LEGAL ADVICE:
1929? Well, it's possible that the author has been dead for 50 years. If he is, that would make the work part of the public domain, eliminating all copyright restrictions and solving your problem. If not, I'd recomend writing a nice letter to him or his estate asking permission very nicely. If the answer, however, is no, then try changing some details - enough to make it obvious to anyone paying attention that this is the same character, but also provable that it's an entirely different character. Of course, you then run the risk not only of getting the author and/or his family pissed (not something you want to do to someone who's work you expect), but of diluting the original concept into a similar proximity. It might not even be possible - if the character is so minor, for instance, that changing almost any detail would make him/her unrecognizable. Then there is always the possibility of not publishing it until the original work enters the public domain, but you may not be willing to wait it out.
CREATIVE ADVICE:
Keep in mind that most of the people who will be reading this have already read the original, but know that some of them may have not - in other words don't tie it to the original plot too tightly, but be sure to make it similar enough that it will interest fans of the original. Inside jokes (ones known only by fans of the original work) are always good too. And try not to make it over the top - that's what turns me off about most fanfiction - they miss all the subtelties of the original and decide just to have every possible plot turn and monumental event happen all at once or right after another, which winds up being ridiculous and very off-putting. Also, make sure that you explore rocks left unturned by the author of the original, but don't try to make up answers to all his secrets - they're secrets for a reason. |
