I want to write a book based off of LOTR but i am not sure if it is legal!
2007-05-09 03:03:56 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You can write fan fiction and keep it for yourself.
You cannot legally profit from it, though.
2007-05-09 03:58:40 · answer #1 · answered by Autumn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot publish the work you have written. However there is one thing you can do and you probably wont earn any money for it, you can blog your sequel in chapters or parts.
I would recommend that you put in a disclaimer and mention the work of tolkein as an inspiration.
With proper networking technics on your part (myspace, orkut.. etc. ) you will soon have a following of a good fan base. Obviously your writing skills and plot should be in league with tolkein.. otherwise your work could be hammed and at that point you just get bombed with rotten tomatoes.
But if it does work, i am sure some publisher will get a wind of your work and try to work out the legal issues.
Good luck
2007-05-09 15:09:06 · answer #2 · answered by gopi80 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to get permission from his son, Christopher Tolkien. Why don't you first write it, and see how it turns out? Even if you did write a sequel, most LOTR fans would not read it, just for the reason that it is not genuine. But who knows, you can still make it!
From one author/tolkienfan to another.
2007-05-09 11:13:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am writing a sequel, it is a fanfiction story, and it is the most fun thing I have ever done. It is only a hobby, I do not get paid a cent for it, and the only reason it is legal is I write in a parody style.
the copyrighted parts of Tolkien's books are his Proper names of his characters and places, and his languages. Everything else already existed, elves, dwarves, trolls, dragons, rangers, halflings, goblins (orcs,) wizards and kings. You can write as many stories about those creatures as you wish to write, as long as you use your own setting and characters
2007-05-09 11:23:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't do that legally without the consent of the original author or rights owner. You'd get in serious trouble. The names and places used in the book are copy protected. Do your own thing. Borrow some ideas and make your own work better, but stay away from copying; too risky.
2007-05-09 14:55:26 · answer #5 · answered by Raingirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might be able to write a sequel, but I believe sequals are extinct. Actually, it's perfectly legal to write a sequel. It's the publishing of it that becomes problematic.
2007-05-09 10:18:25 · answer #6 · answered by Stephen M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have grave doubts about your ability to do justice to one of the most masterful works of prose ever written. J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of language as well as an artist, one of the greatest writers of all time. It's hubris to think you're even in the same league as him. Most professional writers nowdays can't even aspire to the level of excellence he espoused.
2007-05-09 10:47:43 · answer #7 · answered by TheEconomist 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You would have to get permission from the owner of the Tolkien estate, which at the moment I believe is J.R.R's son, Christopher Tolkien.
2007-05-09 10:09:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know......
The new Tolkien book "The Children of Hurin," just came out recently, and you might try reading that.:-)
Your fellow Tolkien fan,
"Miss Moncrieff"
2007-05-09 10:43:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can write whatever you want, publishing it is another matter.
2007-05-09 10:24:46 · answer #10 · answered by John L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋