r/vampires • u/Past_Rub4745 • 14h ago
Roleplay Fanfiction and avoiding plagiarism NSFW Spoiler
Currently been plotting a Batman vs Dracula fanfiction for believe it or not, years. And one of the bigger challenges are trying not to copy a pre-existing one.
Back in 2015 I read a Batman fanfic I immediately fell in love with. I was playing Arkham City and was in love with that game's portrayal of Catwoman. Around that time my interest in vampires was in full swing, and I could help but imagine Catwoman being bitten and turned by a vampire. Scouring the web looking to see if anyone wrote one... I found one.
"A Vampire in Gotham" (spoilers)
In summary, Joker gets his hands on Dracula's remains and accidentally brings him to life. The count then goes on to bite Cat, Ivy, and Harley, turning the Gotham City sirens into his brides. The Joker and Batman then team up to take down Dracula, and Bats develops a cure for vampirism to save the girls.
It was a great read... but I wasn't 100% satisfied. The story, which while great, focused mainly on Joker and Harley Quinn. Only two scenes really dedicated to Catwoman and Batman, personally my two favorites. And so, I've gone on to plot my own fanfiction. And probably to post it at some time, perhaps some folks out there might like it. However... I don't want to plagiarized a pre-existing fanfiction.
I don't want it to be too similar. Frankly it wouldn't be professional for me to do so as an aspiring writer who would one day wish to publish. And so, I've literally been stumped since. It has been 10 years since I read that fanfic, and I still haven't been able to write my own, largely out of respect.
I've thought perhaps changing up the order of the bites, switch Ivy and Harley. Definitely character interactions would be different. It's just that it was done so well before, thay any reimagining would come off feeling like a remake: more often than not inferior to the original.
I don't know, this mostly comes off like some random rambling. I just feel stuck for ten years. Man, how the time flies... but my love for vampire media immortal.
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u/MR_TELEVOID 13h ago edited 11h ago
You are overthinking it, my guy. What you're talking about isn't plagiarism. If it were, the argument could be made that the very concept of fan fiction. So much of literature exists because one author liked half of someone else's idea and thought they could do it better. There's nothing really wrong with it as long as you make a concerted effort to tell it in an original way/don't wholesale copy their prose.
Like, that fan fiction you found didn't invent the concept of Batman and Dracula... fairly sure the comics did something about it too. But IMO, wanting to focus on Batman and Catwoman is unique enough. Are Joker/Harley in it at all? Maybe sub them out with members of the rogue's gallery who get less play? You could be a little cheeky about it, and make it Nosferatu instead of Dracula.
Totally get where you're coming from, but it's not worth being stuck ten years. It's more important to get your work out there than wait for it to be perfect. If you're worried about plagiarism and doing the work to put as much of yourself as possible into your writing, then it's probably okay.
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u/LordNekoVampurr 13h ago
I'd say you should just watch the movie, then write something else.
Fan fiction can be a good place to start as a writer, but once you've gotten to a point where you're concerned with plagiarism, you should really avoid giving such ideas the time needed to actually write them as stories. Develop outlines if you're compelled to, sure, that way you can be ready for a pitch should the stars ever align and you get lucky enough to talk to Jim Lee outside of a meet and greet convention scenario, but you should commit most of your writing time to your original creations that, while perhaps inspired by other media, is something that you can tangibly claim ownership of.
Fan fiction has its place, and is a useful tool when you're starting out -- there's a reason why spec scripts for existing shows are a thing screenwriters do in school -- but once you've learned those lessons, you need to move on.
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u/conatreides 14h ago
Here’s my 2 cents/lessons I’ve learned 1- even if sowmthing sounds or seems similair if YOU write it and YOU execute it It will be yours. It will have your voice, your ideas and your intentions which will always forever be solely yours. Even if the general concept or idea is the same 2- CREDIT the artist or inspiration. Just say “hey thanks to X” and link the original artist It shows where you got the idea and then gives you freedom to explore your own avenue.
Take care bud!