Asked by: Matt Hollingsworth

Does a book sequel need to be written by the same author as the original?

—Becky B. Q: For all books that fall under copyright protection, yes, you need to be granted permission by the copyright holder. The holder is typically the author, the author’s family or the publisher of the book. Without attaining the rights, you can’t sell/publish a sequel.

Can you write a sequel to someone else’s book?

For any books that fall under copyright protection you need permission from the copyright holder. The holder is typically the author, the author’s family, or the book publisher. Without obtaining the rights, you cannot sell/publish a sequel.

Can I write a book based off another book?

What you cannot ever do is copy the words of another author. The words are copyrighted. You must tell the story in your own words and in your own voice and style. The general rule is that ideas are not copyrighted, but the expression of those ideas is.

When should I start writing a sequel?

1. Don’t just pick up where the last story left off. The most obvious place to begin a sequel is where the previous story ended.

Does sequel mean second?

The definition of a sequel is something that follows, or the second volume of a book or movie that continues where the first ended or that expands the story that came before. Movies such as The Matrix 2 or Transformers 2 are examples of sequels.

Is there a Pride and Prejudice sequel?

The sequel, which will be titled Perception, is written by Terri Fleming — and it’s going to follow two of the original novel’s most neglected characters: Kitty and Mary Bennet.

Can I write a story inspired by another story?

As we’ve said before, it is OK to be inspired by other stories you’ve read, but don’t make yours exactly the same. Use bits of that story to inform your own, give yours a unique twist, and a different perspective to ensure it doesn’t feel to same-y to your readers.

Can I title my book the same as another book?

Titles cannot be copyrighted in the United States. Therefore, two or more books can have the same title. However, if you use a title that is the same or very similar to another book, it makes it hard for your title to stand out.

Can you sue someone for writing about you in a book?

The offense of injuring a person’s character, fame, or reputation by false and malicious statements.” The term covers both libel (written) and slander (spoken). Only living people can sue for defamation, so someone can’t file a lawsuit against you for defamation through an estate or relatives.

Can short stories have sequels?

In a short story, you can experiment a lot. You can write your whole story as a sequel, if your writing is engaging enough. This isn’t something I’d recommend for a whole novel, because readers prefer action, but you can certainly play around with shorter text.

How do you name a book sequel?

Between the two of you, you may decide that “First Book’s Title: Part Two” will work just fine for the sequel. Or, with a little forethought, you may come up with an overarching title for the series, with each book having its own title (more or less a subtitle).

How do you write a spin off series?

Here are a few ideas:

1. The POV of a secondary character from the original.
2. The viewpoint of a famous villain.
3. Turning the “world” of the original story upside down.
4. The story that takes place before or after the well-known story.
5. Totally new characters who are in the same world as the original story.

What is a spin-off book?

In media, a spin-off (or spinoff) is a radio program, television program, film, video game or any narrative work, derived from already existing works that focus on more details and different aspects from the original work (e.g. particular topics, characters or events).

What does spin-off mean in story?

A spin-off is a book, film, or television series that comes after and is related to a successful book, film, or television series.