Thoughts on other authors using your character?

[ElectricBlue]

I’m sure this will bring out all sorts of opinions and I’ll be told I’m wrong. Im
Just curious what other author’s thoughts are.

I'm with you on this, a hard no. My characters on the whole are deeply personal creations, or reflect deeply personal relationships. The notion of anyone else dabbling with my mind's eye, without me being directly involved, is almost invasive.

Having said that, I've done collaborations with three different authors, where existing characters have got together in shared stories. But that's different than letting someone "having a go at what a character might do" without my presence in the work.

 

[stickygirl]

Well talk of the devil

Back in 2020 @ElectricBlue approached me for advice about one of his stories and I was happy to help. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with one of his characters and I politely asked if he'd mind if I borrowed her for my own story, Under the Skin.
He then suggested we collaborate on a story, which we called Transgendence. It was one the most exciting writing exercises I've undertaken.
In each case, the arrangement is made clear to the reader and I've linked his stories to mine in the opening paragraph, so it was a win for both of us. I would suggest viewing collaborations and 'borrowing' in a positive light not a hostile defensive one. We should respect each other's copyright of course, but Shakespeare stole ideas like an East End pickpocket.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Free-use character thread anyone?

I'm down for creating it if anyone's actually interested in the idea. Like PBP but for characters.

My unhinged streak continues: Free-Use Character Klub, A PBP Project.

 

[Actingup]

Last year I was quite unhappy with how one of my characters was used, because the writer didn’t respect her nationality, name or back-story.

This year, I did two collaborations with @PennyThompson using my and her characters, and Penny and Emily also used three of.my characters for a cameo. That worked much better for me and I was very comfortable with it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

That worked much better for me and I was very comfortable with it.

That’s actually just a byproduct of my and @PennyThompson’s general awesomeness, of course.

 

[liliput1]

So what, hypothetically speaking, would you say if someone wanted to use Josette for a story? (I’m not asking just curious)

 

[Seadog777]

I hereby give permission for authors to use my character Detective Johnathan Ashcroft, from my story https://classic.literotica.com/s/detective-ashcroft

My ONLY condition, is that you can not kill hin.

This is the first time, that I've ever given permission.

If you use him, just drop me a message.

 

[Cagivagurl]

I’m an admittedly rare poster here on the forum, but I saw the upcoming “virtual convention” event and had to comment. While I’m supportive of collaborative events and creative wing-spreading (people should do what makes them happy) I’m curious about author’s feeling on other authors using their characters in other works.

Personally the idea makes me want to scream and claw at my eyes. I cannot stand the idea of anyone using my characters. They live deep in my soul and the thought of anyone else animating them and putting words in their mouth and thoughts fills me with horror. I’ve had authors ask me to use my characters before and it’s always a hard no, even for author friends. I have allowed references where authors have their characters mentioned mine in passing or had them in the background but not speaking, but I can’t let myself give up my characters agency to anyone but myself.

I’m sure this will bring out all sorts of opinions and I’ll be told I’m wrong. Im
Just curious what other author’s thoughts are.

I, like yourself would be very angry if somebody copied my work, or used one of my characters without my explicit permission....
I take great delight in developing and building characters. Giving them human traits, greed, passion, hatred, love,....
To see somebody else just steal them as if they understood them better. Thinking they could....
It sickens me that people are that disrespectful...
The characters are yours...

 

[Bramblethorn]

I’m an admittedly rare poster here on the forum, but I saw the upcoming “virtual convention” event and had to comment. While I’m supportive of collaborative events and creative wing-spreading (people should do what makes them happy) I’m curious about author’s feeling on other authors using their characters in other works.

I am glad that the contest is clear about the requirement for author consent. If authors opt to make their characters free-use and other authors take up the invitation, that's fine and I wish them all joy, but it's something I would feel weird about.

I've collaborated with other writers in the past (not on Lit) and I might agree to lend my characters to an author who knew me well, particularly if I got to sign off on the final version, but I don't see myself offering them up to all and sundry.

Just out of curiosity, does it bother you when ordinary readers interpret and see your characters differently from the way you imagined them when you wrote them? Would it bother you if they started, say, a thread on the forum about how they see your characters, and if their view differed significantly from your own?

Interesting question. It really depends on circumstances.

If I envisioned a character as being short, and somebody else sees that character as being tall, that's unlikely to bother me. OTOH, if it's something that I saw as important to the character or the story, and I put a lot of work into establishing it, that would bother me more; either I failed at expressing what I wanted to express, or they failed at reading comprehension. It's bothersome to be told "these two characters must be together forever, it's the only way they can be happy!" when the point of the story was "not all relationships are forever and that's okay".

If I was getting a lot of that feedback, I'd think it was a me problem; if it's only coming from one or two readers, I'll consider it a them problem. Either way, it's annoying, especially when coupled with a demand that I write the ending they wanted to "fix" the story...

I would also say that even though I might be uncomfortable with somebody starting a thread about my characters that conflicted badly with how I intended those characters, my discomfort doesn't trump their right to be wrong in public voice those interpretations.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Coming at it from the other direction: two Lit authors have told me I can use their characters (with the usual caveats like letting them know and review the stories).

I have never felt the desire to do it. I like inventing characters.

I would be open to letting anyone borrow any of mine (depending on the details, obviously).

 

[BrokenSpokes]

So what, hypothetically speaking, would you say if someone wanted to use Josette for a story? (I’m not asking just curious)

It would be a categorical “NO”. I don’t have a single character in my canon that I’d be comfortable with anyone else lending voice to.

(Plus I have plans for Josette in the future.)

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I get 68 stories with that name, going back as far as 2001. At least two of those authors appear on this thread.

 

[anthrodisiac]

I hereby give permission for authors to use my character Detective Johnathan Ashcroft, from my story https://classic.literotica.com/s/detective-ashcroft

My ONLY condition, is that you can not kill hin.

This is the first time, that I've ever given permission.

If you use him, just drop me a message.

Good news, there's a whole thread just for that now! Free-Use Character Klub, a PBP Project. Probably better to toss him in there since I'm hoping to make that a dedicated space for characters that can be used by other authors, similar to how Plot Bunny Pens is a place where authors can dump their plot bunnies. Your character might be lost in the noise otherwise.

 

[TheRedChamber]

This may be controversial, but...my characters aren't real. Maybe even more controversial...neither are yours.

Nothing that happens to my characters in my stories actually happens. And nothing that happens to my characters in your stories actually happens.

For better and for worse, my stories are not your stories, and, what is more, I rather foolishly trust readers to be able to work that out.

(Permission and disclaimers are always nice)

 

[Jalibar62]

I’m an admittedly rare poster here on the forum, but I saw the upcoming “virtual convention” event and had to comment. While I’m supportive of collaborative events and creative wing-spreading (people should do what makes them happy) I’m curious about author’s feeling on other authors using their characters in other works.

Personally the idea makes me want to scream and claw at my eyes. I cannot stand the idea of anyone using my characters. They live deep in my soul and the thought of anyone else animating them and putting words in their mouth and thoughts fills me with horror. I’ve had authors ask me to use my characters before and it’s always a hard no, even for author friends. I have allowed references where authors have their characters mentioned mine in passing or had them in the background but not speaking, but I can’t let myself give up my characters agency to anyone but myself.

I’m sure this will bring out all sorts of opinions and I’ll be told I’m wrong. Im
Just curious what other author’s thoughts are.

I'm gonna apologize right now then - in my latest LS, I gave one of my characters blue highlights. That's the only similarity. I admire your writing, love your characters, and wanted to give you a nod. And I did credit you for the inspiration. Forgive me?

As far as others using my characters... I would be tickled to death to be asked. I'd be furious if it was done without asking. But I guess it would depend on which one(s). I'm much fonder of some than others. Just like my kids.

 

[Voboy]

This may be controversial, but...my characters aren't real. Maybe even more controversial...neither are yours.

Aren't they as real as any other idea?

If I have an idea for, say, a cold fusion generator, is that not my idea? Can others use it with impunity?

Granted, the scale is much smaller for a character in a smut story on a free site, but I'm never going to invent cold fusion. I'm happy to invent characters. And they're just as real as any other thoughts or ideas are. More to the point, they're mine.

 

[Baztrachian]

I’m an admittedly rare poster here on the forum, but I saw the upcoming “virtual convention” event and had to comment. While I’m supportive of collaborative events and creative wing-spreading (people should do what makes them happy) I’m curious about author’s feeling on other authors using their characters in other works.

Personally the idea makes me want to scream and claw at my eyes. I cannot stand the idea of anyone using my characters. They live deep in my soul and the thought of anyone else animating them and putting words in their mouth and thoughts fills me with horror. I’ve had authors ask me to use my characters before and it’s always a hard no, even for author friends. I have allowed references where authors have their characters mentioned mine in passing or had them in the background but not speaking, but I can’t let myself give up my characters agency to anyone but myself.

I’m sure this will bring out all sorts of opinions and I’ll be told I’m wrong. Im
Just curious what other author’s thoughts are.

I don't care. I posted the stories and characters in public. If anyone wants to use them then that's fine by me. Have at it.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

It would be cool to see the Kensingtons make a cameo in another story. But they are a very unique family that would not fit the preferences of many.

 

[BrokenSpokes]

I'm gonna apologize right now then - in my latest LS, I gave one of my characters blue highlights. That's the only similarity. I admire your writing, love your characters, and wanted to give you a nod. And I did credit you for the inspiration. Forgive me?

This is a nod or homage, not using my characters. (And how sweet!) No apology necessary.

I’m talking about if you actually had Jill show up in a story.

 

[TheRedChamber]

More to the point, they're mine.

And they still will be whatever anyone else, with or without permission, does with them. Even after life plus seventy years, the characters will still be your creation.

 

[dirk2024]

N=1, but I was fine with it. I offered up characters I was attached to but hadn't used in a while and had no definite plans for. I thought someone else's version of them might inspire me. It didn't, but it didn't do any harm either and was cool to see.

I deliberately didn't offer up characters from my series currently in progress, because I thought that might have been messy. Continuity aside, the characters are still growing and changing and someone else's version of them could have screwed things up for me.

@dirk2024, I might as well ask, what did you think? Since you're the writer whose character I used in my LitCon story. No hard feelings if you want to be brutal.

I enjoyed the story! I like Harley, you did a good job of making her a young woman and the exchange with her friend was amusing. I thought you handled my characters well, thank you.

 

[THBGato]

I’m talking about if you actually had Jill show up in a story.

What if it was in a dream? Serious question: I'm considering having a character fall asleep while reading literotica and dream herself observing and maybe meeting characters from stories. I wasn't necessarily thinking of your characters, but I'm interested in your view.

 

[BeechLeaf]

At one point I thought it would be cute, or clever, or something, to drop in references to other people's creations: specifically, sub_marine's comedy troupe the C Team and onehitwanda's pianist Yi-seul Cho. Then I decided, no, I can't do even that, not even a mention, without explicit permission from the creator. You might disagree, but I decided I couldn't do it. So I had a comedy troupe called Name of Troupe Redacted, which is ambiguous as to whether that's actually what they call themselves or it's actually the C Team and I'm authorially bleeping it.

I think it's allowable to tangentially, or slightly, reference other authors here. I would be more inclined to do it where I felt the author would be amused by it, as for example if I described something as like an [author's name] story in Literotica. But as a very jealous, possessive author myself, I don't want to tread on anyone's heels: I would be maximally protective of the creator's rights.

 

[EmilyMiller]

What if it was in a dream? Serious question: I'm considering having a character fall asleep while reading literotica and dream herself observing and maybe meeting characters from stories. I wasn't necessarily thinking of your characters, but I'm interested in your view.

https://www.literotica.com/s/unconventional-11

 

[liliput1]

At one point I thought it would be cute, or clever, or something, to drop in references to other people's creations: specifically, sub_marine's comedy troupe the C Team and onehitwanda's pianist Yi-seul Cho. Then I decided, no, I can't do even that, not even a mention, without explicit permission from the creator. You might disagree, but I decided I couldn't do it. So I had a comedy troupe called Name of Troupe Redacted, which is ambiguous as to whether that's actually what they call themselves or it's actually the C Team and I'm authorially bleeping it.

I think it's allowable to tangentially, or slightly, reference other authors here. I would be more inclined to do it where I felt the author would be amused by it, as for example if I described something as like an [author's name] story in Literotica. But as a very jealous, possessive author myself, I don't want to tread on anyone's heels: I would be maximally protective of the creator's rights.

Places, rather than in-universe celebrities: I still think it’d be pretty cool to curate a list of fake companies that located a bunch of unrelated stories into the same alternate reality without overlapping characters in space and time. Your New Orleans story is happening in the same timeline as his Chicago story and her London story.

I think in particular there are people who fantasize about sex clubs or nude beaches they’ve never actually been to one and I’ve seen at least one thread in my short time in AH of someone worrying about that sort of authenticity. And for very practical reasons there are no or very few photo albums of these places. It’s a different skill than describing how someone’s outfit makes you feel. Or their giggle. Or that little… ahem, what were we talking about?

I could probably knock out a description of a hotel or a beach in an hour or two and then spend four days agonizing over a flirtation. Just based on how many people I’ve had to help assemble furniture or pack a moving van it’s clear there are many, many people who have the reverse problem. And I’ve read stories where the clothing optional hotel or the sex club feels real even though I’m fairly sure they were made up. But those are comparatively rare.