Community Event / Creation First Book!

TheRFSpark

TheRFSpark
Hey guys, I'm hoping to make my first book and I wanted it to be a spin off on something in ED. I love Elite and don't really want to make a fan fiction just something Elite based maybe? So I come to you all to maybe pitch me some ideas? I'd love to have help from the community that I share playing with. :) Also hope I'm in the right thread area. I have ideas of what I would write but I want to hear what you all might want to see.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
You're first going to need a licence to publish.

Something tells me that Frontier doesn't hand out those lightly. If at all.
 

Philip Coutts

Volunteer Moderator
Philip Coutts
There were licences available during the kickstarter, the only other book written since was by Drew Wager and that was under licence from Frontier. So you will need to approach Frontier if you are serious.
 

TheRFSpark

TheRFSpark
Wasn't there a few books made in the world of ED? I know I'd probably need a license of some variant but it is something that should be checked into.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
TheRFSpark said:
Wasn't there a few books made in the world of ED? I know I'd probably need a license of some variant but it is something that should be checked into.
Click to expand...

I'm going to be blunt. I don't think FD just hands licences to anyone. Are you an established & published author? Because if not I wouldn't get your hopes up.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
TheRFSpark said:
I really didn't think setting up a book in a game would be to challenging. hmm I'll look into it.
Click to expand...

The thing is, the Elite Dangerous universe is intellectual property. Frontier quite literally owns it, and with that, they have the legal right (draconian right no less) to say who can, and cannot, publish fiction set in their universe.

As harsh as I'm sounding, I'm actually trying to help. You see, as an outsider, you'll have to really impress Frontier. You'll need a portfolio of original work for sure. Nobody gets started in professional novel writing with a franchise book. They always start with original work. You need to show you have the full capacity to create, and writing in a decades-established franchise won't cut it.
 

Uvelius Sång

Uvelius Sång
Alonya Ruslana said:
I'm going to be blunt. I don't think FD just hands licences to anyone. Are you an established & published author? Because if not I wouldn't get your hopes up.
Click to expand...

That might sound a bit harsh.
My suggestions would be: If you don't have experiences with writing books, then just start and DO IT!
You will soon feel whether writing a story in the ED universe is really your cup of tea, or if it just has been a quick idea. You will have had your fun and enjoyed it in any case, and that's what is most important. So: Don't actually worry about licenses until you know that that step will be necessary. First of all, enjoy writing!
Oh and there is always the option to write good solid sci fi outside ED, even if it is basically close to and inspired by ED.

And if you really feel the need to get a permission in advance, why not contact Frontier support by labelling it "Fan Fiction", and ask them about Do's and Don'ts. An official book is one thing, Fan Diction like those published in magazines or for free is quite another matter.

But most important: Get your pen / keyboard, switch on the music LOUD and WRITE AWAY!!

(and yes, I am a writer by profession).
 
Last edited:

Deleted member 110222

D
Uvelius Sång said:
That might sound a bit harsh.
My suggestions would be: If you don't have experiences with writing books, then just start and DO IT!
You will soon feel whether writing a story in the ED universe is really your cup of tea, or if it just has been a quick idea. You will have had your fun and enjoyed it in any case, and that's what is most important. So: Don't actually worry about licenses until you know that that step will be necessary. First of all, enjoy writing!
Oh and there is always the option to write good solid sci fi outside ED, even if it is basically close to and inspired by ED.

And if you really feel the need to get a permission, why not contact Frontier support by labelling it "Fan Fiction", and ask them about Do's and Don'ts. An official book is one thing, Fan Diction like those published in magazines or for free is quite another matter.

But most important: Get your pen / keyboard, switch on the music LOUDn and WRITE AWAY!!

(and yes, I am a writer by profession).
Click to expand...

I take a "worst case scenario" approach to these things. Just who I am. And I write too. Nothing published, but a lot of fan fiction in various universes.

Am thinking about the situation for an original Sci-Fi though.

Doing research into various scientific principles for that. It might be a life-long project, as science isn't my strongest point, but I do want to achieve something. Within my lifetime is fine. Rushing it is a sure-fire way to fail.
 

EDanaII

EDanaII
Just to echo Uvelius. You don't need a license to write a book. You only need one to sell it using Elite's name. Just write. And if it's good? You can always try and convince them then. :)
 

TheRFSpark

TheRFSpark
I don't want to be a copier or try to find an excuse to use someone else world/work but ED has been a big thing in my life and I kind of just want repay it with a story/book and stuff. I might just write and ask around after its finished or roughed drawn. Baby steps as I see it. If I get denied I can say I had fun and tried. Since ED has been big on my channel I also thought it might be great to start there.
 

Uvelius Sång

Uvelius Sång
Alonya Ruslana said:
I take a "worst case scenario" approach to these things.
Click to expand...

Sure, it just would be a shame to pull the brakes on someone eager to burst out writing his/her enthusiasm. Smacking directly into the bureaucratic walls of reality is stopping spirited minds often enough. Don't fear, just roll on! (And be senisibly cautious, of course ...)
Enough time for pulling the brakes later, as long as no harm done!

And as a side note, a good story might actually make it into an ED newsletter. I feel they like such fan stuff (As said, as long as basic franchise rules like Copyright and so-called Intellectual Property are obeyed).

@TheRFSpark Oooh I can understand you very well.
Start with a story, then evolve it into a book if it works out fine for you. By then you should know Frontier's standing on the topic.
Oh on a side note, even Drew Wagar started as a Fan Fiction free ebook writer for the old Elite, that's how he finally could become one of the "official" book writers for ED; that by arousing enough interest to raise the money needed for buying a kicksterter book license, of course.

EDIT Oh I amost forgot: A good example for Fan Fiction might be TartanDragons "Rat Tales" on the Fuel Rat's webiste. No issue whatsoever we know of :)

@EDanaII Exactly.
 
Last edited:

TheRFSpark

TheRFSpark
I think feel at most I'd be locations and ships of ED more than anything. I rather focus on character development. And I wouldn't mind working with FD or splitting anything. I'm easy to work with but hey gotta finish first.
 

Pyrotiger

Pyrotiger
If I were you, I'd contact FD if you are serious about it, since simply writing the book then cutting the Elite Dangerous universe, terminology etc out and trying for it to seem not like a knock-off (or for it to work seamlessly) would be a very difficult and very annoying job.

You've never written a book before, though, so you could write it 'for fun' (OUCH!) and see what happens.
 

JetsonRING

JetsonRING
TheRFSpark said:
Hey guys, I'm hoping to make my first book and I wanted it to be a spin off on something in ED. I love Elite and don't really want to make a fan fiction just something Elite based maybe? So I come to you all to maybe pitch me some ideas? I'd love to have help from the community that I share playing with. :) Also hope I'm in the right thread area. I have ideas of what I would write but I want to hear what you all might want to see.
Click to expand...

Have you considered entering the weekly DRABBLE contest?

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...E-Thread-(-shiny-new-forum)?highlight=drabble
 

TheRFSpark

TheRFSpark
Spacebaboy said:
If I were you, I'd contact FD if you are serious about it, since simply writing the book then cutting the Elite Dangerous universe, terminology etc out and trying for it to seem not like a knock-off (or for it to work seamlessly) would be a very difficult and very annoying job.

You've never written a book before, though, so you could write it 'for fun' (OUCH!) and see what happens.
Click to expand...

So basically ask permission? I mean I'm okay with that. I just want to know what steps I need to take first before I do anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom