Go then, gunslinger; there are other worlds than these: Seanan ponders Amazon Worlds.

[seanan_mcguire]

So last week, while I was at Disney World, the "Amazon Worlds" program was announced. In a nutshell, Amazon has acquired a "derivative works" license for certain properties (inc. Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries), which will allow people to publish authorized fanfic through Amazon Worlds. It can't be smutty, and there are no crossovers

Comments

[ladymurmur]

I will be watching developments avidly. So far, none of the properties involved in the program are "mine" (I don't watch/read/play/write in those fandoms). But I expect this to change over time. Either I'll get hooked on one of the currently-involved worlds, or some of 'my' worlds will join the program.

[seanan_mcguire]

Yeah, that's sort of where I am, too.

[kassrachel]

Fanfic is a huge, collaborative, interactive way for people to be a part of the stories that they love, and I worry that Amazon Worlds is a big step, not toward monetizing fanfic, but toward mainstreaming it in a way that will sap many of the qualities that make it so important. The minute I can say "sorry, this fanfic over here is licensed, and yours is not, so cut it the fuck out," there is a problem. People need to be unafraid to write their stories, the way they want to write them, and learn in the process.

WORD.

What you're saying here is right in line with what I have been thinking, and what many of my friends have been thinking and saying.

Thank you for saying it. On some kind of atavistic level, it feels good to hear these ideas articulated by someone whose work I so enjoy. :-)

[seanan_mcguire]

I understand completely. I'm very similar, which is why I think it's sometimes important to say things.

[dragonsally]

This is exactly my concern too.

[seanan_mcguire]

You're very welcome!

[willibald]

From what I can see this allows you to publish in Kindle format only and readers will have to buy copies in order to read them. I could see this being off-putting to some authors not to mention new readers. I also worry a little about who decides what makes "poor customer experience", they seem to suggest that bad formatting would be more important than bad writing.

[seanan_mcguire]

That is worrisome.

[djonn]

Correct with one amplification: Amazon has acknowledged the wider e-universe to the extent that there are now evidently apps that will allow you to read Kindle material on other platforms (Kindle for Android, for example). But you are indeed limited to marketing through Amazon, and readers have to pay to read what you upload

[mariadkins]

I understand much better now. Thanks!

[seanan_mcguire]

Welcome!