Maybe a complete assay structure and materialogical survey for Azerothian mining operations?
April 6, 2011 8:49 AM
[Technical Fiction Franchise Publishing Filter]: What are the necessary steps in getting a intellectually rigorous book based on a combination of contemporary topics and a franchised universe published?
Note: the title is a joke with a different franchise - but not that far off from what I'm thinking.
I’ve done the literature search on this topic in the tomes generated around this franchised universe – there is no prior work on this topic. The web based fanfic around this aspect is shoddy and missing in academic rigor and systemic understanding. My desire is to take a combination of academic theory and real world implementation to extrapolate and apply a viable and realistic framework on a franchised universe. From my perspective, it’s a fascinating approach to examining the contextual history of this franchise, as such – while it may be a niche book – it has application from both an introductory theory perspective as well as has a strong tie in.
I’m past the point of just thinking this is a good idea and I’m starting to think about how to make this actually happen. I’ve begun penning an introductory chapter, fleshed out a table of contents, identified basic theory necessary for the appendix and otherwise decided that this needs to be done. This is somewhere in the realm of a 400-600 page textbook from my initial estimations. I say textbook because this is on the textbook end of rigor of things… I should note that the franchise is 100% tied into this idea – the work is centered around the franchise.
So from here: How do I sell it? Who do I sell it to? Do I need to pursue franchise rights, or is the franchise part a red herring as this could be viewed more as an academic text using the franchise as an a constraint. Please, help me make this happen.
Note: the title is a joke with a different franchise - but not that far off from what I'm thinking.
I’ve done the literature search on this topic in the tomes generated around this franchised universe – there is no prior work on this topic. The web based fanfic around this aspect is shoddy and missing in academic rigor and systemic understanding. My desire is to take a combination of academic theory and real world implementation to extrapolate and apply a viable and realistic framework on a franchised universe. From my perspective, it’s a fascinating approach to examining the contextual history of this franchise, as such – while it may be a niche book – it has application from both an introductory theory perspective as well as has a strong tie in.
I’m past the point of just thinking this is a good idea and I’m starting to think about how to make this actually happen. I’ve begun penning an introductory chapter, fleshed out a table of contents, identified basic theory necessary for the appendix and otherwise decided that this needs to be done. This is somewhere in the realm of a 400-600 page textbook from my initial estimations. I say textbook because this is on the textbook end of rigor of things… I should note that the franchise is 100% tied into this idea – the work is centered around the franchise.
So from here: How do I sell it? Who do I sell it to? Do I need to pursue franchise rights, or is the franchise part a red herring as this could be viewed more as an academic text using the franchise as an a constraint. Please, help me make this happen.
This must be a very specialized topic, not to mention intellectually rigorous, because while I'm a professional writer and native English speaker and not especially dumb (ignorant in some areas, perhaps this one, admittedly), I can't understand what you're getting at. Is there a way of putting your question in plainer language? Or must it remain so rarefied that only a few can dig it?
posted by fivesavagepalms at 9:40 AM on April 6, 2011
posted by fivesavagepalms at 9:40 AM on April 6, 2011
There are any number of books talking about the Ethics of Star Trek or the Philosophy of the Matrix, or the Literary Context of Harry Potter.
I note that these are often published by companies other than those that produce the core franchise, so I suspect there is a way to treat your franchise as a piece of popular culture and talk about it if you tread very carefully around trademarked names of things and characters. But this is a question best run by an IP lawyer, or perhaps a literary agent who would also be able to assess whether anyone would actually want to publish your book even if it is legal to do so.
posted by Naberius at 9:47 AM on April 6, 2011
I note that these are often published by companies other than those that produce the core franchise, so I suspect there is a way to treat your franchise as a piece of popular culture and talk about it if you tread very carefully around trademarked names of things and characters. But this is a question best run by an IP lawyer, or perhaps a literary agent who would also be able to assess whether anyone would actually want to publish your book even if it is legal to do so.
posted by Naberius at 9:47 AM on April 6, 2011
No, the pop culture has nothing to do with MMOs; I was trying to go with an example that had a strong enough lore that people would have an idea of what I was going for. The examples Naberius cited are exactly the dangerous waters that I find myself in with this topic. I am not proposing history and technical specifications, I am interpreting the information presented in context of contemporary thought and historical examples within a specific discipline.
@valkyryn: If I do get to meet with someone from said franchise - what kind of document do I need in place to ensure that if my idea is good - that they recognize my pitch as the basis for such a piece and don't sandbag me from the get-go and immediately produce one of their own? I'm imagining a lawyer would be involved. Furthermore, if they say "no," do I have the option of going the Naberius route and publishing in that grey area.
@fivesavagepalms: Sorry you find the question unclear. The examples that Naberius mentioned are in line with what I am proposing, I cannot be more specific with my topic. I will certainly make sure I have a good editor.
@Naberius: my concern with going with a non-franchise related brand really stems from a strong desire to maintain the integrity of the franchise and the rigor of the work. I am firmly convinced, maybe blindly so, that someone would want to publish this as a book. I am pretty certain that this topic is something convention-panel-of-experts-worthy of writing on. This is on-par and in-spirit with other publications relating to the franchise.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:28 AM on April 6, 2011
@valkyryn: If I do get to meet with someone from said franchise - what kind of document do I need in place to ensure that if my idea is good - that they recognize my pitch as the basis for such a piece and don't sandbag me from the get-go and immediately produce one of their own? I'm imagining a lawyer would be involved. Furthermore, if they say "no," do I have the option of going the Naberius route and publishing in that grey area.
@fivesavagepalms: Sorry you find the question unclear. The examples that Naberius mentioned are in line with what I am proposing, I cannot be more specific with my topic. I will certainly make sure I have a good editor.
@Naberius: my concern with going with a non-franchise related brand really stems from a strong desire to maintain the integrity of the franchise and the rigor of the work. I am firmly convinced, maybe blindly so, that someone would want to publish this as a book. I am pretty certain that this topic is something convention-panel-of-experts-worthy of writing on. This is on-par and in-spirit with other publications relating to the franchise.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:28 AM on April 6, 2011
Also, I would note: that in my research to understand any pre-existing work on the subject, I found that there were no formal writings on the subject. I did find a college-level survey course on key themes and specific applications of my subject, but no unifying theory or consistent framework. The topic is obscure enough that it is only made reference to in passing by the franchise even though there are clear rules in which the franchise operates. As such, the description of the franchise by the context of these rules leads to important and insightful unspoken realities by applying our 21st century understanding on the topic. This serves as both a tool to draw interest in the subject as both a contemporary topic as well as a roadmap to better understand the changing nature of the franchise.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:44 AM on April 6, 2011
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:44 AM on April 6, 2011
Nanuk, evidently the limitation is mine, not yours. Good luck.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:56 AM on April 6, 2011
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:56 AM on April 6, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Otherwise, I'd consider getting in touch with the people who publish this thing. You're going to be using a metric ton of their IP, to the point that fair use arguments start to get a little stickier. Put together a proposal laying out your idea, why you think it would sell, and your outline for the work. Include the introduction, if you've got it. See if you can get any bites.
Here I'm recommending you go straight to the franchise owner rather than an agent or publisher, because the huge question in the room is whether you're going to be able to get the franchise on board. If the answer is "No," nothing else really matters.
posted by valkyryn at 9:18 AM on April 6, 2011