lagilman | Entries tagged with fanfic

Because all the writer-kids are doing it.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1823219&highlight=

Amazon Publishing Introduces “Kindle Worlds,” a New Publishing Model for Authors Inspired to Write Fan Fiction—Launching with an Initial License of Popular Titles from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment

Like Kindle Singles and Kindle Serials, Kindle Worlds Adds a New Approach to Digital Publishing

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 22, 2013-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Today, Amazon Publishing announces Kindle Worlds, the first commercial publishing platform that will enable any writer to create fan fiction based on a range of original stories and characters and earn royalties for doing so. Amazon Publishing has secured licenses from Warner Bros. Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment division for its New York Times best-selling book series Gossip Girl, by Cecily von Ziegesar; Pretty Little Liars, by Sara Shepard; and Vampire Diaries, by L.J. Smith; and plans to announce more licenses soon. Through these licenses, Kindle Worlds will allow any writer to publish authorized stories inspired by these popular Worlds and make them available for readers to purchase in the Kindle Store.

Amazon Publishing will pay royalties to both the rights holders of the Worlds and the author. The standard author’s royalty rate (for works of at least 10,000 words) will be 35% of net revenue. As with all titles from Amazon Publishing, Kindle Worlds will base net revenue off of sales price—rather than the lower, industry standard of wholesale price—and royalties will be paid monthly.

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This is all I know about the project, which is just now hitting the Internet-waves. But the following is my initial reaction

1. This is not going to be some free-for-all of fanfic. It's carefully curated properties, which means probably most writers don't have to worry about it, one way or the other (alas or yay, depending on your take)

2. If Amazon is licensing these properties, and paying everyone involved, it's legal and even morally fair (for payment levels of fair).

3. Amazon is reportedly prohibiting crossovers and explicit sex. 80% of fanfic's not welcome. :-)

4. I suspect most readers will be "why should we pay for fic we used to get for free? Especially if there's no assurance of quality?"
(welcome to the return of the Why Gatekeepers are Good argument. But I digress)

5. Nobody's property gets put into play without their licensing those right (see #1), so it's opt-in, just like any other subrights deal.

6. This will hopefully finally teach people to HOLD ONTO THE DERIVATIVE RIGHTS ON EVERYTHING THEY SELL, FOREVER AND EVER AMEN.

7. Fanfic writers too will learn that there are wolves in the world... and that they are bunnies. Tasty, tasty bunnies. You sign Amazon's contract, make sure you understand what you're agreeing to....

and yeah, 8. Amazon still isn't in this for anything other than their own profit, up to and including squeezing all competition out of the field in any way possible.

Short version: I'm not thrilled with the idea, but I'm not flipping like a mammal just yet. Engaging wait and see mode.

EtA: and Matt Forbeck has blogged about what it means to pro tie-in writers... http://www.forbeck.com/2013/05/22/kindle-worlds-worlds-burning/

Uttered tonight:

Me: "I love my people. They are just so, so fucked up."

Companion: *inquiring look*

Me: "this fic has the following tags: slight body horror, people doing weird things with fleshy appendages, and shameless shameless tentacle pron."

Companion: *sighs*

1. Leg update: holds weight, at least for a while. Can walk without limping, for about 10 steps. Flexing the leg still not recommended, as that HURTS. Managed to sit at the desk for a few hours today, yay! Still under effective apartment arrest, tho. Losing my mind. Anyone who wants to come by and visit, feel free! Bring chocolate.

2. Yesterday I got no writing at all done. Today, 3,500 new words, and we're so far off-script it's terrifying. Still I think I begin to hear the dragon warming up at the end of the tunnel. Which is good, as I'm stuck on everything else right now, waiting for feedback and/or paperwork.

3. I got an e-mail from an editor announcing that she had gone far over wordcount on an anthology, and could she please hold my story for another (unnamed) project. Since I was dubious about the fit of this story and antho to begin with (the editor pushed for me to send the story in) I'm more relieved than disappointed, but not sure I want to let her just hold onto it. Anyone want a longish modern not-quite-a-retelling of The Nutcracker? Anyone? Bueller?

4. A reminder that you have another 36 hours to enter the win-an-ARC contest! And for those of you also on Facebook, you have another chance to win over there....

5. A friend (and I use that term loosely) sent me a link to Leverage fic, just to make me cry...

( behind the cut for those of delicate [and literate] sensibilities )

Current Mood: oh god, how much longer?

for your weekend entertainment, from the WiP:

"Even here, in this city filled with men – and some women – aching to make their mark on history, to achieve a fame and glory he once chased himself, he found little of interest walked through his doors. The usual assortment of sad drinkers and happy drinkers, hopeful drinkers and those resigned to there being nothing more than a momentary pause at the bottom of a glass; that was what came through."

1800 words in, and about to hit the first Turning Point...

Meanwhile, there is an interesting discussion going on in one of my pro mailing lists (yes, we old-timers still have those) about fanfic, the pros/cons of allowing it, and how it might be managed. ( below the cut, thoughts of interest only to pros and ficcers, and a wandering IP lawyer )

Current Mood: cold

So, the results of my stance on the "fanfiction: pro or con" panel at Lunacon, and the resulting article in the NJ Star Ledger are beginning to bear fuit. Bitter fruit, at that -- have started getting hate mail.

People, get a clue. When I say that it's illegal, that's because it IS. Really. The courts have so-ruled, and it's been upheld. Argue against copyright. Push the fight to get rid of it, if you really think that's what's Right. For now, it exists. And if the copyright holder does not fight known infringment, they lose the right to claim copyright, which means that can't earn money off thier works. This is called "damaging your own livlihood."

Telling me I shouldn't be looking to make money off my work, because it's depriving you of your 'right' to create fanfic? Let's see you turn that around and hit your own paycheck, child. See how stringent you are about 'freedom' then.

Hell, I love fanfic. I wrote fanfic. I think writing fanfic is a great fannish thing. But keep it lo-key. Allow the official copyright holders to not see it. Don't trumpet yourself where they have no choice but to take note, especially the one-owner material (as opposed to media work, where there's more room to argue against the 'reasonable confusion in the market."). But remember that it's against established law, so when you're told to stop, you have to stop or face consequences. Why are you bitching at me for pointing that out?

Oh. And telling (threatening) me that you're not going to buy any of my books from now on? Hey, that's your consumer's privilege. I'm not about to cower in my shoes and stop speaking truth in public because of it.

But stop to think about what could happen, in a world where writers, and musicians, and actors don't get royalties from their work, and their income drops even closer to nil. You think you're still going to be getting these stories and shows you form fandoms around? Good luck.

Current Mood: irritated

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Where Personal and Professional Life Collide...

My life in 8 words: Organized chaos, by preference. Exhausting, but never boring

Entries tagged with fanfic

and oh, hey, here's another financial post...

oh, as usual, dear.

Day 3 of Don't Move (the 5 things edition)

this short story business, it's quite entertaining, so long as you know it sucks your soul...

living in denial

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