Permissions/Blanket Statement

[ladydragon76]

wyntir_knight posted commenting on akamine_chan's quote of - "...take the time to create a transformative works policy And by transformed, I mean podficced or remixed or artified and more. Put a note in your profile, make a sticky post, etc.

These are your works and if you're not comfortable with someone else playing in your sandbox, say so. There's no shame in it. Conversely, if you love it when people remix or podfic or make art based on your works, you need to let people know that, too." And it made me think.

So here's my Permissions and Blanket Statement

If you want to do art of one of my stories, YES PLEASE!**

If you want to guest write in one of my fic universes, YES PLEASE!**

For either of those things, you do not need to ask me first. Seriously, I will squee and flail and be grateful, and probably yell to the entire world about how you did awesome art for my derpy ficcy, or how you actually liked my weirdness enough to want to play in that tiny corner of the sandbox yourself, and float on cloud nine for a few days at the very least. My only requests are that if you do this, please link at least the fic you're basing your work on in your posts, and really truly, I'd like to be linked so I can do all that squee'ing and flailing and floating. I've accidentally stumbled across pics before of my work and it's SO AWESOME, but I wasn't told, so here's this person that did something that makes me wildly happy and humbled and honored, and I didn't even know about it to be grateful to them.

**Exceptions to the above.

Please do not write or draw my original characters without discussing it with me first. As for drawing, some of them aren't designed at all for a reason, and others I have very specific thoughts on. If you want to draw an OC of mine, I will love you forever and squee, but please contact me for details I have that might not be in the stories with them. As to writing, I don't want to say no outright, but I'm feeling very possessive at the moment of typing this about the OCs I'm thinking of, so please ask individually and let me decided on a case by case basis. Thank you.

Please do not write OTHER people's OCs in fics of my fics without showing me you have their permission to do so, and I reserve the right to still decline.

Please do not write for 'The Last'. That story series is just... kind of my soul in a way. I'm not ready to share it. If Crackalackalicious is the playground I encourage kids of all ages to go wild in, The Last is the delicate garden that isn't ready for anything more than calm strolls through it while keeping off the grass.

Ok, I promise no more metaphors like that. LOL!

Translation to a different language. I've been asked this before, and I don't believe I've ever turned anyone down, but I DO really like to be asked case by case. So if you're interested in translating one of my fics, please contact me to discuss it.

Remixes- No. No never. It's one thing to play within a verse I made and create something of an AU or offshoot idea of your own, that's cool. That's a fanfic of my fanfic which blows my mind, but remixes are a huge no. I've had two requests for this and both times I just couldn't believe the insult. You want to take MY work, and just jumble up MY words and maybe poke in some random characters and break the entire thing I've busted hump on and then take credit for it? No. Now that may not actually be what a 'remix' is, but these two separate people, once they explained what the heck they meant, were looking to basically plagiarize my work with my permission. So, if I'm wrong about what a remix is, and you feel just DRIVEN to do one of one of my COMPLETED stories (I will NEVER, EVER, EVER allow a remix on a WIP story. Ever. Please don't even ask.) and want to explain it to me, then email me at ladydragonwolf76@gmail.com, and we can discuss EXACTLY what you want to do.

PodFic - No. There's a really visceral, primal, gut reaction, flinch away from the mere idea of someone else reading my fics out loud or like that guy (who is talented) on tumblr that does all the voices and stuff. I do not know why I am squicked so DAMN hard by it, but I am. So please, no. I don't want any podfics. I don't even want anyone doing short sound bites of particular lines. I can say that logically, everyone reads a story differently, and that someone reading it out loud and recording it may interpret it differently from what I mean, and thus change how everyone who hears their reading perceives it. It's not personal anymore. It's not individual. It's someone NOT ME interpreting my work and cementing THEIR interpretation -which might be incorrect from what I meant- for others. There's a tumblr post with a seven word sentence that can be interpreted seven different ways depending on which word is emphasized. Fics are like that in a way, and I'd much rather each reader have their own interpretation than have someone else who has never heard me speak do that job for them. If you feel absolutely COMPELLED to podfic one of my completed stories (NEVER a WIP, please don't even ask), then email me at ladydragonwolf76@gmail.com to try and make your case. I really need to sit with myself and think if there is more than my worries over interpretation there. I think there might be, because while the idea of art or guest writing makes my soul sing, the idea of podfic makes me feel possessive and angry.

When in doubt, please ask. (And Anon commenting is enabled everywhere I can enable it) The very worst I will say is 'please, no, I'm not comfortable with that'. In truth, I'm stunned that I've actually HAD people approach me in the past to do guest writing and art of my fics. It's not something I ever, EVER expected to have happen to me. And even though there are some things that I'm not comfortable saying 'yeah, go for it' to, I AM honestly, truly honored and humbled and grateful that anyone likes my stuff enough to WANT to do those things.

And please, NEVER EVER repost my stories ANYWHERE.

And now, just to disclaimer: I do not -never have and never will- EXPECT art, guest writing, or anything else. This post is solely for the purpose of clarity because it was brought up and made me think about the topic.

Thank you!

Comments

[kit-summerisle.livejournal.com]

Mmm... this is a good idea to do... as the original source said, I've never thought anyone would want to do either from my works... until it happened and I was the most surprised by it. :-)

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Right? LOL! I recall the first time I was asked and I was just FLOORED. That reaction for me never seems to dim either. It's like, OMG! REALLY!? YOU REALLY LIKE MY BEBBE THAT MUCH!!!??

LOL. Oh! And I need to edit. Credit where credit is due - it was wyntir_knight that actually really brought it to my attention.

[kit-summerisle.livejournal.com]

Well, you are far more popular, with marvelous stories and universes that entice fic-writers to play in (myself included, as you know), so you probably get a lot of such request. It only happened once to me, but yeah, it was amazing. :-)

[redseeker.livejournal.com]

This whole concept seems really weird to me - I just read this post (http://akamine-chan.dreamwidth.org/281722.html) and I can actually feel my lip curling, haha.

"The other excuse people often have for not putting up a policy..."

Excuse? I've never heard of this practice before, but now I need an excuse not to do it? Ridiculous.

That said, this is very interesting & informative. I'm not sure what "remixing" means either, and the idea of podfic makes my stomach churn with embarrassment /: Maybe I'm just being ridiculous, but...

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't get a lot, maybe... maybe like 8 or 9 all totaled, and most of those in Cracka? (which is FAR more than I ever would have dreamed had I even conceived of the notion), but I cherish each one.

Also, pff! Popularity is scary, plus I think you're more wellknown than you realize. I've seen people talk about your work and how much they enjoy it. I certainly love your work. You put a great depth of emotion in them. Keep on writing! Keep posting. If I'm 'popular' at all it's because for the last 6.5 years people have seen my name pop up in vaguely regular intervals. LOL <3

[kit-summerisle.livejournal.com]

Cracka is serious fun and a joy to read (and write in). So, I'm not surprised. Myself just pulled up the Megatron-story I started there to continue. :-)

Umm, I didn't mean that as complaint or envy; just so that you are probably more familiar with the idea of people wanting to play in your sandboxes. :-)

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're being ridiculous. And yeah, this whole thing is a bit weird, but it's new? So maybe it's one of those things that'll get around and feel 'normal' or 'standard' eventually?

Honestly, this post makes me feel a bit like an egotist, and I'm hardly shy about how much fun I have writing and sharing my work. I mean, people HAVE done guest writing of my fics, and people HAVE created art just because they liked what I wrote, and that's.... Gods, I don't even. I mean I say humbled and honored, but even that really can't convey the depth of shocked wonder and squee'ing I do even thinking about those that have already occurred. By posting this Statement, it's like I'm saying, hey someone else in the future is going to want to do this too! Which feels very arrogant to me, but then... I kind of get the point too. Lots of people are more shy than me (like in the example for excuses she uses in that post you linked).

I'd never really thought about it before Wyntir posted wondering about why we would NEED to ask permission from one another but not say like, Hasbro, or the license holders, (and to clarify, she wasn't arguing against asking) so I'm in the same boat you are there with the 'excuse' thing. (and I can repost my reply to her here if there's interest) I've said a handful or so times openly and publicly that people can guest write or draw for me, and have my undying squee ringing in their ears, but the concept of making a POLICY never really occurred to me before, but then, that's why this is here now.

MAYBE someone really will want to do a work off my works again in the future. Before it was never a big deal, but for some reason, today, 'podfic' punched me in the face, and I wanted to scream a solid Darth Vader NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! So... If it never happens again, then that's cool, I mean, geeze, no one owes me anything, but maybe, if the planets align and I manage to inspire the creativity in another person again, and they happen to be the shy sort, then they can just read this, and be like, oh, ok. And do their thing and be happy. Personally, I've never had a problem tossing someone a PM or note or Ask to write fic off their pic, or use a concept unique to their stories, but then, again, I'm not shy, and other than feeling a bit awkward and hoping no one thinks I expect future works, it doesn't hurt me to post this for those that might actually want to do something, but for whatever reason aren't comfortable asking me directly.

And sorry to babble away at ya. LOL

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

OoooO!!! *grabby for Megs*

And no no! I didn't take it as such. ^_^

[boreal-forest.livejournal.com]

Aaah, you saw my reaction.

A kick in the guts- sort of reaction. u////u

...but fanart is nice. <3

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Well, I honestly had to think about it the first time someone asked me if they could write in Cracka. At first I thought they meant canon and was like, wait... no, I don't have a co-writer for my bebbe, and I was really leery and then afraid that if I said no, they'd just do it anyways, but then with some clarification, it clicked. It's fanfic of my fanfic. And THAT is ok with ME so long as my story is credited and linked, but that's ME.

I think this is one of those things that each person has REALLY got to decided for themselves, and then those that do, or want to do the derivative work need to respect the individual wishes without complaining or whining or causing drama.

Just because I am ok with people creating AUs of Cracka DOES NOT mean someone should look at you and point at me and go "But she says it's ok! Now justify yourself!" That is NOT cool. THAT would piss me right the hell off FOR you, because just like others are ok with their fics being podfic'd, I wouldn't want someone to point at someone who's cool with podficcing and say "Now justify yourself!" to me.

...though I am sort of trying to justify that, but that's because I'm curious where I'm getting such a strong, as you said, kick in the guts reaction of NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO from, and I'm the sort to talk myself round and round until I have it figured out and understood.

<3

And fanart is AWESOME! Though I wouldn't hold it against someone if they didn't want fanart of their stories, or didn't want stories written to their artwork.

[(Anonymous)]

Hey Kit, is me. Which one were you asked about?


@Ladydragon

I've done my own writing based off of someone else's 'verse. I was surprised at first when she allowed, but she did end up liking what I wrote and I tried my best to do it justice. I will admit there's a couple of stories of yours I liked enough to want to write a story within, but right now, I'm kind of swamped, and I'd like to think it over first.

Starfire201

[(Anonymous)]

I was sort of asked once myself for a story of mine if they could play around in my 'verse. It was flattering. I wasn't sure if they'd ever get it off the ground, but at the time, I considered it an honor, especially since it wasn't one of my best works. At least that's how I saw it. Someone else saw otherwise. :)

Starfire201

[redseeker.livejournal.com]

Heheh, that's okay, I don't mind the babbling. I definitely see the sense in it, especially for a popular author. It's very practical, and you're right, would help those too shy to go ahead and create the things they feel inspired to do.

I'm not averse to people creating works based on existing fanworks - heaven knows I've been over the moon on the few occasions someone has made something based on a fic I've written. I just always thought it was the done thing to ask first, and several passages/phrases in that linked post raised my hackles because of the entitled tone, I think. It kind of feels like people want a free pass to plagiarise others' work and get the credit for it, and not have to bother with things like asking permission or risking the other person witholding that permission... /: Unfortunately this kind of entitlement seems to be becoming a prevailing attitude in the newer/younger layers of fandom lately, which is annoying. Ah well.

So, it's not so much the policies I dislike, but the idea that we all need to have them now? Hah, I dont even know, now I'm the one babbling XD

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Yeah, definitely.

And Boreal brought up a REALLY great point on her tumblr post about it. I really need to edit my entry too, because... OCs? The few babies I have, they're mine. I know that's maybe odd since playing in my sandbox is ok, but not with my bucket or shovel. LOL. My mind when I read her post went RIGHT to someone else writing Tecton, and it made me want to grab him and stuff him under my seat and be like, who? Nope, no one by that name for you to write here. *hordes possessive and protectively*

So, yeah... HIGHLY subjective situation we've got here, and respect for one another's decisions is really the only way we can go with it, and when in doubt, ask. And if you just can't bring yourself to ask, then don't do it, would be my opinion.

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

LOL! Babble away! I love it when new concepts hit fandom and we all shuffle around and it shakes us up a little.

I get what you mean too, and I wonder if it's not different in the bigger fandoms? I mean yeah, TFs isn't as small as it was six years ago, the movies and cartoons and comics have all revitalized it and brought in a slagton of young new fans and reminded us older ones of it, but then you've got the Sherlocks and the Whos and the Supernaturals where those fandoms just seem like hundreds of thousands of people compared to our maybe few thousand? We just seem so small and tighter. I mean there are people I never speak to, that never speak to me (and that's ok) that I know of and have known of for years in this fandom. Strangers don't stay strangers long if even peripherally. We're little and kinda tightknit in a way I haven't seen in the other fandoms. Maybe derivative works are more common in those, so the attitude is different?

I will forever default to 'if in doubt ask' because it is NOT better to beg forgiveness than ask permission, and just in case any shy people are reading this and afraid to ask me something, I have anon enabled everywhere, and I only nibble if/when asked to -not bite- so don't be afraid to talk to me.

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

As long as you link in your posting of that fic to my fic saying it's a piece of guest writing, I'm good with that if you should choose to. And of course, would love to be linked so I can read it. ^_^

The more I've thought this over, the more sure I am of there being a few things more I'm not good with, but I'm going to edit that now.

[(Anonymous)]

My response to them was along the lines of "That's fine. But keep me posted on what you do. I have no objections as long as not a blatant copy."

As for OCs, yeah, that is something that should be considered. I have come up with 5 at this time, only one of which is active and/or going to be continued. And only two of them I could see being asked about. And in fact, I was asked if one of the names could be used. Again, permission was given conditionally: Namely, their OC couldn't look like the description I gave of mine. Beyond that, no argument from me. I didn't own the name. Well, maybe I do, sort of, since the name is also my other author name. The other I'm developing, and I really wouldn't want anyone else using him.

I probably should adjust my FFnet profile about that.

Starfire201

[(Anonymous)]

I think the 1st time I realized just how popular one of my own stories was was when I was told by a reader of it that it had been recc'd to them. I was floored. But really, I have found that statistics speak pretty much for themselves, sometimes.

Starfire201

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Well, it SHOULDN'T be a blatant copy if it's just writing in your 'verse. It should be a scene that never happened, or the other person's POV for that scene. A rewrite of your fic is what I THINK (based on the two who I had to tell no) is a remix.

Now if the fic was a kinkmeme promt, or a challenge fic, or something where the source was outside of you, then sure, they can take the prompt and run with it. They don't even need your permission.

But where I draw the line between 'fanfic of my fanfic/guest writing' and 'remix' is... well, I'll just use a real example.

The guest writing in Cracka is always side scenes, something original from that person but just within the framework I've made of Cracka universe. Like, Kit! She's writing Megatron turned human and lost in South America, using my ideas for when and where for some events, and just kind of running with her own thing. (which thus far is awesome, and I srsly can't wait to see where she goes with it all)

The first person to ask me to let them 'remix' Cracka wanted to keep most of my words, but they wanted to have their self insert teenage girl characters poked in here and there, and would REWRITE my story where it 'needed it' as I posted new chapters. But other than those rewrites, they'd leave it the same when posting.

Guest Writing = OMG I love you story, may I use your framework and concepts and play with this idea I have?

Remixing = I'm mostly going to plagiarize your story, but change the parts you're not doing the way I want you to.

At least that's how if comes off to me. One is the hugest compliment to me. The other was fucked up, and the second person was just as bad.

[(Anonymous)]

They wanted to retell G1, using my AU as a background and promised to credit me for it. But it's been over a year, and I've heard and seen nothing, so I doubt it ever got off the ground.

I know of someone else who's had those kind of things asked of her (the remix bit). She TRIED to be polite about saying no, but it was not easy. That person you're talking about sounded just about as ballsy.

Funny though, what you say about outside prompts. I adopted a bunny from the TF Bunny Farm here, and have been working on it for the past nearly 3 years, posting it at other sites. Someone I communicate with had wanted to write the bunny using her own take before she found out it had been adopted. Even though I had no issues with it, because it was a public bunny, open to anyone to take, and I think she would have done it justice considering some of what she's come up with, she didn't want to. She might when I'm done with my own story (depending on how many bunnies she's swamped with then), but until I'm done, she's not planning on it. Didn't want to step on my toes, basically. The most I ever got her to agree to was a side story set in my 'verse. But she's backlogged right now, so...

But it certainly is flattering, if done correctly. I'd have been furious if someone had done something like a remix for one of my own stories. If they want to write a side story within, that's one thing. Not copying and rewriting it to what they think you should do.


Starfire201

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

*Nods* I've come across that multi-fill for a prompt thing too with various conclusions, but none of them negative.

One of the funniest cases was the Sex!Chair prompt. A friend of mine and I both hopped on AIM, and I went "OMG! There's this prompt I am SO gonna do!" and she was like "I actually stumbled across one too, today." Then linked me that one. What's even funnier than that is that I had commented saying I would do it, and SHE had replied saying she would, but would like to take a slightly darker twist with it, calling herself Anon 2.0 and we'd had a whole enthusiastic conversation anonymously with one another. We've both posted our fills for it, and have had a lovely time squee'ing over the different ways we interpreted the prompt.

[kit-summerisle.livejournal.com]

It was And Then Nothing, a sequel-like POV from the younglings, but nothing came out of it in the end. Or rather, we both started writing the sequel-like thing, but neither was ever finished.

[kit-summerisle.livejournal.com]

There, now, I have a statement too on my fic list. More liberal even. :-)

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

\o/ woohoo!

Book Binding Enquiry

[amyda]

Hello! I am Amyda on AO3 and overlyenthusiasticfictionreader on Tumblr. I have left comments on your works in AO3, although they are not necessarily coherent, and sometimes they are just “kudos” or “<3”.

I recently came across the idea of “fanbinding”, where a fan of the work typesets it and binds in into a nice book! There are many examples over on Tumblr at armoredsuperheavy and renegadepublishing. I think this is super neat!

With your permission, I would like to bind The Last series. My intent would be to make two copies, one for you and one for me. I won’t change any of your text, merely pick out a pretty font to display it at its best!

Your blanket statement mentions that you are protective of The Last, so I wanted to make sure you are OK with it: it’s not really the same thing as art, or fan fiction of your fan fiction. If you are not comfortable with this, have no worries! I will find someone else’s fic to bind. But I think a book might be a better expression of my appreciation for your writing than my mediocre comments and kudos.

Disclaimer: I have not actually bound a quality book before! I just finished binding a journal with items I have around the house, to see if I like the hobby (which I do!), and I have a couple of other thoughts for projects so I can get the basics down. But I have no idea about a timeline :) And I think the examples on renegadepublishing are way fancier than I will manage the first time around.

Thank you for your time, and please let me know your thoughts on this book binding enquiry. Regardless of your answer, I hope you are having a good evening!

Re: Book Binding Enquiry

[ladydragon76]

OH MY GOSH!!! I'm like literally tearing up right now! Yes! I would be beyond honored to have a fanbound book from you. I've seen some GORGEOUS fanbound books, and have actually made 2 of my own for friends out of stories I wrote them. They're first attempts too, but book binding is so fun. LOL! I think I'd only draw the line at selling them really, which clearly you aren't asking to do, but in case someone in the future sees this comment thread. I'm good with personal downloads, fanbinding for self or gifting. Maybe, just for archival sake, have the link to my ao3 posting somewhere in there? But that's not required, just a thought as my brain speeds right the fuck along screaming. Seriously. I'm so far beyond touched, I don't know what to say.

ladydragon76#9942 - that's me on discord if you rather chat privately and all.

Gods! Thank you so much. I'm touched you'd want a print copy for yourself, but to gift me one too is jsut... AHHH! LOL! <3

Re: Book Binding Enquiry

[ladydragon76]

Oh, and Twin's got art for those fics, so when I told her about it, she said you can insert the pics too if you want. She also doesn't mind saving her art for personal, private enjoyment. ^_^

Re: Book Binding Enquiry

[amyda]

I am so excited that you said yes!!! And LB82 was the next person I was going to try to get in touch with, to include their lovely art in the book as well, so thank you for that!

I have only recently made a discord account, and I have no idea what I’m doing! But I will try to find you there soon :D