McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Better to play in someone else's yard or get your own?
belial.1980:
--- Quote from: Rechan on July 30, 2010, 04:29:37 AM ---The other part of "Doing it your own way" is dancing the fine line of coming up with something unique vs. something familiar, and not copying too heavily on someone else's creation. I mean, if you like the way one world does X, you still can't use it because that's someone else's. So now you must do it a different way. And your different way might be too close to someone else's.
I mean, if you don't deviate from someone's idea too much, then you might be plagarizing or at least too close for comfort. But if you go too far just to avoid that, you might end up losing the feel in the first place, or making something you don't Like.
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Read, write, find what you like, make it your own. Easier said than done, of course. But who said this was an easy business? ;D
Starbeam:
--- Quote from: KevinEvans on July 30, 2010, 05:07:13 AM ---Other franchise story cycles, rarely allow "entry level writers" a chance, mostly such contracts go to more established writers.
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I don't know how most publisher do it, but I know this is how the Star Wars books are done. They approach the authors about writing in the world.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: Rechan on July 30, 2010, 02:18:02 AM ---Is it better to write in an established setting (The Dresdenverse, the Forgotten Realms, etc) - where the Rules and such are established - or is it better to create your own?
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Infinitely better to make up your own.
--- Quote ---I'm contemplating writing some Urban Fantasy. But unless I, for instance, set it in the Dresdenverse, then all the rules need to be made up before I start working.
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There is no reason why one can't write in a world that is very similar to someone else's if one has something to say that is in direct response to or dialogue with that work, though.
--- Quote ---Is there any time when playing in someone else's back yard (a pre-existing setting) is better than making your own?
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When the owners of the property in question offer you large quantities of cash to do so.
LizW65:
Personally, I can't imagine why anyone would want to write in someone else's universe when it is infinitely more rewarding to create one's own characters and setting. JMHO, of course, and I have heard some very convincing arguments to the contrary.*
Most involving the aforementioned large quantities of cash.
Rechan:
--- Quote from: LizW65 on July 30, 2010, 09:32:19 PM ---Personally, I can't imagine why anyone would want to write in someone else's universe when it is infinitely more rewarding to create one's own characters and setting
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CHARACTERS I agree with you.
But setting? I don't know. It's like using an established campaign setting vs. a homebrew one. There are benefits. There's a blueprint there to draw inspiration from, find holes to explore.
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