#lib talks

Fanworks, OCs, reposting, AI and monetisation: my boundaries

A small note before anything else: I write fanfiction, doodle fanart, create OCs, and develop HCs or analyses that I share for free, for fun.

I am not writing this post because I dislike transformative works, quite the opposite. But I also think it is important to state boundaries clearly, especially at a time when reposting, AI use, monetisation, and archiving other people’s work elsewhere have become far too common.

So here are mine😊:

What is welcome: Works inspired by my creations are welcome: fanart, recursive fanfiction, translations, human-voiced podfics only, edits, moodboards, playlists, etc., as long as the following conditions are respected:

access must remain strictly free

the fanwork must not be monetised, directly or indirectly

Clear credit and a link to the original work must be included

I want to be informed, ideally beforehand, but at the time of posting is also fine😊

if it is posted on AO3, please use the official “Inspired by / Related Work” function.

When I say non-monetised, I mean: no Patreon, no Ko-Fi linked to this content, no paid content, no donation link attached to it, no platform where access depends on a subscription, no YouTube, TikTok, or any other monetisable platform, even through advertising.

I share my work for free; I categorically refuse to let anyone make money, even indirectly, from my fanworks.

Inspiration: I obviously have no problem with my creations inspiring you. If one of my fanfictions, drawings, or HCs makes you want to explore a similar theme, atmosphere, relationship dynamic, or trope, that is absolutely fine. Yay for the two cakes principle!

However, if the inspiration becomes very direct or very recognisable -for example, reusing a specific scene, an original concept I developed, a plot or a specific HC-please ask me first and credit me clearly.

Oh! And changing a few words or replacing the names does not turn plagiarism into inspiration.

If you want to make me a gift: If you want to make me a gift (a fic, fanart, or another creation inspired by my works or my OCs) you do not need to ask for permission beforehand.

It is welcome, appreciated, and it will make me very happy.

The one non-negotiable condition is that access must remain strictly free, non-monetised, and clearly credited.

Regarding my OCs: My OCs are not free resources. Even if I publicly post their image, their story, or anecdotes about them, that does not mean they are available to be freely reused in your own fanworks, roleplays, bots, prompts, or personal projects.

If you want to use one of my OCs in a developed, independent way, or in a project that is not simply a one-off gift for me, please ask me first.

Reposting/ uploading/ referencing: please do not repost, upload, archive, or share my fanfictions, doodles, OCs, HCs, or other creations on Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, Tumblr, Wattpad, AO3, or anywhere else without my explicit permission.

I also do not want my works to be listed, archived, rated, reviewed, or referenced on Goodreads, or any similar book-tracking/review platform.

AI : I do not give permission for my fanworks, OCs, drawings, ideas… to be used to create AI-generated content, train AI tools, feed bots, generate images, or generate continuations of my unfinished fics.

Gfts I have made for others: If I have gifted you a creation, you are of course allowed to share or repost it, including on a platform where I am not present😊, as long as it remains free, non-monetised, and clearly credited.

A gift remains a gift. I simply do not want it to be used to generate money or presented as a creation that did not come from me.

In summary: I love that my creations can inspire, move people, or make others want to create in turn, but please respect my boundaries.

When in doubt, contact me💖. I will always remain courteous with someone who asks. I will be much less so with people who do not respect my wishes regarding my own work.

It was supposed to be a no-brainer, but apparently not... 🙄This being the case, I'm keen to respond to this subject, which was raised with me recently by an anonymous person.

That's why I now make it clear that, as a writer of fanfics, my work can sometimes deal with controversial themes or unhealthy, abusive behaviour. But in no way do I aim to normalise, glorify, or approve of these situations.

The content of my fanfiction does not reflect my personal opinions or moral values. I strongly condemn the problematic behaviour I sometimes relate in my stories, and I would never wish to see it happen in real life.

On the other hand, I sometimes like to explore darker aspects of human nature in fictional stories, highlighting moral dilemmas and creating narrative intensity through problematic situations. Certain elements can also serve as catharsis, but that's only occasionally.

What's more, my stories 🔞 always include the necessary warnings so that readers can make an informed decision about whether to engage with their reading.

My primary aim is to entertain readers and, eventually, to create a space where they can explore fictional themes and situations in complete safety, without judgement or prejudice. And while some elements of my stories may be thought-provoking, my role is not to educate readers who are supposed to have the maturity to approach these stories in a thoughtful way.

And obviously, as a reader, I don't judge the morality of authors on the basis of their fan work either.

My darling came across my AO3 profile on the family computer. (He knows I write and he knows what I write, but he doesn't know all the details bc he's not interested)

He: "Your name is Petite-Libellule (=little dragonfly)? *with a atonished look* You realise that with a pseudonym like that, you'd expect to find more children's stories than… This? *shows a dark and smutty chapter on the screen* Me: 😯 He: 😎 Me: 😑 He: 😎😎

Me: 🤔

He: 😎😎😎💕

Thank you for your asks. 💙

What are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?

I can't answer honestly without talking about a difficult subject so... (sorry!)

1. The bullying I endured from nursery school to the end of secondary school, which was met with general indifference because people preferred to look the other way, play things down by saying it was just child's play, or tell me I had to toughen up or reproach me for my lack of vigour in defending myself. This experience profoundly affected various aspects of my personality, from my self-esteem to my relationships with others, including my harshness towards any manifestation of bullying, my tendency to consider that your actions and the people you choose to associate with are more revealing of your personality and your values than your words, my vision of humanity, my empathy towards the most vulnerable. This continues to influence the way I bring up my children and the way I see the world.

2. My grandparents. They passed on to me their values, their warmth and their love. This has played a positively crucial role in my development.

3. The radical decision I took at the age of 18 to abandon everything - school, family - and move away from home. This move enabled me to develop relationships without seeing them as a constant power struggle and to let the person I really was emerge, the person who was suffocated by memories that constantly brought me back to the child I was who didn't dare to stand up for myself. This change of life was liberating. ^^

3. 3 films you could watch for the rest of your life and not get bored of?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, 300 and Most Anthony Hopkins films.

24.What are you proud of yourself for?

My professional and personal career.

30. What’s one thing that never fails to make you happy/happier?

Hello my dear Dark Queen🖤

Thank you for your asks!

4. what’s an inside joke you have with your family or friends?

After inadvertently sitting on a 'fragile, please handle with care' label, I took my children to school. Then on my return, my partner said he approved of what was written on my bottom before removing one of the fucking labels. Instant of mortification realizing how many people have seen that on my bottom!!! but now the word 'fragile' is our code for pointing out a problem with our outfit for good reason or…as a joke. 😈

6.what’s the best and worst part of being online/a creator?

The process of publishing and engaging with nice people who share similar interests and are in a spirit of sharing and conviviality. Additionally, I love discovering the creative processes of those whose works I appreciate, or their perception of a character.

Despite my strict conception of a safe space, having an online presence sometimes entails exposure to potential unpleasant or malicious behaviours. This triggers negative emotions in me such as insecurity, frustration, disgust, disdain, or rejection. Furthermore, I make no excuses for these behaviours because I believe that if someone is mature enough to be on social networks, they are mature enough to know how not to be a jerk. That said, if this is the aspect of their personality they want to show to the world, so be it, but I am not obliged to endure it, and I will organise my online experience accordingly.

9.tell a story about your childhood

Okay… One time, I was poking around my grandfather's workshop and I found a can of neon pink spray paint that he'd used to mark trees for cutting. A dream for any kid! 🤩And the old greasy workshop, full of old and not so old tools, needed redecorating from my point of view. From nails to chainsaws, workbenches, vices, spanners, drills, sledgehammers, axes and walls. Everything in the workshop got a girly touch, but my grandparents didn't appreciate my creativity. 🤣

24. what’s one thing you’re proud of yourself for?

My professional and personal career.

40. any bad habits?