Russia, or Miracle of Sound? People that took some niche and a free service... and now pull down thousands of dollars for it.

In truth we have finally left the age of the hollywood agent or publishing house that picks and chooses the only privledged few that get to be raised to financial success and stardom. For the first time in history you have the ability to reach out to not just thousands or even milliions but billions of people without a corporate entity molding, changing, or restricting you.

There is power there. You just have to use it.

FIRSTLY: I DID NOT POST THIS...LOL

There are a couple of us with the same avatar, so I could see the confusion.  Still, I wouldn't figure the "quote button" would populate my name into someone else's post.

Moving on to my next point, which Drussius echoes succinctly in the post prior to this one...

I was actually going to mention how self publishing has empowered the musical artists and allowed them to come out from under the oppressive heel of the industry.  For example, Lindsay Stirling didn't win "America's Got Talent," but became a sensation, deservedly so, b/c of her youtube channel.  Also, Malukah is getting hired by Bethesda to do the music for their next MMO, I beleive.

The problem is that this particular path leads to far too much gray area, and opportunity to exploit someone else's idea.  Companies don't NEED more avenues to take IP and not pay for it, they have plenty already.

If someone could corroborate this for me (a lot of sources have been hidden and redacted at this point)...

The Wachowski's never actually wrote the original Matrix.  They adapted it from a work done by William Gibson's grandchild (or Phillip Dick's, can't remember).  Warner Bros paid quietly out of court to have the issue settled.

However, the original creator was not on hand for the sequel movies, which the Wachowski's wrote themselves.  Personally, I didn't care for the 3rd movie, though the 2nd COULD have been passable if the 3rd had reeled it in.

David Hayter wrote the 2 original X-Men movies.  When FOX pissed off Bryan Singer, and he left, they also decided not to use Hayter's final script.  This is sort of foolish, considering they threw away all the ideas that had been built up, and did a blind rewrite instead.

Disregarding that these series COULD have been a better product, there's also the fact that both the original creators are well established in their fields, and THEY didn't get due diligence.  What reasons would ANYONE have for not abusing such a system as Amazon Fanfiction would likely create?

As you say, it is about using the power properly.  I just can't help feeling this particular service invites laziness and exploitation.

PS: totally aware that Twilight was fanfiction that made it...which means 50 Shades was a fanfic of a poorly written fanfic...blargh...

Yeah, under those standards, I KNOW there are folks in this board alone who could churn out an amazing product to the masses, if the situation was managed properly.  Therein lies the rub, however...

Modifié par Seracen, 30 mai 2013 - 12:22 .