A question regarding fanfiction and doing something more serious with it

[butchbird]

So I have a question, and I figure this is the best place to ask it.

A while back I wrote a fanfic that, with very minor tweaks, wouldn't feel like battletech at all (might probably make it better that way). Of course it didn't get all that many views for, well, people reading fanfics here want to read about battletech. But I felt like it I had something there, that it was pretty good and that by extending it and changing some key "world-building concepts" (notably all things properly battletech), I could maybe go ahead and, y'know, try and turn it into a "would-be professional story"...and of course translate it in my native tongue.

Now, as I'm slowly progressing with the project, I got to thinking...

Would it be a good idea to take the "original idea" off the forum?

Guess I'm being a bit paranoid, but I figured that maybe "original ideas" running around might be kind of...I don't know how to say this properly...would maybe feel like the story is already public? Of course the odds any publisher from my parts would actually see it are next to nill but...

So what I'm asking is essentially this: If you wrote something heavily inspired from one of your fanfics, would you then consider the said fanfic as a liability?

Thank you for your time.

[monbvol]

With the level of world building detail you are describing that would wind up bein changed?  No.

[Wrangler]

I disagree.  Your fiction is was fine at least one I've read.  I do think you need find courage keep going forth.  Listen to people if you want, but you should do it because you like it and it's fun to write.

So I'm giving you a firm No, don't take it off the forums.   If anything perhaps multi-post it on other like minded websites as well as HERE.   Such as SpaceBattles or FanFiction.   Remember, forums here has slightly smaller population only because of multiple crashes we've had and some people have moved on.   People still read here, so please, butchbird.   Don't go.

[Cannonshop]

So I have a question, and I figure this is the best place to ask it.

A while back I wrote a fanfic that, with very minor tweaks, wouldn't feel like battletech at all (might probably make it better that way). Of course it didn't get all that many views for, well, people reading fanfics here want to read about battletech. But I felt like it I had something there, that it was pretty good and that by extending it and changing some key "world-building concepts" (notably all things properly battletech), I could maybe go ahead and, y'know, try and turn it into a "would-be professional story"...and of course translate it in my native tongue.

Now, as I'm slowly progressing with the project, I got to thinking...

Would it be a good idea to take the "original idea" off the forum?

Guess I'm being a bit paranoid, but I figured that maybe "original ideas" running around might be kind of...I don't know how to say this properly...would maybe feel like the story is already public? Of course the odds any publisher from my parts would actually see it are next to nill but...

So what I'm asking is essentially this: If you wrote something heavily inspired from one of your fanfics, would you then consider the said fanfic as a liability?

Thank you for your time.

when filing the serial numbers off fanfic, one of the things you don't have to worry about, is conflicts with your original fanfic idea.  By the time you've finished 'Debattleteching" it,  well...

it won't be a problem.  Consider that there are several best-sellers that BEGAN as someone's fanfiction, they removed the IP specific traits, had to design replacements, and came out with stories that have very little resemblance to the original in terms of copyright. 

Keeping it somewhere (doesn't have to be here, but it can be) is useful for referencing back to see how your writing, storyline, plot design, and characterization have progressed and improved.

[AlphaMirage]

I don't think you need to take it off the forum either. I agree with Cannonshop that keeping it as a reference could be useful for your personal development as a Writer.

I am also in the process of thinking about whether or not either my Katherine Saga or Golden Lion stories might be able to survive the de-Battleteching process. I know some of the Golden Lions could (Books 2 and 3 could be paired or standalone easily enough) but I think the K-verse Saga might be a larger project considering how vast and intricately intertwined that story is in the BT-verse (good themes but man it would be a process).

[Failure16]

You should probably ask a professional editor or publisher, but I would say just changing a few liens and calling it New! does not make it publishable. Consider that this being a comparatively small pond does not necessarily protect you since educators, editors, and esquires probably have access to plagiarism checkers and if it is found out that you have passed along work that was published publicly--and have now gotten paid for it!--there could be ramifications. There is a reason that most outlets mention during the submission process that what you are submitting is not already openly sourced.

If all you are doing is "filing off serial numbers" and changing some world-building aspects then the bulk of the work remains the same, no? I would say if you left it, then selling it might be troublesome, let alone an ethical dilemma.

EDIT: This is not to say stop writing or do not submit works to publishers. Please, do so! Just write something different. It will be better than what you have already written, even if it is a second draft, of sorts.

[butchbird]

Thank you all for the input. A quick nod and raving and 2 questions.

Don't go.

I hate to have unfinished buisness (someday, yes someday, we shall have theoretically working battlemech scale hockey rules and a hopefully entertaining story to go with it) and do agree with the importance of keeping this forum (and sub-section) live 'n kickin'. Plus the BTU is awesome for practicing, and blake knows I still have many crusts to eat.

I have a dream, a dream of a table filled with Liao's, all ready to jump at each others throats while "enjoying" a family meal. In a hopefully possible distant future where I'm competent enough to execute that and be happy with the result, then, I'll know I'm ready to tackle a big personnal project. A guy can dream, right?

when filing the serial numbers off fanfic,

"filing off serial numbers" comes back a few times...forgive my ignorance but what's that mean? Slang for "copyrighted" stuff?

If all you are doing is "filing off serial numbers" and changing some world-building aspects then the bulk of the work remains the same, no? I would say if you left it, then selling it might be troublesome, let alone an ethical dilemma.

The discordant voice, and one that underlines some problems indeed.

What is the bulk of the work? The text itself or the "message" you're trying to peddle? Sounds corny but this question is kind of working me.

The text will, at the very least, be twice as long...I estimated 3x at first but as I'm getting midway to it, while 2x is just flesh on the bones, 3x might be watering the gravy, plus many things end up changing in the translation (traduttore, traditore) in what was already there apart from world-building...but the messages and the outline remain the same (for now anyway). Ethical dilemma indeed.

[Failure16]

"Filing off the serial numbers" means basically taking off any identifying marks from something without changing its true, or essential form. See here for a more in-depth discussion. The opening paragraph pretty much is talking directly to you.

If you are extending it by another 1/2-to-2/3rds and only keeping the "messages and the outline the same", I imagine you would be fine. I am not a professional editor or buyer, but there probably exists some equation of what constitutes what is sellable versus what is forbidden because of a prior release. In any event, if you sell a story you have already published without that fact being known to the buyer, you may be guilty of "self-plagiarism", but you will be convicted (so to speak) of fraud.

My personal litmus to you would be: if you read the story you posted on the internet, then made changes and bought it from a fiction-outlet, would you be let down? Think long and hard on the answer and be honest with yourself, butchbird. Then let the chips fall where they may.

Last thing: every professional outlet has word-count limits, just like Shrapnel. If you are doubling or tripling your story with the stated intent to sell it, be very cognizant of those limitations in order to prevent grumbling down the line.

Just be clear about your personal objectives and the path to get there.

[AlphaMirage]

Filing off the serial numbers basically requires removing most of the Proper Nouns [Equipment, Individuals, Planets, and faction flavor although some of the generic ones (The Combine's Samurai in space for instance or neo-feudalism) will still work] from the work. This adds distance to a potential future copyright claim (which in art at least requires 7 key differences) from Topps if you were to publish it for money.

Thematic elements such as my version of Katherine Steiner-Davion's manifesting madness, whirlwind romance with the enemy warlord, family troubles (all the way up and down), and clone daughter can stay but the character's name, title, role, relations, and place of residence would have to change.

[butchbird]

Maybe I'm obsequious about this, but thank you all again. Guess I've got most of what I need to feed the pondering on this front.