I still go and check out FF.N because some stories just aren't posted at AO3 or here. I check three fandoms regularly: Doctor Who (with a 10 and Donna filter, aimed to not show stories that also list River ot Rose - because that's not something I'm interested in reading), Broadchurch, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
I know writers who won't read others' works so to not create potential for being accused of stealing ideas. I understand the thinking behind that, even though I get ideas from reading others' works. I also don't mind using something from another series as long as the original source is noted and a real effort is made to fit it into the new fandom.
But completely copying a work and just putting different characters in it? Without admitting to the original source material? That's a no-no.
I recent spotted a story on the L&O:CI feed that gave me pause. I'm not naming the title yet, but as I was reading it I kept thinking "this sounds very familiar". Within a few chapters they gave a nickname to a minor character that immediately told me why I knew the story. It was lifted almost completely from the second to last episode of the third season of Bones.
Do I post a review commenting on it? Do I send the author a PM instead? What would you do?
I know writers who won't read others' works so to not create potential for being accused of stealing ideas. I understand the thinking behind that, even though I get ideas from reading others' works. I also don't mind using something from another series as long as the original source is noted and a real effort is made to fit it into the new fandom.
But completely copying a work and just putting different characters in it? Without admitting to the original source material? That's a no-no.
I recent spotted a story on the L&O:CI feed that gave me pause. I'm not naming the title yet, but as I was reading it I kept thinking "this sounds very familiar". Within a few chapters they gave a nickname to a minor character that immediately told me why I knew the story. It was lifted almost completely from the second to last episode of the third season of Bones.
Do I post a review commenting on it? Do I send the author a PM instead? What would you do?
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UPDATE:
It's been resolved. The author had had a note in there, but it got deleted after a beta read it. Said it's going back in.
Edited at 2016-08-12 04:25 am (UTC)
If you want to be nice and help the author, message him/her and explain what the problem is and why it's not acceptable. Most authors who want to improve will appreciate that you took the time to help. Then, if the person attacks you for it, you can report it (both the story and the abuse).
I wouldn't post a review - I prefer taking criticism of any kind to private message because I think a lot of people don't like other people seeing it.
If you saw the episode, you would've caught on as quickly as I did. The key clue was pretty early on. The only thing changed is the discovery of the body. Can't exactly be as gross on L&O:CI as Bones can be.
UPDATE: the author is putting back in the note that apparently got deleted during beta reading.
Edited at 2016-08-12 04:29 am (UTC)
After all, we are a community to help each other out, so it's best to try to be helpful first.
Some are quite good, and they do adapt the conditions/responses to be appropriate to the companion swapped in. Prime example of that one is putting Donna in place of Martha for Human Nature/Family of Blood. Martha was limited by the time period to being a maid; no such limitation applied to Donna, so she could be a sister (which they never seem to do) or even his wife. I enjoy those because of the tension. Donna tries to protect the Doctor from himself.
Putting a line or two in that is recognizable is not a terribly egregious thing to do, especially if you're trying to evoke the image from the scene you want people to relate to.
Ah, the Human Nature/Family of Blood episodes... Yes, I went there in my Flipped series. Only it was bound to be greatly different there. O:)
But the author replied back saying that the note had been there but got deleted during beta reading. It's going back in.