I wonder how you can write with acknowledgement to Stephen King's work without getting into trouble.

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Shelly NunChucks

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2014
50
300
Maine
It would be kind of homage to Stephen King, even if it wasn't published.

No wait..just here me out.

Well maybe based on a true story.

I came from Boston and living in Maine.

My character would kid about all the Stephen King work and all of the sudden, behind
every turn something from a Stephen King book come to life and freaks out the
girl from Boston.

I mean, if you really think about it, with the media they way they portray people from Maine and
Boston and myself coming from Boston and moved to Maine it would be epic.

I been into writing about ninjas and such.

The thing is, in wanting to pay "homage" that way to Stephen King and talk about his
works in the story and having things come to life, I don't know if they would be called
"plagiarism" and that's the last thing I would ever want to do.

I don't want to be someone considered a "thief" and do things wrong, or disrespect
Stephen King in anyway, because basically I would be the smhuck getting the crap
kicked out of me by Stephen King's work in the story and blending all his most popular
things in a book and bringing that stuff up in one story is a good idea, but, as
meaningful and as creative as I want to be with a story like that,
I am not business like, and don't know proper procedures.

I just know that being just a person that would come from Boston moving
to Maine and getting attacked by things in Stephen King's world would
be funny, and I know that in today's society, when people read or see
things happen to people in film and they get there butts kicked, well,
audience members and readers love that stuff.

With Stephen King's sense of humor and the weird kind of war that
Bostonian's and Maine people kind of have about social situations,
it would be hilarious and once again, I would be the smhuck in the story,
well once again, it's kind of based on a true story..lol
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
Stephen doesn't typically allow people to use his characters/stories in their work and it sounds as though the majority of your story (idea) would be based around his works.
So, although you would intend this in homage, (which is very nice) I think he might prefer a new writer to shine in their own way, with original characters/situations. :)
 

Shelly NunChucks

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2014
50
300
Maine
thanks for feedback, cause I have ideas pop up in my head, but I hear so much in the business
of people stealing from other people.

I think it is a funny idea and I know with alot of people not just writers, even other idols
like Jackie Chan and others say to be yourself.

At least I can pay homage to people who have inspired me, in my life on my radio show.

Here's a thought, and maybe it's me, and I just think that's it nice to give back to those
that have inspired us our whole lives.

Learning as I go, guess I'm a work in progress and very thankful for the many people
who have inspired my whole life, and yes I know, we should inspire ourselves with
just our own inspirations.

Funny thing, as a woman, I think it scares people when a woman like myself,
do characters in films, where I swear like a truck driver.

I am not kidding

I did a film called "Inventory" and I wanted to be the most annoying character out
of the whole film.

The premise of the film...doing inventory and we were slackers paired in teams.

I was so annoying and the director let me loose on set, because when I told
him what I could the night before as the director, Justin was driving us home.
Justin was diving a bug and I was in the front and the other actors were in the back.
So I did alot of rambling, improv the whole scene.
I made the director laugh so hard he almost crashed the car.

So the next day, Justin let me loose on set and I swore like a truck driver.
It was scary, I was like a female Joe Pesci let loose on the set.

But, it's weird, it scared people, but I just was doing what Joe Pesci was
doing, and being annoying and swearing like a truck driver and people
said my character was the most "annoying" character in the film.

But I told everyone that was the point of the character, to be the
most annoying character of the whole film.

So I made the director very happy and did my job.

I'm trying in my own way, and I am not sure why, all of the sudden
I am thinking of Stephen King's work.

Maybe I'm doing so much and trying to make something of myself,
maybe this board is helping me to "destress" and "decompress",
and getting out good things :)
 

Shelly NunChucks

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2014
50
300
Maine
oh wait there is another thing I could pay homage to Stephen King..
I do Hub Pages and I been on there for four years, but didn't know how to
write correctly.

In the last couple of months my writing has gotten better, so I can write an
article on Stephen King on there.

Yeah, Yeah, I can do that!! :)
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
thanks for feedback, cause I have ideas pop up in my head, but I hear so much in the business
of people stealing from other people.

I think it is a funny idea and I know with alot of people not just writers, even other idols
like Jackie Chan and others say to be yourself.

At least I can pay homage to people who have inspired me, in my life on my radio show.

Here's a thought, and maybe it's me, and I just think that's it nice to give back to those
that have inspired us our whole lives.

Learning as I go, guess I'm a work in progress and very thankful for the many people
who have inspired my whole life, and yes I know, we should inspire ourselves with
just our own inspirations.

Funny thing, as a woman, I think it scares people when a woman like myself,
do characters in films, where I swear like a truck driver.

I am not kidding

I did a film called "Inventory" and I wanted to be the most annoying character out
of the whole film.

The premise of the film...doing inventory and we were slackers paired in teams.

I was so annoying and the director let me loose on set, because when I told
him what I could the night before as the director, Justin was driving us home.
Justin was diving a bug and I was in the front and the other actors were in the back.
So I did alot of rambling, improv the whole scene.
I made the director laugh so hard he almost crashed the car.

So the next day, Justin let me loose on set and I swore like a truck driver.
It was scary, I was like a female Joe Pesci let loose on the set.

But, it's weird, it scared people, but I just was doing what Joe Pesci was
doing, and being annoying and swearing like a truck driver and people
said my character was the most "annoying" character in the film.

But I told everyone that was the point of the character, to be the
most annoying character of the whole film.

So I made the director very happy and did my job.

I'm trying in my own way, and I am not sure why, all of the sudden
I am thinking of Stephen King's work.

Maybe I'm doing so much and trying to make something of myself,
maybe this board is helping me to "destress" and "decompress",
and getting out good things :)


Was born in Maine and have been living back here since the end of '84 but most of my growing up years were in the Boston area--Somerville H.S. Class of '69. I understand the swearing. For many, it's not a complete sentence if you haven't dropped the "F bomb" in it. ;-D
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
Write it, toss it in a box, and forget about it...someone finds it long after you're gone...by then they'd have to dig you up to beat you with a stick and I've no doubt there's some who would favor that mode of expression. That or the Ghosts Local teams up on you...you never hear much about one ghost beating another ghost, hey? Reminded of this line from The Death Ship...B Traven..."I wonder what goes on night and day beneath the surface of a cemetery."
 

DexterTan

Active Member
Feb 26, 2014
32
113
Melbourne
Well I'm writing a 20000 word fantasy story for university and I'll be using the quote from Jake Chambers (fully referenced of course).

"Go then, there are other worlds than this"

I think that's how it goes.

I don't think I'll get into trouble for that!
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Well I'm writing a 20000 word fantasy story for university and I'll be using the quote from Jake Chambers (fully referenced of course).

"Go then, there are other worlds than this"

I think that's how it goes.

I don't think I'll get into trouble for that!
If it's a direct quote, referenced in full, you're skating on thin ice (legally). My editor got antsy when I misquoted song lyrics (it was recognizable). Don't know if it's different because yours is not for sale, but it's always better to get permission in writing before you quote any writing not in the public domain. Just a thought.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I'm using the quote just like how SK uses quotes/poems at the beginning of his books....

If you look at the pages at the front of Mr. King's novels, you'll see that he's obtained legal permissions to use the quotes. Some authors just want to make sure they're correctly attributed, some want money for permission to use their works. Stuff in the public domain (Shakespeare, ancient Greek & Roman writers, etc.) are free game, of course.


As long as you attribute the quote to him, you'd be fine--no formal permission needed.

Mr. King is very kind. Good thing quotes don't have to be attributed in conversation, because I would owe him a mint (I try to attribute even when I'm talking, but I'm sure I forget sometimes) :D