- Joined
- Nov 10, 2011
- Messages
- 429
- Reaction score
- 30
- Location
- Hays, KS
- Website
- www.emergencyroomproductions.net
I'm not sure how else to title this other then as a "rights question"
One of my writing goals this year is to write one 10-minute play a month. This is an exercise for me firstly as a playwright and secondly, I've had a few teachers express interest in buying these from me for the forensics (competitive speech and drama) students and tournaments. Kansas (my state) Actives Association would recognize it as published IF I published these works on the internet, either through my website or something like Smashwords or KDP (I've got a few up already on SW, just to test the market) but there must be some kind of receipt of purchase and/or an active website.
So here comes my question.
One idea I've been kicking around this month is based on something Harlan Ellison SAID (not wrote). This is what he said:
funny quote, and I think a person could run with it as a writer, but do I have the RIGHT I guess to use this idea as a 10-minute play? If it was just a creative exercise, I'd do it in a heartbeat but I view all my writing (especially my drama pieces) as something I'd like to see move beyond just my page.
Anyone who knows Harlan, knows he's a bit of a...curmudgeon and isn't above suing or threatening lawsuits. So again, do I have the right to do this?
One of my writing goals this year is to write one 10-minute play a month. This is an exercise for me firstly as a playwright and secondly, I've had a few teachers express interest in buying these from me for the forensics (competitive speech and drama) students and tournaments. Kansas (my state) Actives Association would recognize it as published IF I published these works on the internet, either through my website or something like Smashwords or KDP (I've got a few up already on SW, just to test the market) but there must be some kind of receipt of purchase and/or an active website.
So here comes my question.
One idea I've been kicking around this month is based on something Harlan Ellison SAID (not wrote). This is what he said:
When some jamook asks me this one (thereby revealing him/herself to be a person who has about as much imaginative muscle as a head of lettuce), I always smile prettily and answer, "Schenectady."
And when the jamook looks at me quizzically, and scratches head with hairy hand, I add: "Oh, sure. There's a swell Idea Service in Schenectady; and every week I send 'em twenty-five bucks; and every week they send me a fresh six-pack of ideas."
funny quote, and I think a person could run with it as a writer, but do I have the RIGHT I guess to use this idea as a 10-minute play? If it was just a creative exercise, I'd do it in a heartbeat but I view all my writing (especially my drama pieces) as something I'd like to see move beyond just my page.
Anyone who knows Harlan, knows he's a bit of a...curmudgeon and isn't above suing or threatening lawsuits. So again, do I have the right to do this?