I could very easily see the other publisher taking the whole second plot arch
help!!I have 17 stories at the moment that use some of the same main characters......9 lend themselves to a series arch in the "Rhinoplasty" series
I could in theory develop another plot arch with the other 8 flashes tracing "Shoji Takahashi" very easily....the problem is they share some of the same characters and story-line history, though told from the POV of different characters...does anyone know definitively what is both ethically, morally, and legally the way to go here?
I could very easily see the other publisher taking the whole second plot arch help!!
[This message has been edited by honu (edited February 10, 2009).]
Now, anyone who passed Science-Overview in 5th grade can tell you what a cycle is. So... one can only predict that the last book will lead into the first book, and the story will be an infinite loop. Since, that's what cycle means.
[This message has been edited by Zero (edited February 11, 2009).]
I think it depends primarily on what you've sold the first publisher, and also on what they think they're going to get from the series.
Legal first: If you've just sold publishing rights to stories but you have retained copyright, then legally you can do what you like. If you've sold the copyright to the stories I imagine you can still do what you like. If you've sold the copyright to the characters as well, you'll have to ask permission. But I imagine you've just sold publishing rights.
Presumably, the first publisher thinks that your stories are a draw, so to see other similar stories somewhere else might be disappointing: your series, though slightly different, are no longer unique. And if in some way you've promised them future stories in the same universe, or let them believe that will happen, then you have a dilema. Probably, you haven't.
So ethically, morally and legally, if you've only sold publishing rights to specific stories, I believe you can do as you please.
The question really is, will you and the stories do better with two competing publishers, or just one with whom you develop a close relationship? I thnk there are probably benefits and downsides either way. (Two publishers competing helps you keep them in check but maybe dilutes the product; with just one you're vulnerable if it goes down the pan or if they won't see things your way--but if they have an exclusivity deal with you because the series draws repeat readers, that might be worth a few extra bucks.)
Hope this helps,
Pat
[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited February 11, 2009).]
You may PREFER to sell all the stories to a particular market, but it certainly isn't obligatory.
So what you're saying is that - I can write any number of stories, novels, etc using the exact same world and/or characters and it's no problem - it just that specific story that is no longer free to roam under rights?
-John
However, if the editor is putting useful work into the stories, one might want to favour a good editor who knows the fictional world and its characters, than train a series of editors into understanding. And the one editor might be more minded to work more closely with you as he or she gets to know, trust and admire your work ...
Just askin' 
.
So LOTR was a trilogy, not a series. The Lensmen books were a set of seven--a septology?--and not a series (although I recall them being sold as such). Harry Potter was also a septology. Asimov's Foundation series, likewise, was a trilogy, not a series.
The Hardy Boys, the Star Trek spinoffs, the 007 yarns, Cussler's Dirk Pitt stories, Nancy Drew, the Boxcar Children--they're all series because they never end. Each story can be read in isolation from the others; there's a weak or non-existent sense of ordering. The characters don't age and there's always potential for another story.
Im not sure about novels, but if you sell a company the publishing rights to a graphic novel, then they own your soul for those characters (for the story arc)
but its probably better that way. could you imagine what would happen if both D.C. AND Marvell put out Superman comics? the world would never be the same again. they can barely keep their stories straight as it is.
another thing to remember is that aside from Manga, all comics are a series because they never end...
In my experience, unless you're a big name or the publication is a daily or weekly, publications rarely want to feature the same author time and again - they'd rather give their readers variety. My experience is limited, but it seems to me like you have been lucky to sell three stories to the same publication, and unless you've committed to them to sell the rest (and have a contract in hand to support that) then you should feel free (and encouraged) to submit your other stories to different markets.
Unless of course Editor 1 pays better than any other market you could submit your stories to (maximize your $, in my opinion.)
If you sell your stories elsewhere and Editor 1 still really loves them and wants to publish them in the future, eventually you can re-sell the stories to him/her once the rights you sell to the other publication expire (typically publications buy a limited term license for 6 months to a year. Many Hatrackers have experience reselling stories, ask in a separate thread if you want to get the maximum input on this as they might miss it in this thread.)
Best wishes to you. Either way, this is one of those "good problems to have." 
quote:
I always get a kick out of the ...ahem... "Inheritance Cycle" I kid you not that is the name.Now, anyone who passed Science-Overview in 5th grade can tell you what a cycle is. So... one can only predict that the last book will lead into the first book, and the story will be an infinite loop. Since, that's what cycle means.
a. The aggregate of traditional poems or stories organized around a central theme or hero: the Arthurian cycle.
b. A series of poems or songs on the same theme: Schubert's song cycles.
So this is a correct (and venerable) usage, although it departs from the most common meaning of the word