tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post6531295642253027961..comments2023-12-16T16:50:25.810-08:00Comments on The Heart of the Matter: Q&A With Philip Patrick, Head of Kindle WorldsBarry Eislerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-28944235230377199832015-05-24T12:38:00.940-07:002015-05-24T12:38:00.940-07:00I was wondering if you read any of the John Rain f...I was wondering if you read any of the John Rain fanfiction on KindleWorlds and what you though of it? Are there any you like?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372085765151603083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-16370692062991791262013-06-28T14:18:15.171-07:002013-06-28T14:18:15.171-07:00More good questions, Kaushik. Speaking only for m...More good questions, Kaushik. Speaking only for myself, I'll probably just keep writing the canon as it occurs to me without regard for what's happening in the fan fiction universe. I don't want to be constrained by what someone else is doing with my characters, though it's certainly possible I'll be inspired by it. And as long as readers know which is FF and which is the canon, I'm sure they'll have no trouble understanding how what happens in one universe isn't necessarily going to be reflected in what happens in another.Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-6237938047553125282013-06-27T20:32:49.614-07:002013-06-27T20:32:49.614-07:00Thanks for the reply, Barry. Another question - as...Thanks for the reply, Barry. Another question - as Kindle Worlds is supposed to a sandbox which grows with each contribution, what becomes of canon? For example, say in my story, Rain is injured in an op that happens a month after the events in The Detachment and can't get out of the hospital any time soon, what happens when another writer, who's no way of knowing what I've done, sets a story six weeks from the events of The Detachment? The reader will say, "Hey, the guy's in hospital now." So, are there any guidelines for continuity you'd like to share?<br /><br />Also, is it required to stick to the continuity? Is it possible to write a story that's a soft reboot or has some alternate-historical settings? What I have in mind is something like Marvel Comics' Marvel Knights line which features characters outside the continuity of the main Marvel Universe.Kaushik Karformahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07025254550252254932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-37210510443042012292013-06-27T14:37:49.202-07:002013-06-27T14:37:49.202-07:00Thanks Kaushik. I think we could have made this c...Thanks Kaushik. I think we could have made this clearer -- the answer is, any of the characters. Enjoy!Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-90170407115479440182013-06-26T21:29:24.380-07:002013-06-26T21:29:24.380-07:00Hi Barry,
One question: is it okay to write about...Hi Barry,<br /><br />One question: is it okay to write about Larison, Hort, and Treven, or only characters who've appeared in the Rain series, ie, Rain, Dox, and Delilah?Kaushik Karformahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07025254550252254932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-69313945183082808472013-06-26T20:15:30.390-07:002013-06-26T20:15:30.390-07:00It's an interesting idea, Patrice. I'm no...It's an interesting idea, Patrice. I'm not against in principle, but in practice I think it might be impractical to try and keep track. I can say that one thing that was important for me as the underlying rights holder was that there be zero chance that a fan fiction writer would turn around and try to sue me for allegedly stealing his or her ideas. Hence the notion of "new toys go into the sandbox, where everyone gets to play with them." But again, I do understand your point.Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-84175274931153741862013-06-26T19:13:35.304-07:002013-06-26T19:13:35.304-07:00Great interview, Barry -- thanks for posting. I&#...Great interview, Barry -- thanks for posting. I'm already writing in Hugh Howey's WOOL "sandbox," since he's one of the rare authors who has allowed... in fact, encouraged that. As a result, I am quite eager to see how the Kindle Worlds program pans out. <br /><br />My only concern would be that those writing in the Worlds also be fairly compensated if their characters or specific plot elements are taken up by other fan writers or the World "creator." Whereas the initial writer gets 50% of the available royalties on an equal footing with the fan writer, when a fan writer contributes something that makes a big splash in the common pool, she won't see any further part of the profits. What if such an element or character makes it into a screenplay, or a foreign translation? <br /><br />Having raised that issue, I do have to admit that as a creative person, it's best to let ideas flow freely, and recognize that there will always be more. It's not conducive to productivity to clutch your art close to your chest and live in fear...<br /><br />I can't wait to see what happens. Exciting times! <br />Patricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01526130858885611254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-78718592964886823912013-06-25T11:32:04.138-07:002013-06-25T11:32:04.138-07:00A bold decision, opening up John Rain's univer...A bold decision, opening up John Rain's universe to your fans. But you're known for those. And a bold move for Amazon, for that matter. They'll take--are already taking flak as their critics decide the sky is falling (again) and ultimately they'll sell the books. Seems like a win for all to me. Along with a few million others, I'll be watching to see how Kindle Worlds develops.Bridget McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03551190428721385000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-17594790245943451622013-06-25T10:32:19.286-07:002013-06-25T10:32:19.286-07:00Halley, great question. I think if Amazon enforce...Halley, great question. I think if Amazon enforces its guidelines too broadly or strictly, it'll just mean that the edgiest fan fiction will remain underground where it was born and currently resides. Either way, we're gonna find out...Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-51460265344127246602013-06-25T09:05:34.617-07:002013-06-25T09:05:34.617-07:00Your point is well taken, "I don’t care how p...Your point is well taken, "I don’t care how people read (iPad, Kindle, Nook, paper, whatever); I care <i>that</i> they read ... " My question about the whole program is, will Worlds be too corporate to inspire the weird and wild fan fiction writers. At its core, fan fiction is a very original, subversive way to write, like some obsessive love letter to a character you forgot was fictional.Halley Suitt Tuckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09652662616738807249noreply@blogger.com